Seem like you have experience in both a transom-mounted transducer and
a shoot-through-hull transducer. I would like to ask you these
questions:

o Does the use of a shoot-through-hull transducer cut down the depth
of water that the transducer can scan but still maintain clear signal
to spot fishes that are within range? If this is the case, it will be
acceptable for me because I will only operate the boat in relatively
shallow water.

o Does the use of a shoot-through-hull transducer not only cut down
the depth of water that the transducer can scan but also mess up the
signal to the point that I cannot use it to spot fishes even the fishes
are within range? If this is the case, I think I will only use the
signal from the shoot-through-hull transducer for a depth gauge, and
not for a fishfinder. And then I will need to add a second transducer
to the bow-mounted trolling motor for a fishfinder.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience in the use of both types
of transducers.

I try to avoid using a transom mounted transducer because the bottom of
the transom of my boat is sloping up from the center line all the way
to the side of the hull. There is no place in the bottom of the
transom that is level with the horizon. According to the mounting
instruction and books about book electronics, I am supposed to mount a
transom mounted transducer at the bottom of the transom that the bottom
needs to be level with the horizon, and then point the transducer
downward. This means there is no ideal place in my boat for a transom
mounted transducer (plus the fact that the support rail of the trailer
gets in the way). This is the reason why I only consider
shoot-through-hull transducer and trolling motor transducer (and No I
am not going to cut a hole at the bottom of my hull for a true "through
hull" transducer).

Jay Chan

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
On 10 Jan 2006 13:12:39 -0800, "
wrote:

I understand that the possibility of losing some signal strength if I
use "shoot through hull" transducer. But this is acceptable.

not if you are planning on doing any serious fishing it isn't.