Ulterra Transducer Install

[Yam]

I recently got the Ulterra and love it. However, the shaft has a belt running up it. Thus, I can't dremel out a groove for my transducer wire.

I wanted to do something that was as neat as possible but kept the wire safe from pinching. After many hours of trial and error, here is a quick video of my solution.

drive.google.com/file/d/0B2AaSnS9KKyCOGJkWUhrbTV1S2M/view?usp=drivesdk

I used 3/8" recoil air hose, a bunch of vinyl tape and a flexible piece of tube to force the coils into place when stowing and to keep them compressed and out of the way when deploying. I have tested this version at all extremes and I'm finally convinced my solution will work. I really like not having to route the wires to the head and back down the coiled wire on the TM.

[primetime]

Apr 1, 2017 17:20:52 GMT -5 Yam said:

I recently got the Ulterra and love it. However, the shaft has a belt running up it. Thus, I can't dremel out a groove for my transducer wire.

I wanted to do something that was as neat as possible but kept the wire safe from pinching. After many hours of trial and error, here is a quick video of my solution.

drive.google.com/file/d/0B2AaSnS9KKyCOGJkWUhrbTV1S2M/view?usp=drivesdk

I used 3/8" recoil air hose, a bunch of vinyl tape and a flexible piece of tube to force the coils into place when stowing and to keep them compressed and out of the way when deploying. I have tested this version at all extremes and I'm finally convinced my solution will work. I really like not having to route the wires to the head and back down the coiled wire on the TM.

Looks good. I have the ulterra and not sure if I want to put the transducer on the tm or hang it over the side on a mount. Could you post up some more pics or how to video? Thanks, Harley

[primetime]

I also like the mount you installed the ulterra on.

[Yam]

The mount allows me to use my anchor locker. It was installed by the dealer. I modified the heck out of it to make it more stable and level and use it as a wire and cable home as well.

In terms of your two options, I considered both as well. However I am pretty sure that watching the trolling motor deploy on its own then lowering a transducer by hand would drive me nuts! The engineer inside me would not allow me to sleep.

In terms of pictures, I don't have anything to add value. It's simply reCoil air hose wrapped with vinyl tape. That piece that is connected to the mount is simply a stiff but flexible tube wrapped with tape. My solution took me a long time to tweak and serves only to provide ideas for others. Your solution would need to be modified for your setup.

An easier and probably more reliable solution is to simply deploy the trolling motor, connect the transducer, turn your motor 3 revolutions then mount the cable on your rub rail with a bit of slack in a place that makes sense. When you stow the motor, a loop will then form and hang down where you won't see it in the boat. I didn't use this solution because I wanted something neater. But the effort I put into my neat sickness is probably not worth the effort for most normal folks.

[primetime]

Again, I really like the mount for the ulterra. Can the mount be purchased?
Its hard to see how you connected the air hose or the stiff flexible tube. I assume it goes to your fish finder from there. Just trying to figure it out. Just bought a new fish finder and will be installing the older one on the bow. Thanks.

[Brian]

I epoxied a piece of PVC to the steering housing so that the transducer cable goes up to the TM head.

Your solution of going under the mount is more better. Less opportunity for it to tangle and separates it from the power cable so you're less likely to pick up noise!

[KB]

I have a question for you guys. Is there a reason or difference in what you guys are doing versus installing another nose cone with a transducer off the non salt water ulterra. I guess I'm asking is the bolt on type transducer better? Reason for asking is I to have a ulterra and have been wanting to install a graph up front, I call a few places and prices getting a nose cone install and it seems it will be right at about $200 for nose piece and harness. Thanks for any replies.

[Yam]

Apr 4, 2017 8:12:06 GMT -5 primetime said:

Again, I really like the mount for the ulterra. Can the mount be purchased?
Its hard to see how you connected the air hose or the stiff flexible tube. I assume it goes to your fish finder from there. Just trying to figure it out. Just bought a new fish finder and will be installing the older one on the bow. Thanks.

The mount was custom made for my boat. So no, you can't just order one. You could make one though to your liking.

In terms of the air hose, it's the coiled stuff that wraps around the shaft. It's just like Brian's only I taped mine... Mostly because my air hose was orange. That piece that is connected to my mount is just flexible tubing that is taped up. That mount is hollow and all my wires are under it. The transducer cable then comes out the side of it and connects to my graph.

Come check it out during the next tourney.

[Yam]

Apr 4, 2017 10:24:16 GMT -5 KB said:

I have a question for you guys. Is there a reason or difference in what you guys are doing versus installing another nose cone with a transducer off the non salt water ulterra. I guess I'm asking is the bolt on type transducer better? Reason for asking is I to have a ulterra and have been wanting to install a graph up front, I call a few places and prices getting a nose cone install and it seems it will be right at about $200 for nose piece and harness. Thanks for any replies.

Another nose cone is more expensive and probably voids your warranty. If I was going to do that option, I would just tap a hole into the motor housing and waterproof it.

[Yam]

Apr 4, 2017 13:47:59 GMT -5 Yam said:

Apr 4, 2017 8:12:06 GMT -5 primetime said:

Again, I really like the mount for the ulterra. Can the mount be purchased?
Its hard to see how you connected the air hose or the stiff flexible tube. I assume it goes to your fish finder from there. Just trying to figure it out. Just bought a new fish finder and will be installing the older one on the bow. Thanks.

The mount was custom made for my boat. So no, you can't just order one. You could make one though to your liking.

In terms of the air hose, it's the coiled stuff that wraps around the shaft. It's just like Brian's only I taped mine... Mostly because my air hose was orange. That piece that is connected to my mount is just flexible tubing that is taped up. That mount is hollow and all my wires are under it. The transducer cable then comes out the side of it and connects to my graph.

Come check it out during the next tourney.

To further clarify, the air hose is poly material and I had to cut a slit down it and put the wire inside of it. The same thing for the flex tube.

[KB]

Ok thanks yam.

[Brian]

Apr 4, 2017 10:24:16 GMT -5 KB said:

I have a question for you guys. Is there a reason or difference in what you guys are doing versus installing another nose cone with a transducer off the non salt water ulterra. I guess I'm asking is the bolt on type transducer better? Reason for asking is I to have a ulterra and have been wanting to install a graph up front, I call a few places and prices getting a nose cone install and it seems it will be right at about $200 for nose piece and harness. Thanks for any replies.

Mine was sidescan, so the built in transducer would not have worked.

[KB]

Ok I thought that when I seen yours thanks brain

[Yam]

Apr 4, 2017 15:54:25 GMT -5 KB said:

Ok I thought that when I seen yours thanks brain

Does the new nose cone get painted white?

[KB]

Apr 4, 2017 17:55:51 GMT -5 Yam said:

Apr 4, 2017 15:54:25 GMT -5 KB said:

Ok I thought that when I seen yours thanks brain

Does the new nose cone get painted white?

Not for that price they wanted $80 to paint.