How to Mount Your PingLive Sonar Transducer to Your Watercraft

Experienced anglers know how to get the most out of their gear, from knowing what tackle to use in each situation to how to position your boat or pleasure craft to get right into the action. At Accuphy, we believe that efficient equipment and knowledge make a difference on the water which is why today’s article provides a comprehensive overview of the several different ways you can fasten your PingLive Sonar transducer to your watercraft. 

Table of Contents

How Many Mounting Options Are There? 

We know that not every fisherman has access to the same watercrafts while they’re on the water. This is why our transducer is designed to fulfill three unique approaches to mounting our transducer to your boat or pleasure craft.

  1. Barrel mount;

  2. Shaft mount; and

  3. Panoramic mount.

Key Benefits to Each Mounting Option 

Benefits: Pole Shaft Mount

  • Portable & flexible setup: The pole/shaft mount lets you attach the transducer to any standard pole or shaft, so you can use your PingLive on a kayak, small boat, or even from the shore with minimal installation. You can quickly raise or lower the sonar by hand, making it easy to experiment with different depths or to stow it when not in use.
  • Great for shallow or tight spots: When fishing in shallow water or areas with lots of cover, the pole mount excels. You can dip the transducer just below the surface to see under docks, overhanging trees, or around submerged structure without having a bulky rig sticking out. This makes it very handy for ice fishing holes or scanning flats from a small boat.
  • Easy on entry-level setups: Since the pole mount is simple and modular (no drilling required), it’s a friendly option for beginners. You don’t need fancy hardware – just clamp on the bracket and go. This keeps costs down and makes PingLive’s sonar quick to deploy for casual or part-time anglers.

Benefits: Trolling Motor Barrel Mount

  • Space-saving design: The barrel mount clips right onto your trolling motor’s shaft housing, making it ideal if deck space is tight. In other words, this mount tucks under your motor, so it won’t clutter the transom or get in your way.
  • Steady forward view: With the sonar fixed on the motor barrel, you always know exactly where it’s pointing – straight ahead in the direction you’re going. This is great for scanning the path ahead for structure and fish without worrying about holding or adjusting the unit.
  • Works with most motors: The PingLive barrel mount supports a wide range of trolling motor shafts (up to ~28.6 mm with the included liners), so it fits many trolling setups. That means entry- to intermediate-level anglers can easily attach the sonar to their existing motor bracket without major modifications.

Benefits: Panoramic View Mount

  • Wide-area scanning: In Panoramic View mode the system “scans large areas to easily spot structures and fish”, so with this mount you can sweep a larger swath of water ahead and to the sides of your boat. It’s perfect for covering water quickly and finding fish or cover over a wide area.
  • Fish-spotting made easy: Because you’re looking forward and side-to-side, you get more reaction time on spotted fish. Schools, structure, or bait that run in front of you will light up on screen before you pass over them. It’s a huge convenience advantage – you “cover more water,” as we put it, and can adjust your approach on the fly.

Each mounting method offers its own advantages. The pole shaft mount is super portable and great for beginners or small boats; the barrel mount is compact and rock-solid when you’re using a trolling motor; and the panoramic mount unlocks PingLive’s wide-view mode for covering big areas in shallow water. Choose the one that fits how and where you fish, and you’ll get clear, real-time sonar images without a lot of fuss.

Mounting Your PingLive Sonar Transducer to Your Shaft

Quick setup video:

*For this setup, you will need the parts from bags I, II, and III.

  1. Detach the shaft-mount bracket (S4) and remove the four screws (S1).

  2. Take out the front half of the shaft-mount bracket (S6).

  3. If the trolling motor shaft is 28.6 mm (1.125 in.) or smaller in diameter, remove the rubber liner (S5) from the hardware bag. Place the rubber liner (S5) onto the shaft-mount brackets (S4, S6).

  4. Align the bracket (S6), ensuring that letter 'A' and the arrow are pointing upward.

  5. Secure the shaft-mount bracket (S4, S6) around the shaft and liner. (Rubber liner (S5) not required for shafts larger than 28.6 mm (1.125 in.) in diameter.)

  6. Insert the screws (S1) into the bracket and tighten them using an M5 hex wrench. 

  7. (Optional) Adjust the bracket by transitioning the trolling motor between deployed and stowed positions to ensure proper placement. 

  8. Remove the securing knob (S2) from the hardware bag. 

  9. Attach the transducer to the mount (S6) and hand-tighten the knob (S2). (Ensure the rubber washer (S3) is placed on the knob (S2) before securing. 

  10. Secure the transducer cable along the shaft or another stable location. 

  11. Route the cable carefully to the sonar module while avoiding: 

    1. Contact with the propeller when the motor is running.

    2. Placement near electrical wiring or other interference sources.

    3. Pinching when the motor is deployed or stowed. 

  12. Adjust the transducer to your preferred angle and tighten the securing knob (S2).

Barrel Mounting Your PingLive Sonar Transducer to Your Trolling Motor

Quick setup video: *For this setup, you will need the parts from bags III and IV.

  1. Place the rubber liner (B5) between the barrel and (B2) mount (bag IV).

  2. Secure the mount (B2) using the hose clamp (B3) (Bag IV). Ensure that letter 'B' and the arrow are facing up.

  3. Attach the transducer and tighten the knob (B1) (Ensure rubber washer (B4) is attached properly).

Mounting PingLive for Panoramic View

Quick setup video:*For this setup, you will need the parts from bags I, II, and III.

  1. Remove the extension arm (P1), the front half of the mounting bracket (P9), and the short knob (P3) from the hardware bag.

  2. Take out the back half of the mounting bracket (P7) and the four screws (P6) from the hardware bag.

  3. Remove the long knob (P5) from the hardware bag.

  4. Secure the shaft-mount bracket (P9, P7) around the shaft and liner.

  5. If the trolling motor shaft is 28.6 mm (1.125 in.) or smaller, take out the rubber liner (P8) (both) from the hardware bag. Place the rubber liner (P8) onto the shaft-mount brackets (P7, P9).

  6. Align the letter 'C' and the arrow pointing upward on the front half of the mounting bracket (P9) before attaching it to the trolling motor shaft. (The perspective mode bracket features an 11-degree angle, allowing the extension arm to transition smoothly between all three sonar views).

  7. Place the bracket (P9) around the rubber liner (P8), insert the screws (P6), and secure them using an M5 hex wrench. (Rubber liner (P8) not required for shafts larger than 28.6 mm (1.125 in.) in diameter).

  8. (Optional) Move the trolling motor between deployed and stowed positions to test the bracket placement and make adjustments if needed. 

  9. With the 90-degree angle facing downward, attach the shorter extension arm (P1) to the mounting bracket (P9) using the short knob (P3). 

  10. Position the transducer below the longer end of the extension arm (P1) and secure it with the long knob (P5). 

  11. Secure the transducer cable along the motor shaft or another stable location. 

  12. Route the transducer cable to the sonar module while following these precautions:

    1. Keep the cable away from the propeller to prevent damage.

    2. Avoid placing it near electrical wiring or interference sources.

    3. Ensure the cable is not pinched when the trolling motor is stowed or deployed.

    4. (For extra cable length, an optional extension cable can be used.)

    5. Adjust the transducer to the preferred angle for the desired viewing mode and secure it in place.

Stay Connected on Everything Accuphy

This article has covered the majority of mounting approaches the average angler will need. However, if you are looking for more information on how to attach your transducer to your watercraft, please feel free to fill out our Contact Us form with your inquiry and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

To learn more about Accuphy products and how to get the most out of your gear, visit our news page. Lastly, make sure you subscribe to our emails to get regular updates on our products, software updates, and more.

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