I am in the market for a mount for my new Lowrance HDS3. I have read that Ram ball mounts do not hold in rough water. Have any of you experienced problems or successes with Ram ball mounts?

Thanks

depends on where you are gonna mount the unit. I wouldn't use a ball mount on the bow with any unit with 10" screen or bigger. If you are gonna put it on the console I would use the 2.25 ball with the short arm or the swing arm mount.

Wow, Lowrance is down to a 3 inch screen now? Not sure what size HDS you have, but I agree having a large screen at the bow on a ball mount can be challenging if you run rough water hard. I do have a 9 Touch on a D ball at the bow, but I readjust it to lay flat on the deck if I think the ride will be rough. It seems to hold fine like that ("D" size mount, which is 2.25"). RAM also has an even larger E size, but I don't recall the diameter.

I did not care for the type that is just a flat bridge over the TM pedal tray because those only aim the unit directly to the rear of the boat. While I put a foot on the TM pedal as needed, I'm actually standing to one side or the other a lot, and want the screen rotated so that I can easily see it as I fish.

E-locks can slow down theft to an extent, but remember that you need to through-bolt whatever base you use, or a thief can easily take the unit with the mount attached by unscrewing the base from the boat in seconds if you don't through-bolt it. (Use stainless nylon lock-nuts.) Mine is now more secure than many flush-mount installations as those often have only 4 sheet metal screws holding them in place.

Yes they hold. I've never had a prob on rough H20 on Ivie or Buchanan.

Thanks for the replies, keep them coming. To clarify a little, I am putting a Hds-9 on the console. I would need the medium shaft length.

The 2 1/4 mount will hold up to 10" fine, just fold it down while running and pull your units off while trailering. You can get as much or more wear put on the balls by trailering as on the water.

You won't have any issue with a HDS 9 at the console on a D size ball. As pointed out, the joints do wear over time, and removing that unit during trailering can extend their life considerably. Units mounted to the side of the console are also exposed to road hazards. (On a related note, I learned that Power-Pole covers aren't just for show - they help stop road vibration wiggle of the PP that can add considerable wear & tear to the bushings/joints.)

My HDS 7 is on a Ram mount and in rough water it will drop down and I will have to readjust it but were talking 3' waves whitecaps with wake boat action in which I will slow down to keep my back from .... and my balls.... Other than that it holds really well even after 4 years.

Must have been on Canyon.


I have the big ram, short arm model attached to a hds12. It holds fine after I put the hurt to it while tightening it down. I'm not in love with it; but it does the job.

Mine have done a GREAT job. Garmin 7608 up front and 70s at console!