Looking to get a fishfinder for the mudboat. I want to stay under $200 and just need a basic model. My issue is how to handle transducer mounting on a MM hull. I've seen some removable mount transducers and understand that there is shoot through hull transducers. Are these worth a $hit? Anyone have a set up they can recommend and is set up for the boats we run?

I am getting ready to do the same thing. I am going to make a bracket that bolts to the boat to surround the transducer. Basically a peice of square tube that will bolt to the boat and the transducer will be mounted inside that. It will protect the sides and bottom of the transducer.

You can actually use the standard skimmer transducer as a shoot through hull transducer. Glue it down in the same manner. If you don't want to do it that way get a puck transducer. However, shoot through hull supposedly doesn't work on wood or metal boats. I would give it a shot anyhow and see what happens. Just find a way to set it in a blob of vaseline or dielectric grease, with no air bubbles in it, and see what happens before using epoxy.

If you are using a trolling motor and plan on taking it on and off, you can mount the transducer on the TM. That's the way to go since you are most likely fishing out the front anyway.

Cabelas has a removable transducer transom mount bracket that attaches the same way as a transom mount trolling motor. I have one and just take it off for duck season. It's real easy to use.

I bought and returned an Alumiducer that's supposed to shoot thru aluminum. I never could get it to work and my boat mechanic said the same thing. Go do a search on Cabelas and I'll try to take a picture of mine if I can remember.

The Alumiducers work fine. You just need to fine tune it before epoxying it. I had one on my old rig and it was accurate to 60 feet even for baitfish. I won't need it on this rig but may use it any way.

X2 on the Cabelas bracket. Like the reviews say, you will have to file down some sharp edges and replace some bolts with stainless but it's still worth every penny.

I got a unit from Cabelas last year, it's a Eagle, totallly portable and contained in a nice bag. It has it's own battery for power, and nice long transducer cable with a suction cup to hold it in place on any smooth surface! I use if when I start fishing and running jugs, works great, and the best thing is, no mounting, and can use it anywhere!

Like I said, go to Cabelas site a look up that portable unit, read the reviews. Mine works like a charm, and even has surface temps and all the bells and whistles! The whole package is like 200 bucks, and the cool thing is you can us it anywhere, on any boat, stick the transducer to the side of a peerow, the back of your mud boat, hell, even use it ice fishing!

sounds like a huge piece of square tubing!

Go lowrance.

And you cant use a through hull transducer on aluminum. Just fyi.

Hmmm interesting. Ill have to look into that.

The sales manager is one of my good hunting buddies. I ask him.