Transom Transducer vs Hull on Sundancer?

[VinnyS]

Good afternoon everyone. I just picked up a new Axiom 9 with the RV-100 Transducer for my newly acquired 94 Sea Ray Sundancer 290. After receiving it, I've been reading the installation manual during my lunch and noticed through-hull transducers and got me thinking.

I sent an e-mail to the dealer's technical team and he said it should be fine but through-hull might be better.

Can anyone confirm if the Transom mounted will be sufficient or problematic?

Thanks

 

[Captn TJ]

I've had transom mounts on center consoles and they'll work great provided you have them in the right location. My personal preference is to go with either in hull or thru hull. That way there's little or no worry about sonar signal acquisition Additionally I don't have to drill lots of screw holes for fasteners or figure out how I'm going to run the ugly wire through the stern of the boat.

I'm upgrading my chartplotter which will have sonar (fish finder) capabilities and am going to run it to a in-hull transducer. That way I can keep the current thru hull transducer for my smartcraft gauge.

 

[Kwik]

My axiom-9 came with the rv-100 3D transducer. I drilled the hole in the stern and mounted it at the waterline like the directions showed. It bothered me to no end to drill a 1" hole in the back of my boat. But, got the 3m sealant and haven't had any indication of leak.

On plane the sonar is useless because of all the cavitation under the boat. I follow my smart-craft on plane. But, the transducer is spot on otherwise and the 3D mapping is neat. I've not tuned it as a fish finder, yet. I still need to learn those parts. Since it is at the waterline, I get a better indication of depth over the smart craft since I know my draft is 40".

 

[VinnyS]

Thanks guys.

I got the RV-100 for the Realvision 3D sonar which is cool but the thru-hull transducer for Sundancer hulls (pair) is like 2100$. I can’t see myself spending that much on a transducer for a Sundancer. I was hoping they were going to be around 300-400$ but the bronze ones are crazy expensive, and I won’t fish enough to justify the price.

As both of you mentioned, I guess the sonar will be a hit or miss depending on if I’m planning or not.

 

[stephens013]

I have had both in hull and thru hull transducers. The in hull transducer was on my 400DA, worked great. Thru hulls always provide a good, unobstructed feed; just cost more to install.

 

[Creekwood]

If you decide to go with a transom mount I highly recommend you use a SternSaver mount So that you don’t screw holes in the transom below the water line. I used that to install a Fishhawk transducer on my 330.

 

[Captn TJ]

If you decide to go with a transom mount I highly recommend you use a SternSaver mount So that you don’t screw holes in the transom below the water line. I used that to install a Fishhawk transducer on my 330.
View attachment 75253

I installed sternsaver on my center console. I had initial doubts about the adhesion between the starboard material and the hull. However, i found it worked quite well. If you have to go with an external TM transducer I'd definitely go with that product.

 

[VinnyS]

If you decide to go with a transom mount I highly recommend you use a SternSaver mount So that you don’t screw holes in the transom below the water line. I used that to install a Fishhawk transducer on my 330.
View attachment 75253

Thanks for the suggestions Creekwood and Captn TJ. I'm heading to the marina on Sunday and going to speak with the guy who's going to install it and see what he suggests. If he mentioned drilling any holes for Transom, I'm going to tell him to opt out and I'll tell him I'll supply the SternSaver. If not, will have to go thru or in-hull which I have yet to find a reasonably priced transducer that has the RealVision 3D.

 

[Deak]

Vinny, can you update your experience with the RV100? I am considering the same for my 300DA.

 

[Sundancer 340 8.1S]

Deak / Vinny any updates? Looking to do the same

 

[Jus Cruisin]

Vinny hasn't been on here since 2020. Doubt you'll get an update.... Click the avatar to see when the person you have a question for is even around anymore...

 

[Sundancer 340 8.1S]

Got it, thanks

 

[KevinC]

Got it, thanks

With a 340SDA I would highly recommend going with either an in-hull or through-hull setup. There is a lot of water cavitation at the transom that as noted above will make it almost useless when running up on plane.

-Kevin

 

[Deak]

Deak / Vinny any updates? Looking to do the same

Sorry, decided to skip the sonar and went with the nav only version of Axiom+