The ultimate Hobie cup-holder sounder-mount!

[mingle]

Hi Guys,

Here's my contribution to the home-bake sounder install for Hobie cup-holders...

Here's a couple of pics of the almost finished (and ready to test!) unit:

I wanted a mount that was completely self-contained and easily removable. I took inspiration from a couple of projects that other AKFF members had already completed.

The mount is a combination of various bits of PVC pipe and joiners, cunning fashioned into a mount that holds the batteries and (overly!) generous 6m of bunched transducer cable, with the head-unit attached to a screw-on cap.

The transducer is bolted to a 3mm aluminium strip which is in turn bolted to the PVC mount. It's very solid and grips the cup-holder and side of the yak very securely. I'll probably also leash it to the yak, just in case.

For power I've used 8xAAs (can be alkaline or NiMH), which are easy to get and cheap. Plus they run for a decent time - never tested them until flat, but will certainly go for an entire fishing trip.

The trickiest bit was actually fitting all of the excess transducer cable inside with the batteries! I was going to cut about 4m from the cable, but decided to leave it for the moment.

It's 80% done and is ready for the first 'live' test sometime this coming week - weather permitting!

Once I know it works I'll finish it off and post a detailed step-by-step build guide, if anyone else is interested.

Cheers,

Mike.

[pavo]

looks just like a brought one you should make and sell them they look that good. very well done.

[solatree]

Lookin' good Mike..... The colour co-ordination is impressive. You've taken it to the next level.

[mingle]

Thanks for the kind words!

It just needs to be tidied-up a bit inside (a separate compartment for the battery-holder) and out (more matt-black spraypaint!) and it'll be done. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out and (fingers crossed!) if it works, I'll be even happier!

You can actually buy a factory portable version of the Eagle Cuda (and also most of the Huminbird models), but I think mine is better suited to Hobies!

Although the amount of time it's taken me (and and off over the last 3 months!), it'd drive me nuts to have to make another one!

Cheers,

Mike.

[Kalgrm]

Looks great. I can't see any reason for it to not work.

Look into making up a Li-ion battery pack. It'll work out cheaper to run, last longer per charge and give more room inside the mount for the excess cable. I've also heard somewhere (don't know if it's true) that the sounder works better near the 18v end of the range. Apparently it has more oomph to put that signal out. My Li-ion pack runs at 16.7v when fresh and drops down to about 14v after 6 hours or so on the water.

One more suggestion - don't forget to tether the whole thing to your yak.

Cheers,
Graeme

[Zonbie]

That does look good Mike. Well done.

Are you able to elaborate on the PVC bits and pieces you used? I am looking to dead-set rip off and copy your design, and am looking for a shopping list of PVC fittings (I've got the Cuda 300, the aluminium, and the cable ties!)

Any help/advice appreciated. Regards, Steve,

[paffoh]

Very nice, spray the aluminium black and boom shanka! (Straight from BCF!)

Has it got a bottom cap on it? My battery housing rusts every few trips without one but sits weird with one, yours looks far more stable when running it under the paddle keeper bungy. Good work mate, let us know how she holds up!

[gra]

Mike, that's just great, excellent work. I think that one needs to be Wikified with a parts list!

Gra

[Alster99]

Awesome job Mike!

I'll be keen to have a closer look at it as I have been thinking of something similar for mine.

Good stuff.

[Clawhammer]

Outstanding!...I'll take three

[gonfission]

Neat work mate, very nice. Not trying to rain on your parade but think about the following. I used an almost identical setup on the weekend. FF worked fine not a drama. This is the second weekend I ever used it. (The first time was not in a weedy lake) Only real difference to yours was that I use an 18 volt cordless drill battery. (The specs say 12 to 20 volts so 18 is not a problem).
I got ten hours out of it without a recharge. 5 1/2 hours one day 4 1/2 hours the next... so if you have a 12+ volt cordless tool that comes with its own charger. This also means that the battery is kept charged more often than if you don't get around to all those holes that need drilling
If whatever your yak is, tracks dead straight without the setup you might notice a slight drag effect on dead flat water but nothing to worry about.
The BIG problem with the setup is where I fished this weekend. Lots of weed. Because you get busy fishing/paddling etc you tend to forget that the transducer is hanging out over the side and even paddling through light weed it will pick the stuff up. Eventually LOTS of it. Could not understand why I tired so dramatically till I cleared about ten kilos of green crap from the bracket and sounder. Proved it was strong I suppose. I will now look into a removable wet-mount setup. Purely because of the weed issues. If you don't fish in weedy environments it will be fine, Just remember to lift it before you come into shallow water. In the long run though it makes more sense to me, after this weekend, to try and get it mounted inside somehow.
Regards John.

[solatree]

I will now look into a removable wet-mount setup. Purely because of the weed issues. Just remember to lift it before you come into shallow water.

John makes some good points - an advantage of the "clip-on" set up I use is that it can be lifted out of the water easily while underway to either (a) reduce drag, (b) clear weed, or (c) lift when beaching.

More details at viewtopic.php?f=12&t=23120

[mingle]

Hi Guys,

Well, tried out the fishfinder and it worked like a dream!

No problems with weed (even though there was quite a bit in the water) and launching and retrieving were a breeze - just lifted the mount slightly in the cupholder and it was clear of the sand/beach.

Now I just need to seal it - I was using it with no sealing or waterproofing!

Oh, and the 8xAA batteries got a good workout - I accidentally left it switched on overnight (10 hours!) and it ran fine for the rest of the following day - another 10 hours!

I'll post a detailed build-report when I get it finished and tidied up.

Cheers,

Mike.

[mattyoga]

Mike.

Nice neat setup -

I've heard its not good to cut the cable as the unit is calibrated to its length.

After having my second lead cid battery die on me I'm thinking og going down the NiMH route - less weight, though a hassle to charge all the batteries, though they will act as spares if my radio or light conks out.

Cheers
Matt

[Pearlfisher]

That's a really neat set-up! Your sounder only has to be in the water, so it can be just short of level with the bottom of the yak - then it won't get damaged launching or landing.