A transducer is a device that tells you everything you need to know about the water underneath your boat, which can be crucial to your trip, especially if you’re fishing for a certain type of fish. This is why transducers are great for fishing boats. This poses an important question, where to mount a transducer on a Ranger bass boat?
Generally, you should mount the transducer right in the boat’s center. Additionally, you should ensure the transducer is fully submerged under water. As for Ranger boats, the safest option would be mounting the transducer thru-hull.
In today’s article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about installing a transducer on your ranger bass boat. Stick around to find out everything in-depth.
Where to Mount Transducer on Ranger Bass Boat
First, the transducer should be mounted to the exact center of your boat. However, you need to be careful not to mount the transducer in a location where it might get damaged.
Additionally, you shouldn’t mount the transducer behind struts, strakes, fittings, or near any device that might cause disturbance to the water. That’s mainly because it can interfere with the signals of the transducer.
You should also make sure that the transducer is level by lining it up to the deadrise angle.
Why a Transducer is Important for Your Bass Boat
Typically, the transducer sends pulses down to the water. When these pulses reach the bottom, they reflect on the boat. Then, the transducer translates these pulses into data.
This makes the transducer the eyes and ears of your boat. Transducers almost act like fish finders. Naturally, having a transducer can be extremely valuable for fishers.
Different Types of Transducers
There are various types of transducers. Each type is installed in a different location in the boat and has a certain installation method. So, let’s dive into the details of each type and where to mount it.
Transom Mount Transducer
The transom mount transducer is designed to be mounted onto the transom of the boat, hence the name.
This transducer type is best for smaller fishing boats because of their smaller size. Additionally, they’re incredibly versatile and pretty easy to install.
How to Install a Transom Mount Transducer on Your Ranger Bass Boat
Transom transducers are extremely easy to install. Here’s how to mount the transom transducer:
- Position your transducer so that its bottom center is leveled with the bottom of the transom.
- Mark the location of the two holes and the center hole of the transducer mount.
- Use a 4 mm bit to drill pilot holes approximately 15 mm deep.
- Attach the transducer and apply a marine sealant to the screws before installing them.
Thru-Hull Transducer
Another transducer type is the thru-hull transducer. As the name suggests, this transducer is mounted through the hull of your boat.
Many boat enthusiasts consider thru-hull transducers the best. The reason is that thru-hull transducers provide the best clarity and performance. However, they can be expensive and a bit hard to install.
How to Mount a Thru-Hull Transducer on Your Ranger Bass Boat
Installing a thru-hull transducer is pretty self-explanatory. However, we’ve explained the process in the following steps:
- Choose the transducer’s location in the centerline of the hull, then drill a hole from inside the hull.
- Next, apply a marine sealant to the sanded mounting hole.
- Thread the transducer’s cable through the mounting hole, then push the transducer’s stem through the hole.
- Lastly, slide the washer, the spacer, and the nut, then tighten with pliers.
In-Hull Transducer
In-hull transducers are installed inside the hull of the boat, hence the name. The transducer is suspended in a tank filled with liquid and transmits the pulses directly through the hull.
The best thing about in-hull transducers is that they provide better resolution and enhanced bottom definition. Therefore, you can recognize most types of fish under there.
How To Mount an In-Hull Transducer
In-hull transducers are probably the easiest to mount. That’s because they don’t require any drilling. Follow these steps to mount your transducer in-hull:
- Clean the hull with alcohol thoroughly, then apply a marine sealant to the mounting flange and press it into the hull.
- Fill about ¼ of the mounting flange with antifreeze to avoid any air bubbles.
- Add silicone grease to the o-ring of the transducer.
- Push the transducer into the mountain flange, then turn it to lock the transducer in place.
Choosing the Right Transducer for Your Ranger Bass Boat
There are many types of ranger bass boats. Naturally, each boat is compatible with a different transducer. Typically, you’ll need to match the material of the transducer and the boat before choosing the type of transducer and the mounting location.
Ranger bass boats can either be fiberglass or aluminum. For fiberglass bass boats, bronze or plastic transducers would be perfect.
The great thing about fiberglass boats is you can mount the transducer any way you want. It can be transom mount, in-hull or thru-hull.
On the other hand, aluminum bass boats can only have a stainless steel transducer. However, you must be careful when mounting steel transducers on aluminum boats to avoid galvanic corrosion. So, always isolate the steel transducer from the aluminum boat.
Furthermore, aluminum hulls tend to be a poor medium for sound waves, so you should avoid in-hull transducers.
In this case, thru-hull transducers will be the best option, though you’ll need to drill a hole through the aluminum. Otherwise, you can use transom transducers.
Tips on Mounting Your Transducer
Incorrectly mounting your transducer can result in plenty of problems, from the transducer not working to turbulence and engine problems. Here, we’ve gathered some tips to help you avoid any transducer mounting issues.
- Don’t mount the transducer near the engine’s water intake or opening to avoid any turbulence and keep a smooth water flow.
- Keep the transducer away from the edges of the boat where supports and fittings are fixed during storage and hauling.
- Make sure the water flow isn’t disturbed, especially at high speeds.
- Ensure that the transducer is fully submerged in the water.
- Avoid mounting the transducer among the boat’s machinery to keep the background noise levels low.
- It’s highly important to calculate the deadrise and line up the degree line on the transducer to the mold line.
To Conclude
So, where to mount the transducer on a ranger bass boat?
Generally, the transducer should be mounted as close to the center of the boat as possible. Additionally, the location should be away from any water turbulence and air bubbles that can interfere with the signal.
Different types of transducers can be mounted either to the transom, thru-hull, or in-hull.