LIP GRIPPER [ R IGG ING] FINDING THE RIGHT MOUNTING SYSTEMS
Mounts secure the head unit of the fishfinder to the ‘yak and allow the unit to pivot to improve visibility. U-BRACKETS
RIGID SEMI-INTEGRATED MOUNT WHAT IS IT?
The traditional U-mount has been around since the beginning and is still common. Unfortunately, small, curvy kayak cockpits are poorly suited to this style.
PROS
Big and beefy. If you have the will and the real estate, this setup is bombproof.
Big and beefy. You probably don’t have the will or the real estate!
CONS
Multiple rear-mounted cables require big holes in the hull and create awkward on-water assembly.
SUMMARY
Known to eat car paint when on roof racks. Best suited for our gas-powered brethren!
For ‘yak applications, integrated mono post mounts are a significant improvement over the U-bracket. The foot is much smaller, often the smallest available, facilitating adapter-free installation.
The compact footprint makes for easy mounting. If you don’t have enough room, you probably bought your ‘yak at Costco.
Easier on-water assembly, usually via a snap- together connection with no knobs to drop overboard.
Rear-mounted cable. Tedious to assemble in the splash zone.
Usually found only on compact units. Requires 20/20 vision.
A major improvement over the U-bracket but limited to smaller, budget-minded fishfinders.
FOLDING INTEGRATED MOUNT
This style has a folding mount with internally routed cables.
Compact footprint. While not as small as monoposts, these are still easily mounted or adapted to kayaks.
Idiot-proof on-water assembly. No wires, no knobs, just click it and fish.
Hidden cables. All connections are shielded from the splash zone.
Click-mounted head units have been known to unclick.
This system is the most kayak compatible as it generally has a small base, no knobs and folds flat for transportation.
FISHFINDER
YAK-SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS WHEN SHOPPING FOR SONAR
BY SEAN WHITE
Bang for the buck in marine electronics has gotten downright crazy-good. For less than $300 you can see underwater while simultaneously communicating with satellites in space. Incredible! With all of the technological razzle-dazzle to sort through, it’s no wonder the basics are often neglected. Unfortunately, overlooking the basics can lead to selecting a great fishfinder that is poorly suited for kayak fishing. Things to consider when determining kayak compatibility include the mounting system, power consumption and connections.
22 …KAYAK ANGLER SPRING 2011
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