Carolina Skiff Fish/Depth Locator

[Tangier]

I recently bought a 16' Carolina Skiff with a 15H.P. Mercury. I was told that since Carolina Skiffs have a flat bottom I wouldn't be able to use a transducer if I went over about 7MPH. Is this true? Anyone else out there that has a Carolina Skiff that uses a Fish/Depth locator they like?

[1987-cobb]

No but have used sonar on flat bottom (stern) boats. Had a Garmin 240 that did just was you said. Replaced it with a Lowrance 520 and it held bottom at top speed, about 30mph
on that boat.

Don't think you will be going to fast anyway with a 15hp motor on a 16ft fiberglass boat.

[Rickyd]

Tangier,
I have a 1980 with a 90 Yam. , with a 332C Lowrance. It reads fine, just follow the mounting directions in the book, you'll be fine. That's using a Lowrance though, I don't know about other locators.
Rickyd

[craigwhite]

You should be fine with any manufacturers transducer. As said before, follow the directions closely. I use a metal ruler when mounting ducers. Hold it along the bottom of the hull so it protrudes past the transducer. Align it with the seam on the side of the ducer and you should get a good bottom reading. Be certain that you are at least 6" from any hull strakes and there are no through hull fittings forward of the hull. Anything other than clean fiberglass will create bubbles in the water and give you an incorrect reading. If you mount it and experience problems, then try and lower the ducer and try again.

Craig White
Chesapeake Installers