Holy cow this thing is huge!

Just bought a HDS7 Gen 2 with SS and can't imagine fishing at Fork for more than 15 minutes with this transducer without knocking it off. How do you guys deal with this?

Mount it inside your jackplate if you have one. I used some $2 framing brackets from Lowes. This setup has worked great for me so far.

no jackplate

Have same issue no jack plate on older model skeeter. Only option for clear line of sight was to use the bracket and mount it below the step on transom. Have not busted it yet but pulled it off twice because I mounted too low. But got a reading on pad...... I had to mount it higher. Mount it high enough so the step gives some protection. Also there is a after market spring loaded bracket that is suppose to flip up if you go directly over a stump. My issue was hitting stumps side ways while turning or negotiating stumps on troll motor. I predominately fish Fork and it's been on two years since I put it on. Slap it on a go fish you will love it. Make sure to use a level to get it as level as possible in both directions. Btw J B weld makes a product called under water weld that is awesome when you tear the screws out. Lol. Hey my skeeter zx is 20 plus years old and still running strong. The patch work just adds character to the scratches. Lol

Thanks Rog.

My boat was born when I was a SR. in high school, so it has a few character scars as well.

I just couldn't believe how big the transducer was...I have had issues knocking the smaller transducers off and couldn't imagine trolling this thing through timber. My biggest concern is when backing out of a jam and hitting a stump square while going backwards. I just don't want to have to keep buying these things....they are $$$$! LOL.

How far below the water line can you mount them?

Anybody else have suggestions?

Mount it directly to the bottom of your boat if you have space.

I don't have a step. If it is mounted well to the bottom, do you think it will hold up well to the occasional stump bumps that will undoubtedly happen on fork? I'm not talking about hitting while on pad, but just trolling around and idle speed.

I am really second guessing installing the lss2 to my boat. I have no jack plate and no hull step. Am I overthinking this?

If I'm not mistaken there is actually a guard for this transducer to keep from damaging it... A buddy of mine was talking about one... Do some research I'm sure you can find it.

Honestly.... Mine is on the bottom of my hull identical to the above picture... They are protected a little more because of the hull design on the ranger and we can do this... But really if you amount it to a bracket just make sure the bracket would bend before the transducer would break or tear up.... That's what I would do... But honestly I think you will be fine doing whatever...

I have two, Installed second on the trolling motor. Homemade bracket. Works perfect.

boomer - thanks for the suggestion, but the graph will be at the console so the TM option really won't work for me.

I have also looked at the transducer guards / shields and they really don't have a solution for my situation. Those are typically for under JP or step mounting, not just for sticking off the back of the transom. I may try to southern engineer something, but this is frustrating.

I talked to Lowrance customer support today and they basically said that with that age of boat that the LSS2 type transducer wouldn't be a good fit for me. So all you guys with older boats who are saving your money for this type of equipment, don't waste your money. Or you could just mount the equipment and keep replacing it at over $300 a pop.

I've had an LSS2 transducer mounted above the step of my old Skeeter for several years. Never had an issue.

Just make sure the transducer can see beyond the sponsons so you don't blind parts of the beam.

What does the age of your boat have to do with how the electronics work?? I have Lowrance hds units and lss2 structure scan on my 96 boat....works the same on my boat as it would on a 2015 boat...