Be careful about cutting the transducer wire and getting it connected back that the shielding is kept in tact. I cut my wire down too for a more custom arrangement the first time and ended up replacing the transducer and leaving the full length of wire because the splice seem to cause bad  depth readings, this was seconded by "depth finder rep" who also mention this could happen when shorting the wire.
May be DD has some good tips for a splicing this wire.

Nothing like finding fish that won't bite! ;)

//Windsailor