Transducer cord in the hole

[bigfoot86]

I've seen some people recently that have bypassed using their floats for their transducers and just hanging the cord over the edge of the hole.  I would think that couldn't be too good for the wires inside.  I can see how the float gets in the way pulling fish up thru the hole. 

[Huntindave]

I don't use a float nor does the wire bend over the edge of the hole.  That is why some/most un its have a transducer arm.  The transducer arm hangs over the hole with the transducer hanging straight down the hole.

[bigfoot86]

I don't use a float nor does the wire bend over the edge of the hole.  That is why some/most un its have a transducer arm.  The transducer arm hangs over the hole with the transducer hanging straight down the hole.

Well I made a diy flasher box for my helix.  I would imagine if I can get my hands on one of those transducer arms the rubber grommet that comes with it should be pretty universal for most transducer cord brands. 

[Figure ate]

I just dangle mine over the edge of the ice. No worse than dangling it from a transducer arm. Been working for years now

[Huntindave]

I just dangle mine over the edge of the ice. No worse than dangling it from a transducer arm. Been working for years now

If that works for you great.  My experience is I had my cable freeze into the side of the hole at times when it is hanging over the edge.  Never had the cable freeze into the transducer arm.

[Figure ate]

I don't stay at a hole outside long enough to have it freeze in. If I'm staying put somewhere, I'm in my otter.

[hardwater diehard]

The  concern with just hanging the transducer over the edge of your case is it could get cut by a sharp edge of your DIY box (piece of rubber could fix that) the other problem is the transducer may not hang level if not straight down and the cord could freeze to the edge of the hole also . The Vexilar float..transducer arm and rubber stopper should work on your DIY box.

[bigfoot86]

The  concern with just hanging the transducer over the edge of your case is it could get cut by a sharp edge of your DIY box (piece of rubber could fix that) the other problem is the transducer may not hang level if not straight down and the cord could freeze to the edge of the hole also . The Vexilar float..transducer arm and rubber stopper should work on your DIY box.

Thank you, humminbird did give me the foam float for the transducer when I purchased it, so maybe I'll try that but I like the transducer arm probably the best.

[hardwater diehard]

Thank you, humminbird did give me the foam float for the transducer when I purchased it, so maybe I'll try that but I like the transducer arm probably the best.

Could use an Eye bolt too..make it removable from your DIY case ..just open it up some to allow the transducer cable to pass through ..could add some shrink tubing too

[Iceassin]

No foam float. I use the eye bolt that came with the Genz pack.

I allow the ducer to hug the edge of the hole while I'm fishing and there is little chance it will freeze there:

1) I remove it each time I hook a fish to keep line from wrapping around it while reeling in.

2) If it is sitting in that hole long enough to freeze, I'm not pulling enough fish through it. Time to move.

[Unclegillhunter]

Thank you, humminbird did give me the foam float for the transducer when I purchased it, so maybe I'll try that but I like the transducer arm probably the best.

i bought a transducer arm for my Helix. the HB float would not set straight in the hole. My vex float did different kind of foam I guess/
Keep it safe! JDL

[bigfoot86]

i bought a transducer arm for my Helix. the HB float would not set straight in the hole. My vex float did different kind of foam I guess/
Keep it safe! JDL

Does humminbird sell one or did you get one from a different maker?

[jbird68]

I don' t like using a float. It just gets in the way. On my Lowrance Elite-5 I mounted an eyebolt to the plastic kit. My Showdown came with a cheap plastic extendable arm. I replaced it with an aluminum arm froma guy selling them on Etsy. On my Garmin set-up I used the broken plastic transducer from my Showdown, drilled a hole through it and bolted it to the DIY mount I made. It swings left and right but does not extend. With the arms I just pick up my unit and transducer all together when I am fighting a fish. The cable does not hang over the top edge of the hole.   

[Fisherman 1]

Get a couple feet of 1/4 inch wire loom to slide over the transducer cable, it will prevent it from bending too sharp.

[esox_xtm]

Get a couple feet of 1/4 inch wire loom to slide over the transducer cable, it will prevent it from bending too sharp.

[kpd145]

As long as your ducer isnt a boat anchor and you dont swing it around like a windmill.

The wires should be fine. 

The float is not just for keeping ducer centered. It also makes sure your cord doesnt freeze to the wall of your ice hole. That's the fastest way to break a cord. 

[river_scum]

shouldn't hurt the wires.  I have seen some people abuse them pretty good for years and years.  if it bothers you just make shallow hole beside fishing hole and set it in there.  I like that best anyhow so I don't get line wrapped in it.

I only ruined 1 ducer cord in my lifetime.  I bought some eater rabbits from an amish guy to butcher.  well I just tossed them in the back of truck cap to take them home. one of them bit threw my finder cord. lol  I accept that as my fault.

[3300]

you can buy a marcum arm and stopper for less than 20$. lots of online stores sell them. seen one made out out of two closed end wrenches. there are aftermarket arms being made. i don't have links. a school is making them for non profit and link is in best ice deals lets hear em topic. theirs is aluminum and two engravings shipped for a 20 spot.

when you use your arm, all you have to do is remove the air from under the transducer. so only less than one inch of it goes in the center of the hole.

another way is drill dedicated holes for electronics and fishing. i use a triangle and fish the bottom two holes and sonar in top hole. you can let the transducer sit just below the ice plate and not worry about line cuts or tangles. be sure the transducer isn't touching the side of the ice hole or it won't point straight down where it needs to be.

when scouting i use one hole and keep less than inch in the hole for marking and fishing.

[dekatronic]

you can buy a marcum arm and stopper for less than 20$. lots of online stores sell them. seen one made out out of two closed end wrenches. there are aftermarket arms being made. i don't have links. a school is making them for non profit and link is in best ice deals lets hear em topic. theirs is aluminum and two engravings shipped for a 20 spot.

when you use your arm, all you have to do is remove the air from under the transducer. so only less than one inch of it goes in the center of the hole.

another way is drill dedicated holes for electronics and fishing. i use a triangle and fish the bottom two holes and sonar in top hole. you can let the transducer sit just below the ice plate and not worry about line cuts or tangles. be sure the transducer isn't touching the side of the ice hole or it won't point straight down where it needs to be.

when scouting i use one hole and keep less than inch in the hole for marking and fishing.

+1 on drilling separate hole for electronics 

[filetandrelease]

 X2

[bootstrap]

2nd hole. good place to toss the shorts too. they help keep it from freezing

[Unclegillhunter]

Does humminbird sell one or did you get one from a different maker?

Humminbird does not offer one. I picked mine up from coby manufacturing. Need to contact them though. put mine on my Helix 5 ice and it kind of flops around. Don't know if I am doing something wrong or not.
Keep it safe! JDL

[bigfoot86]

I wonder if they supply the little beveled rubber grommet or whatever that goes around the transducer cord that fits in the end of the transducer arm like marcum has .

[jethro]

I like using the float like Uncut Angling does. He often lays the float flat on the ice and the cord hangs over the edge. When he's not using Panoptix of course.

[3300]

ask if it comes with hardware also.

[bigfoot86]

ask if it comes with hardware also.

That's cool! I like it

[hardwater diehard]

I wonder if they supply the little beveled rubber grommet or whatever that goes around the transducer cord that fits in the end of the transducer arm like marcum has .

Lots of retailers stock these

https://store.vexilar.com/replacement-stopper-for-iceducer-transducer-float-stopper-2-per-package.html

https://store.vexilar.com/replacement-eye-bolt-for-suspending-transducer-on-ultra-and-propack-ii.html

https://store.vexilar.com/ice-ducer-float-and-stopper.html

[Unclegillhunter]

I like using the float like Uncut Angling does. He often lays the float flat on the ice and the cord hangs over the edge. When he's not using Panoptix of course.

Well just goes to show! My problem with the Humminbird float was that it listed to one side. Probably didn’t affect the way the ducer hangs just gets on my nerves. Never even considered just laying the darn thing flat on the ice! One more reason why I love this site!
Keep it safe! JDL

[Unclegillhunter]

I wonder if they supply the little beveled rubber grommet or whatever that goes around the transducer cord that fits in the end of the transducer arm like marcum has .

If you already have an ice transducer with a float just use the stopper from that. Or diehard was helpful enough to provide links where you can pick one up.
Keep it safe! JDL

[maddogg]

ask if it comes with hardware also.

It comes with all the hardware,I have one and its top quality and made in the USA by students.