How to Install a Fish Finder [ Complete Installation Guide 2023 ]
Last Updated on December 14, 2022 by
You have an unleashed boat in the blue waters, and you want to be capable of seeing underwater details? You’ve purchased a new fish locator for the first time and don’t know how to install a fish finder on a boat correctly? Then there’s nothing to worry about anymore, you’re at the perfectly right place.
Depth finders for boats represent one of the essential angling tools in modern-day fishing. If you haven’t tried a fish finder yet to boost your fishing productivity, what are you waiting for, fellow Angler? With this expert guide’s help, we will help you install a fish finder correctly on any boat.
7 useful tips for perfect fish finder installation on a boat
Installing a new depth finder for a boat properly can be exhausting and challenging, especially if it’s your first time. However, this tiring and time-taking procedure can become a relatively fun task with proper guidance and instructions.
The proper installation will ensure that your depth finder reveals the most recent and reliable fishing insights on the screen. The only thing you have to do is to follow the steps mentioned below to install a fish finder correctly on any boat.
1-Preplan the Final location of the fish finder
Preplan is to plan something and how you’ll execute that thing. Before installing a fish finder on a boat, you should look at potential locations on the boat, and pick a place that’s best suited for you.
Planning the final location where you’ll install a fish finder on your boat is the most important step. Because once you have finalized it and drilled some holes there, there’s no going back. So, you should invest some time first, examine the different locations on your boat carefully and choose the right location wisely.
2-Different methods to mount a fish finder
There are different traditional methods to mount a fish finder on the boat. Each method has its importance and works fine for most anglers. However, the final mounting location depends on how much extra useable space you have on your boat and from which place you’ll view the display of the mounted fish finder all the time.
3-Transducer installation on the boat
There are a lot of important components that make the best fish finder, and an effective transducer is one of them. A transducer is an important part of fish locators that sends and receives signals underwater to trace target fish. The transducer’s location is crucial in providing correct underwater data.
There are different mounting locations of a transducer on a boat, including thru-hull, trolling motor, and transom. The best-suited place for installing a transducer will depend upon your requirements. Ideally, the location should be closer to the boat’s center, near the side of the propeller’s downward swing.
4-Wiring the boat
Wiring is an essential yet challenging step to install a fish finder properly on your boat. You should do your homework first, examine your boat’s openings and closings, and carefully do all the wiring-related tasks.
The better the wiring is on your boat, the better results you will get from your fish locators while hunting the target fish. Moreover, the proper wiring is an effective factor for your depth finder to last long.
5-Wire Termination Quality
Wire termination is the work done at the end of a wire to conclude the wiring process. The termination allows the wire to connect to a device or a switch. The quality of the wire termination is an essential factor that decides the installation progress. You should make sure to use a high-quality wire for the termination process so that you don’t face any connectivity issues while fishing.
6-Fix the Tangled and messy wires
Cleaning up all the tangled wires and terminations is necessary because it can cause many problems. Furthermore, the messy wires spread across the boat can eat up many useable spaces.
The immediate solution to this problem is by nicely laying down the wiring through your bat’s openings and closings. You can go one step further towards safety by eliminating and removing all the broken and cracked wires alongside rusted terminals.
7-Wrapping-up the fish finder installation
The last step in the installation is carefully checking everything installed on the boat so you can utilize the depth finder in the waters successfully.
The extensive guide that comes with the manual is convenient for sorting out most of your problems and fish finder issues. Furthermore, the informational videos available on Google and YouTube can help you sort out the difficulties you may face. You can also check out the installation video to see how it’s usually done.
Alfred Jenkins is a professional fisherman for the last five years. He’s been fishing in many locations worldwide, including Alaska, Chile, and Spain. He has successfully caught over 100 different fish species, including Blue Marlins, Bonefish, Permits, and many other names to mention on the list. He is a true fisherman who spends most of his spare days on the water and loves every second of it.
