I'm thinking of buying a Fishing Buddy depthfinder. In order to set it up on a kickboat, do I need that holster-type deal they sell, or can I just mount it on the frame of the kickboat? I'd prefer to have it on the left-hand side.

Same question with my tube - do I need the holster, or can I mount it on my existing rod rack?

I use the holster strap and it works ok.There are a few drawbacks.
I can't row with it in the water and in real shalow water you have to raise it up so the transducer doesn't hit bottom.I would suggest getting a real graph and use a motercycle battery.I have some issues with the fishing buddy.The biggest one being you can't adjust the sensetiity on the unit.Hope this info helps.

Thanks for the info. I was hoping to buy something I could use on both my kickboat & tube. But, I had heard about the problems with using it in shallow water. With the motorcycle battery, is there still enough room for a tackle bag in the rack that sits behind the seat of your kickboat?

I use the hard-plastic, adjustable bracket that comes with the unit. I've attached a 1x4 piece of wood onto the side of my frame, using cable-tie straps. The bracket mounts onto the wood piece nicely. This allows me to drop the Fishin' Buddy in & out as required, in a fixed, vertical position. As Dave ('Swampy') stated, though, you pretty much have to pull the unit out when rowing, cuz it starts 'bouncing' against the water resistance when you get up to speed.

You can't beat the portability with it needing only 3 'C' batteries, though. I have the '2250' model from a year or two ago, which is a great improvement over the lesser units, which have a much lower 'vertical pixel' count (i.e., poorer resolution). Works fine for me!

(p.s. Also, you **CAN** adjust the sensitivity on the 2250!)

Thanks, Jeff. Do have to mount it behind your seat, or, with the 1 X 4 piece of wood, can you mount it on the side of the frame for easier visibility? Also, is the shallow-water thing much of a problem?

I happen to have frame tubes that come up on each side, in a basically vertical position, that hold both my tackle packs and the oar locks. That's what I've attached my 1x4 board to. That allows me to mount the fishfinder directly to my left, outside the port-side pontoon, where it tucks in behind the angle of my oars, which are mounted about a foot ahead of where I attach the fishfinder bracket. It fits well there, with little or no interference with the oars. I *could* actually put a similar mount on the other side, so I could place the fishfinder on whichever side was more appropriate relative to the shore, but the left-mounted setup generally works fine.

As for shallow water, it's really only when I get right up on the shore -- usually only when I'm getting out -- that the finder hits bottom. The transducer is only dropping about 3-5 inches below the lowest point on the pontoons, so I'd have to be in less than a foot of water, or thereabouts, to hit bottom with it. I'm usually aware enough to think about it before I stand up to get out, in which case I just slide the unit up & out of the mounting bracket. Basically, if I'm 5 feet or more off the bank, it's generally not an issue.

I'll see if I can get a picture for you to show how I've got the thing mounted (might take awhile, but hang tight).

I'm sure, as with all of the rest of us (yourself included), you'll be able to come up with an ingenious solution to suit your needs -- just like your B.A.S.S. article awhile back about the 'noodle' float for a floating livewell.

I, for one, stand by the Fishin' Buddy -- especially the higher-resolution models -- as a viable alternative for the modern-day tuber. Someday, I *might* convert to one of those 12-volt setups, in which case I could ALSO rig up an aerated livewell, 6-speaker stereo system, etc. Meanwhile, it's all about cable ties, duct tape & velcro -- whatever works to float your boat!


Let me know what you come up with!

Thanks for all the info, dude. U da man!

tell me about that floating noodle live well thing.

A lot of us in the Sonoma club use the large fish baskets available thru places like Bass Pro Shops. So, you can make a floating model by buying something like the "Fun Noodle," one of those long, cylindrical water toys. You can then cut it & bend it to fit the top of your basket & attach it with cable ties.

Andy,

you think that getting you one of those fishin buddies is goign to help you?, you need a lot more than jungle karma, and a fishin buddie to compete with me next year, i think i would just save the money if i were you

You're a real comedian, aren't you? K-dog, this Forum is for we who are serious anglers with serious fishing-related comments, great insights, deep thoughts... Anyhow, I'm going to pound you @ Fountaingrove with some heavy jungle karma on February 24th. You thought Ray's 17+ lb sack was good in 2000? Just wait...