Advice for mounting depth transducer

[Jayjoans]

Fellow pontoonists, I reach out to you for some help with the mounting of the depth finder you helped me locate. I have a few questions:

1) I assume this aluminum box is designed for electronic mounts of various items. Since my particular device is a transom mount transducer, I plan on mounting it to this box. As it happens, two of the pre-drilled holes line up perfectly with the mounting bracket that came with the unit.

2) the transom strap goes directly over the two pre-drilled holes I would use, forcing me to relocate the bracket, as I don't want to tow without the strap. Is there anything I should know about drilling through aluminum?

3) When routing the wire that goes to the helm, how do I secure it between the transducer and the underside of the deck? I don't know if I want it flopping about, but I certainly won't drill wire keepers into the pontoon. Since I'll be out with the grandkids, I don't want it to be something they grab onto. How best to secure the wire so it looks like I knew what I was doing?

4) Once under the deck, will I find a general access point somewhere near the helm that I can use to slip this wire up into the back of the dash? I haven't ventured that far up under the trailer yet to check that out.

5) along the way with the wire, do I just use stainless wire keepers and screw them up into the deck through the skinning?

Thanks for your help.

IMG_5723.JPG (85.87 KiB) Viewed 3777 times

IMG_5723.JPG (85.87 KiB) Viewed 3777 times

IMG_5723.JPG (85.87 KiB) Viewed 3777 times

[Bamaman]

It would be best if you'd go to a boat dealership and inspect how an installed transducer has been mounted.

[zoom650]

Referring to your item 2: transom straps, I pull mine to the side of the mounting box opposite the transducer when tightening.

[rancherlee]

doesn't need to be centered, I'd mount it on the edge of the box. I have a pair of mounting eyes/tow eyes on my center tube and run my rear straps to those instead of vertical to the outer tubes. Like O/O\O , and it completely clears those mounting boxes. I ran the transducer on the same side my livewell pump so I ran the wires up along the pump hose to keep grabby hands away.

[curtiscapk]

My transducer is slightly left and strap to the side.

[guy48065]

Re #2: I was advised that to keep my toon centered on the trailer I should cross the straps " OXO ".

[SamiGuy]

I have been strapping mine as stated above by moving the tie down to the side. But after reading this post, I will probably start crossing mine in the future. Either way you do it, the straps will be away from the transducer.
Thanks for the post!!!
Sami

[mrlouis]

you need to drill two new holes through the mounting bracket probably left of the strap should clear it, route the cable up over the top of the left toon between the mounting brackets secure the cable at intervals with plastic zip ties then cross over behind a cross beam you should have a hole through the floor under your helm stand that various wires and possibly your steering cable goes through snake it through and your home
good luck

[Gonefishing]

Yep like others stated just move the strap over to the side. That's how mine is also and have had zero problems in almost four years.