Mounting a Garmin Transducer on a Kayak

Kayak In-hull Mount

Garmin has a kayak in-hull mount compatible with many fishfinders and chartplotters. The mount will accommodate the Garmin Dual Beam transducer or a GT20-TM. The kayak in-hull mount will not work with larger transducers due to size. The in-hull kayak mount is a form-fitted foam pad with an adhesive side that withstands continuous submersion without releasing. Kayaks with specialized scupper holes typically will not work with the in-hull design of this mount, and an alternative installation method is needed. At this time, Garmin does not make a mount for a scupper hole as each manufacturer has a slightly different configuration. 

In-hull Transducer Installation

Hull material is an important consideration when planning to install the transducer. The hull should be solid fiberglass or polyethylene. The in-hull installation method is not recommended for cored fiberglass or wooden hulls. In-hull transducers attach to the inside of the hull of the boat. When considering a location, look for the area with the smoothest flow of water, which aids in achieving better sonar returns. Some kayak manufacturers have designated areas for transducer placement. Be sure to reference the kayak owner's manual. 

Test the location before installing the in-hull mount

Use a gallon zip-lock bag, place the transducer inside and fill part way with water. With the kayak on the water, place the plastic bag in the considered area, turn on the sonar display if the return sonar images look good, mark the location and follow the directions to install the mount. If the returns are poor, test another area until you have the best placement. 

Aftermarket transducer mounts

Third-party companies may produce mounts for the transducer or the fishfinder, a chartplotter unit that will help install the components. Companies like Ram Mount or Scotty Kayak manufacture transducer poles that lower the transducer into the water may help with difficult in-hull installation situations. YouTube is an excellent resource for DYI scupper hole installation.