Transducer mounting question

[mmccombs]

I am going to be getting a new depthfinder (HDS 7) for the console.  A couple of questions.  I am a little irritated because Bass Pro only sells them with the skimmer transducer.  I would just assume buy it with no transducer and pick the one I want.  I have a HDS 7 on the trolling motor and I really like it. 

The boat is a 2001 Triton TR-20

1.  Am I better off doing a shoot thru, or external transducer mount?  The current one is a shoot thru, and I get what I think are decent images.  I've heard you lose some sensitivity with the shoot-thru.  Do you get the same quality images at high speeds with internal vs. external? 

2.  If I do shoot thru will the skimmer transducer mount just as easily as the puck style?  I know the temp won't work if I do it that way.  I assume there is a temperature probe I could purchase and install to get temp.  The two depthfinders will be networked, so I suppose I could reference the temp gauge from the trolling motor, but obviously that wouldn't do me any good on plane.



Thanks,
Micah

[fishin couillon]

I do believe that you lose some sensitivity. But on the other hand you don't have that chance of knocking one off that's mounted on the transom. It's some give and take for either one. I put mine in the bilge. If they are setup in the perfect spot it will read but you always get to that point where it will stop reading due to the turbulance under the pad.

If you want temp on the back, then i would suggest getting the shoot thru with the remote temp. It has a "pigtail" with a temp probe on the end that you just mount to the transom or jackplate. I do not believe that you can share temp over the network as it's on a ducer and not the network. If you want it over the network then you would have to get the ducer without a temp and then get the N2K temp probe.

[mmccombs]

Thanks FC.  They way your unit is mounted is the way our current unit is mounted and I am planning on mounting the new unit the same way.  I Hope the fishing has been good for you so far this year.  I have only gotten out once and managed to catch one 10 inch bass on a 1 ounce rattletrap while muskie fishing.  I'll be putting the new units to work much more in April, and I am really looking forward to some Kentucky Lake ledge fishing this summer.

[caponder]

I've never had a transom mounted temp probe that did any good on plane.  It's not in the water when you're on plane.