Thanks! It’s actually held up great after a years use. Appreciate you watching. You’re going to love the scope and not just for catching. I’ve learned a great deal about fish behavior and love using it to “treasure hunt.” It’ll make your home lake seem like a brand new lake.
Thx for your video! I heard you say you "might get a new ball for up front". If I may make a suggestion, look at the "Venzo bike repair stand" that bike mechanics use instead of a Ball mount. It will easily hold a 2" pole. And a 1 1/2" pvc pipe will fit inside a 2" pvc pipe with hardly any play... It's how I made my mount, fwiw. If I may, I'll explain how I build my pole mount. I made 2 actually because my Buddy needed a better one, so I made him one too. So I bought a 10' section of 2", and a 10' 1 1/2". I had 3' of 1" in my scrap that I used. I'll use 18" or so of it for handle, and 10" or so for the joining to the 1 1/2" pipe at the bottom to hold the Garmin mount. I needed: 1-Charlotte Pipe 1-1/2-in x 1-in 330 Psi Schedule 40 White Reducing Tee PVC Tee. Item #22737 Model #PVC 02400 5850 at Lowe's for my store price of $5.23. (I got 2 of them). This will go on the Top of the inside 1 1/2" pipe, and the 1" part of it I glued the 18" 1" handle straight into it. (works great). Your wiring will come out the top of this joint. Also need: 1-1 1/2" to 1" Bushing for the lowest part of the pole,,,Lowe's Item #23917 Model #PVC 02107 1150 for $2.27. Take this Bushing and glue it to a 10" or whatever piece of 1", and glue other end to the lower end of your 1 1/2" pipe. I also drilled a 1" or so hole above this Garmin 1" mount pipe in the 1 1/2" section. I then cut about a 9" long slot with a hacksaw leading out from this 1" hole. I put the Garmin connecting wire thru this hole,,,and out the Top end of the 1 1/2" pipe. 'How to clamp pipes and keep tension',,,I used a hose clamp from Autozone,,,Varese 1 3/4in to 2 3/4in EZ Hose Clamp 2 Pack Part # EZ36BK SKU # 862122 for $4.99. They are behind the counter,,on wall. Has a 'thumb screw' to tighen it. Ok, How do I get the 2" pipe to clamp tight to the 1 1/2"??? First I should should have said I made the 2" outside pipe 4' long, and I made the 1 1/2" pipe 5' long(sorry, that should have been first in the instructions). Cut some 1/4" slots about 3" long on the top of the 2" pipe. Make about 6 slots. I made them 1/4" wide or so, 3" long....and go all around the top of the pipe. I used a hack saw and a pair of pliers to twist out the little plastic slot waste. Your clamp will go over these slots and will tighten down against the 1 1/2" pipe is inside the 2" pipe, and the clamp will keep transducer snug. Buy a roll of camoflage Duct tape from Wally World, instead of painting it. I wrapped the camo tape around and around like a barber pole but can do it longways down the pipe is probably faster. I have $120 in parts in this build with the Venzo mount. I also built the second mount with a cheaper bike mount called 'Clothink' on Amazon for $37.99. There IS a problem with this one though; it will not quite open up 2" . I am having to build a little piece of wood about 1 1/4" by 2 1/2" x same thickness of clamp mounting and drill a couple 1/4" holes and add it to the clamping fulcrum part of this clamp. i.e. Ya gotta modify this thing to make it open up more than 2". The mod works though and this mount works just fine, and is $50 less overall cost. I have $70 in this build with the 'Clothink' model...or, you can go buy a fancy dancy one from Corn Pone? Crappie No Doubt About It is a good one,,,for sure, for $650 or so. Mine's camo and looks way, way better. Sorry, I don't do videos. Tooo old and don't know how, nor wanna learn. Can't take and post pics either. Ain't in it for the money,,,just helping out other poor boys like me. I hope you can figure this build out. Heck, I'm going to ask my local bait shop if he wants me to build him a few to sell for $200. Start a new business, huh.
Nice video, and I really like the Garmin Logo your wife did for you. Can you tell me how she did it? My wife's a crafter and maybe my better half can do it too...:)
Will do! I literally pieced it together at Home Depot. They usually have a scrap or precut section. You save money buying it longer sections, but since I was using different widths, I opted for the smaller pieces. I will have to go measure it out, but have been meaning to anyways. Keep in mind, these are just rough measurements. I will post them in the video and reply here when I get it together. Thanks for watching!
I like the mount you made. Do you have a detailed list of materials and lengths of your pvc pieces ? I want tomaybe have a more detailed breakdown of your build if possible... thanks in advance. Jim
Yes! I will say, searching for cover is much easier from the front. However, this has done its job for my purpose. I did replace the handle because I dropped the original in the lake during a bass tournament, lol.
It depends on what size RAM mount you are using. I have the 2” ball and it holds when trolling. I’ve had it up 5mph or so but the issue is spin of the pole usually. I have mine set to spin easily, but you can torque the ubolts to make a more snug fit. I’ve thought about making it to where I can lock it on place, but I’m usually scanning when trolling along looking for beds, so the handle is in my hand.
Does your transducer clear the bottom of the boat? Are you able to see 3 foot water on the the other side of the boat from the mounted side? I am in the process of planning a installation like yours and I did not know how low to mount to be able to see crappie on bed. Thanks
I have it past where my boat starts to curve upwards and it clears the hull. With the forward view, there is a section of the beam that goes up and will be off the graph, which probably would catch the boat. While it doesn’t make too much a difference that I can tell, I can’t say if that would bounce off and cause any interference. I don’t notice any difference from turning it to the other side past the boat. It definitely doesn’t affect seeing beds on the bottom. Forward view does better deeper regardless. I haven’t been shallow much since I’ve had it, because I just got it late fall. I am anxious to mark bream beds this summer with the perspective mode though in shallow water.
Hey, sorry. I was on vacation. I actually designed it in the middle of Home Depot, lol. I’ll be doing Father’s Day with my dad tomorrow, but will try to get the measurements on Monday. You can adjust the bottom to fit your boat. I’m also looking to change the handle. I didn’t glue it so I can rotate it when I stow it away while traveling. However, I lost it in the middle of a bass tournament my daughter was fishing. I made another one that will float, but would like something that can be tightened and loosened for adjustments.
This is the one I ordered through Bass Pro. However, they also make larger ones from other suppliers. Look up stern savers and you will find other options. I personally like the thickness of this one and the holes on the back allow for a solid hold for the epoxy. I also bolted mine simply because I had the hole there already, but it isn’t necessary once it fully cures. https ://www.basspro.com/shop/en/stern-saver-mini-transducer-mounting-system
I would have preferred it to come through the bottom, but the connector required a larger diameter to fit through and mount that came with the transducer only accommodated the smaller diameter. There are other mounts you might could get, but I was using the perspective mount from Garmin. I also didn't want to spend anymore on the build. Once you get over $150 or so, you can find a nice already made pole from Fishing Specialities that runs about $200.
Thanks. I think it was Rust-oleum Painter's Touch 2X flat black. I did sand most of it. In fact, I forgot to rough up the handle and it has gotten scrapped up easily. However, I also sprayed a clear sealer on it, but can't remember the brand. I did about 3 coats of paint with 2 coats of sealer. I was afraid to do more or too much of the sealer because it dissolved or smudged the paint if put on too thick. I don't know if it helped or not. Might be a wasted extra step.
I put it in the middle so it's easier to for those in the back to use. I still might put a base up front as well, which is why I went with the RAM mount. I can just add a ball up front for it. When I am alone, I think I will like it up front more. Thanks for watching and for the comment.
