So I purchased a new Hawkeye portable that runs on AAA batteries a while back and have been trying to come up with a good system for using it in the canoe. After feedback from a number of you guys, this is what I'm doing.

I found a tiny rubbermaid container that houses everything safely when I'm portaging. The screen, the transducer and cables, spare batteries and a tiny suction cup mount all fit nicely inside this container.

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I melted a tiny slot in the lid to run the cable through. Transducer goes in the box with enough water to cover it, screen sticks onto the lid tightly with the suction cup and is adjustable.

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If anyone is wondering, the yellow thing is a small foam floaty thing that came with the unit to float the transducer for ice fishing. I jammed it on top and it works perfectly as it protects the transducer somewhat and sits snugly against the underside of the lid when it's closed giving it some stability. It doesn't slide around or move at all.

I'm getting ready for my first trip of the year in a few days and tried this out locally last weekend. Worked flawlessly, got a perfect signal using it this way.


 

I like it whenever you can use the KISS principle to make DIY outdoor gear.

I'm looking forward to your real world review.
The claimed battery life is 30 continuous hours?

That seems excessive to me but would be great if you prove it true. 8-)

solotripper wrote on May 6^th, 2018 at 4:41pm:

I like it whenever you can use the KISS principle to make DIY outdoor gear. I'm looking forward to your real world review. The claimed battery life is 30 continuous hours? That seems excessive to me but would be great if you prove it true. 8-)

Yeah, I'm skeptical about the claim of 30 hours. Will let you know how it goes!

The batteries fit inside the unit? 

Solopaddler -

I got the very same Hawkeye unit as a Christmas gift.  I was going to "puddy" the transducer to the kevlar on the bottom of my Prism somewhat towards the front end of the vessel.  I would do this on a trip-to-trip basis. My thinking was to run the wiring back to my sliding seat (ie. I would be monitoring fish & depth as I was about to pass over them).  It would all stay in place through portaging, etc.  All I would have to do is plug in my monitor when "fishing time" rolled around.

I find myself wondering if your system offers an advantage I haven't thought about... other than the fact that it is "tried & true" while my system hasn't yet been put to the test!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Jimbo   8-)

TomT wrote on May 6^th, 2018 at 7:06pm:

The batteries fit inside the unit?

Yep. Six AAA batteries fit right in the back of the unit.

Jimbo wrote on May 6^th, 2018 at 9:04pm:

Solopaddler - I got the very same Hawkeye unit as a Christmas gift.  I was going to "puddy" the transducer to the kevlar on the bottom of my Prism somewhat towards the front end of the vessel.  I would do this on a trip-to-trip basis. My thinking was to run the wiring back to my sliding seat (ie. I would be monitoring fish & depth as I was about to pass over them).  It would all stay in place through portaging, etc.  All I would have to do is plug in my monitor when "fishing time" rolled around. I find myself wondering if your system offers an advantage I haven't thought about... other than the fact that it is "tried & true" while my system hasn't yet been put to the test! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Jimbo   8-)

Seems most people do it your way Jim, so I'd say it's pretty tried and true as well.

There's undoubtedly advantages to both methods I think. This is simple and it seems to work well so I'm happy.