I have a Minn Kota Power Drive(slide out and drop model WITHOUT the built in transducer) and I'm looking to see if any of you have come up with a slick way to mount a transducer to this model type trolling motor.

Let me clarify, mounting the transducer is not the issue, but rather how to run the wire up the shaft.

I have the exact same TM and just mounted the transducer with a big radiator clame and then tie-wrapped the cable up the shaft. It is very sloppy and loose and you have to be very careful when raising or lowering the TM but, it does work and I've been using this for over a year. They wanted like $300 to upgrade the MK to add the built in transducer and it isn't worth it to me. I also have the iPilot and consider it a piece of junk. The spot lock is a joke and won't even come close to the advertised 10' dia locking area. And, worse yet, you can't use a wireless foot control with the iPilot on the PD V-2. MK sucks in my book.

You are the first one who said he did not like the I-pilot. i got the conversion unit for Christmas and it works like a champ on the spot lock. I can throw out a buoy and push spot lock and at anytime I can reach over and pick up the buoy. If yous isn't doing it you have a defective unit. several of my buddies have the i-pilot and they all work as advertised.I would talk to minn kota.Don't miss the foot control remote is much handier and you are not tied to it.
Johnny

Check this thread: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=380379&highlight=transducer+minnkota