This document will help guide you through the proper installation steps for the ACK Fish Finder Install Kit. The steps listed below will help you become acquainted with all of the items included in the kit, but be mindful that all kayaks are slightly different and you may have to customize your installation where necessary. Parts included in this kit: Additional Items/Tools Required: Pliers, Wire Cutters, Sandpaper, Stir-stick, Drill, ½ Drill Bit
1. Familiarize yourself with all of the Installation Kit parts and read over the instructions before you begin any work on your kayak. This will help you understand what the kit does and allow you to recognize anything you might like to do differently to your kayak. Refer to the diagram on Page-1 to see all of the parts laid out and labeled. 2. Determine where you would like to mount the fish finder head unit (sold separately). Most users prefer to have the head unit mounted in front of them and within arm s reach, but far enough away not to impede their paddle stroke. Follow the installation instructions that are included with the fish finder. 3. Determine a location on the inside of the hull of the kayak where you would like to place the transducer (sold separately). Preferably this would be on a flat surface inside the hull to allow the Transducer Pad [F] to sit flush. There will need to be a hatch located near this area so that you can reach inside to mount the Transducer Pad and the transducer. Most users prefer to mount the transducer directly in front of them, in line with the head unit. 4. Once you ve picked a location, rough up the surface of that location with sandpaper so that the Transducer Pad [A] will stick (Figure 1). Clean the area you just roughed up to remove any excess debris. Apply Marine GOOP [B] from the Installation Kit to one side of the Transducer Pad and press it onto the roughed up surface (Figure 2). There should be enough Marine GOOP on the pad that when you press it down you should see a little bit squeeze out from around the edges. Place some weight onto the pad to keep it in place and allow it to dry completely before moving onto the next step in the process. An item like a brick or large stone would be adequate. Depending on the temperature and humidity levels drying time could take up to 24 hours. Figure 1 Figure 2 5. Once your Transducer Pad has dried in place, fill the center void with ¼ - ½ inches of Marine GOOP (SEE LEFT). Smooth out the Marine GOOP with a disposable instrument like a paint stick or popsicle stick. If you must use your finger, wear gloves so as to not get the glue on your hands. Make sure that as you smooth out the Marine GOOP that there aren t any bubbles in it. Bubbles can cause your fish finder to return a faulty reading.
6. Press the fish finder transducer into the pool of Marine GOOP that you squeezed into the center of the Transducer Pad (SEE LEFT). Be sure that you press the transducer all the way down until is firmly touching the hull. 7. Allow the Marine GOOP to dry completely before moving onto the next step. Depending on the temperature and humidity levels drying time could take up to 24 hours. 8. Locate a place on the deck of the kayak where you would like the wires to come through the hull. Drill a ½ hole (SEE LEFT). It should be near the area that you mounted your fish finder. 9. Take the Grommet [G] from the Installation kit and carefully cut down one side with a scissor so that it can be opened (SEE LEFT).
10. Run the transducer plug and a section of the transducer wire up through the hole you just drilled. Open the Grommet and place it on the wire (SEE LEFT). IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT CUT THE TRANSDUCER WIRE. TRANDUCER WIRES CANNOT BE SPLICED. IF YOU CUT THE WIRE, YOUR TRANSDUCER WILL NOT WORK. 11. Firmly press the Grommet into the hole that the wire is coming up through so that it creates a seal around the wire (SEE LEFT). This will allow you to unplug your fish finder and push the wire back down into the kayak so that it will not get snagged or pulled on during loading, unloading or transportation of the kayak. 12. Take the ends of the red wire coming from the transducer wire and the red wire coming from the 9V Battery Connector [H] and put them into one of the small orange and clear Wire Connectors [I]. Once you have the wires pushed all the way into the connector, use a pair of pliers to firmly squeeze the top button of the wire connector in. When done properly, it connects the wires and pops a gel pack within the connector that coats and protects the wires from corrosion (SEE LEFT). Repeat this process with the black wires. CAUTION: ONCE THE BUTTON ON THE WIRE CONNECTOR HAS BEEN PRESSED DOWN YOU CANNOT UNDO IT! MAKE SURE THE WIRES ARE SEATED COMPLETELY INTO THE CONNECTOR BEFORE YOU PRESS THE BUTTON DOWN!
13. Bundle any excess transducer wire inside the kayak. Use the Zip Ties [C] to keep it bundled together. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT CUT THE TRANSDUCER WIRE. TRANDUCER WIRES CANNOT BE SPLICED. IF YOU CUT THE WIRE, YOUR TRANSDUCER WILL NOT WORK. 14. Find and area in the kayak that you can zip tie the wire bundle to. A scupper wall is a great position to use if possible (SEE LEFT). 15. Insert the Batteries [D] into the Battery Housing [E] and connect the 9V Battery Connector to the snaps on top of the Battery Harness (SEE LEFT). 16. Press and hold the power button on the fish finder head unit until you see the display come on. Release the button. This is simply to test to ensure that the unit is getting power. Once the unit turns on, you can press and hold the power button again to turn the unit off. 17. Insert the battery pack in the included Dry Bag [A] to protect it from water damage (Figure 3). If you would like to secure the bag inside the kayak to prevent it from sliding around, you can anchor it to the bundled wire or a scupper wall by using the clips found at the top of the bag (Figure 4). Figure 3 Figure 4