I have a 21' Procraft fish/ski and would like the mount a Lowrance HDS7 that is visible from both the front deck and the driver's seat. I am looking at using a RAM mount with swing arms in the walkway between the windshields as about the only place that I see to put it.

I am trying to find out if anyone else has mounted one there and how sturdy these swing arms are being just attached to thin fiberglass.

This is the mount I am looking at:

http://www.basspro.com/RAM-Mounts�-Swing-Arm-Mounts/product/98428/-898383
Thanks for any input you might have.

I couldn't get your link to work bit I have and HDS8 on a 1 1/2" ball ram mount and it is working for me.

dpdpete,
I also have a fish/ski with the walkthrough windshield and that is where my HDS7 is mounted. I used a 6-7 inch square piece of 1/4 inch plywood behind the fiberglass to help strengthen it. Using the RAM mount base as my guide, I drilled holes thru the fiberglass and plywood and then ran screws through RAM mount base, fiberglass and then plywood and used the largest washers I could between the locknuts and the plywood. Been through quite a bit of rough water and have not had an issue yet.

Thanks MAK747, that is how I was envisioning doing it. Can you see the graph well enough when you are running the trolling motor?

I keep that graph turned towards the console, have another HDS-7 mounted on the bow. I could see how the 2D sonar from the console unit would be visible from the bow (my fishing partner views it from the back of the boat with no problem) but I don't think the side scan would be very easy to view.

I also have a Procraft Fish and Ski and I have a HB 898 mounted on a RAM mount in the walkway. I used toggle bolts behind the fiberglass to give it more support. It has worked fine. The plywood backing is probably even better.

The only problem I have is squeezing by when I am moving from front to back. I have good use and visibility of the unit from the front and back.

Stan

I didn't use any backing but the plywood seems like a good idea.

Look at pages 18-19, 20-21 in the 2011 Humminbird catalog.
The pictured unit is mounted on a fish-n-ski boat with a RAM mount. Don't know what the boat brand is though.