Ideas Please: Installing transducer on trolling motor

**crappiequest** · 02-08-2013, 05:44 PM

All,
I'm usually pretty good at coming up with something but..... I have a Minn Kota Power Drive V2 trolling motor with a transducer built in. I recently purchased a humminbird 597 with down imaging and can no longer use the "built in" transducer. My issue is what is the best way to run the new transducer cable down the shaft of the trolling motor? The way the Minn Kota is made allows the shaft to slide through a collar when putting it up and down. This sliding will not allow me to connect and run the cable down the shaft. I like a "clean" and secure look but the only way I can come up with is loose cable extending down the shaft, not happy with it at all. Thanks for any advice, or even pictures if you have a good idea.

**jimp** · 02-08-2013, 08:22 PM

check this thread out in the electronics forum:

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/fishi...-drive-tm.html

**crappiequest** · 02-08-2013, 10:38 PM

Thanks.

**skeetbum** · 02-09-2013, 07:02 PM

I'll take pics of mine tomorrow. Tore up 2 TD's before I got it figured out. Has worked for over a year now.

**crappiequest** · 02-09-2013, 08:16 PM

Sounds good, really not liking the way I have it now.

**MaggiesMaster** · 02-12-2013, 12:21 PM

I followed the suggestions in the thread and drilled a big hole in the release lever on my V2. It works ok, but I would've rather found a stick-on holder that would fit on the side of the motor; unfortunately I wasn't able to find one. You need to be careful when you raise & lower the motor, though. This is one more reason I prefer cable drives over the V2.

**BTB** · 02-18-2013, 12:54 PM

I have a Motorguide Wireless trolling motor and had the same concerns for my transducer (mine is for plain old sonar). I looked at pics of how people have mounted transducers to these style motors and decided to make a separate transducer bracket. My decision was influenced by the fact that I sometimes get into some shallow, weedy, nasty stuff with the trolling motor and didn't want the unsecure transducer cable running down the shaft of the trolling motor.

I mad an L shaped bracket out of PVC. Bracket slides neatly into length of bigger diameter PVC mounted on deck of boat and secures with a metal pin (pin is about 3/16" diameter with a c shaped locking clip that hinges on one end of the pin and slides over the other end). I have a small bungee to hold the bracket on the deck and out of the way when not in use. Cheap, easy, and takes about 3-4 seconds to deploy.

Good luck with whatever method you use.