The 9 Best Fish Finder Mounts
Updated by · How we research
Ball size decides whether a fish finder stays steady. Nine mounts compared by screen fit, base and warranty; the RAM Mounts RAM-111U suits most mid-size units. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
On a fish finder mount, "universal" mostly means the plate has holes for the common bracket patterns, and plenty of anglers still drill a hole or two. Match the ball to your screen as well, because a small ball under a big display sags. These picks are for anglers fixing a screen to a boat deck, console or kayak track.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The RAM Mounts RAM-111U stays on top. Its ball suits the mid-size screens most anglers run, and RAM publishes a load rating and a lifetime warranty for it. Most of the rest changed. The HawkEye FishTrax was a fish finder, not a mount. The Humminbird 7400771 is no longer sold. The Brocraft Portable went because its clamp keeps breaking or failing to close, the Brocraft Marine for thin evidence, and the Scotty #269 because the Scotty 0368 does the same job with a plate that fits more units.
New are the RAM Mounts RAM-D-111U-C for big screens, the RAM Mounts RAM-B-111U for small ones, the RAM Mounts RAM-D-202-25-C-202U for Humminbird Helix owners and the Scotty 0163 ball mount. The order leans on RAM's load ratings by ball size and on kayak anglers' accounts of small balls drooping under heavy screens. There's no portable transducer bracket here, since the one we had didn't hold up.
Earlier notes
November 16, 2020, by Karen Bennett:
A few models come on board today, including the universal Scotty #368, which is thoughtfully designed with a patterned 22-hole top plate that’s compatible with many fish finder models without the need for drilling. Just line up your device with the holes and attach it. It works with various selections from Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance, and more. It’s highly adjustable and can be rotated to nearly any angle you prefer, and is easy to remove when you’re done fishing for the day. It joins the Scotty #269, which rotates smoothly and makes use of a patented post mount design for a setup that’s quick and convenient.
We also added in the Humminbird 7400771, which is made for use with the manufacturer’s Matrix, 300, 500, and 700 series devices. Just snap the device in, and it’ll hold it in place securely. In addition, you’re sure to achieve your exact viewing angle, thanks to its precise adjustment capabilities. The Brocraft Portable also joins the list. It offers a telescoping height, and an adjustable angle that allows it to reach just about anywhere on deck you want it. This lets you see where the fish are heading even as you move around the boat. Note that this model has trouble clamping far enough closed to attach to thinner boat walls, however. It joins the Brocraft Marine, which is compatible with most locator models on the market, and removes easily when you press the red trigger and pull it up. It comes with the required hardware, and you can mount it to either a deck or a rail. Leaving today’s list are the FishFinderMounts.com Magnetic, the Brocraft Transducer Arm, and the Scully Sully 8001P, all of which are no longer available at this time.
January 5, 2019, by Quincy Miller:
Many of the options on this list are universal — but that term may be a bit misleading. It seems to mean that the mount in question will fit the most common devices, but double-check before making a purchase. Also, it's common for them not to line up perfectly even with the fish finders they're made for, so don't be surprised if you end up having to drill a hole or two.
Special Honors
Precision Sonar Smart Bracket Console Mounting Systems Precision Sonar & Outdoors makes console brackets cut for specific bass boats, including Ranger, Skeeter, Triton, Stratos and Lund models. Each one fits that boat's dash and holds one big screen, or two in the dual versions, without a row of separate mounts. They cost far more than a single mount and only fit the boats they're made for. precisionsonar.com
Match The Ball To The Screen
In practice, B suits screens of about 5 inches, C covers 7- to 9-inch units and D handles 9 to 12 inches.
Most display mounts use a rubber ball clamped by a two-piece arm, and the ball's size sets how much screen it can hold. RAM Mounts publishes the numbers. Its B-size mount has a 1-inch ball and is rated for 2 pounds in normal use (RAM-B-111U). The C size steps up to a 1.5-inch ball and 4 pounds (RAM-111U), and the D size uses a 2.25-inch ball rated for 6 pounds (RAM-D-111U-C). Each rating drops by a pound for heavy-duty use, which on a boat means a fast run in chop.
In practice, B suits screens of about 5 inches, C covers 7- to 9-inch units and D handles 9 to 12 inches. Weigh your unit with its bracket and leave some margin. Master Fishing Mag warns that a 1-inch ball under a 9-inch screen sags and wobbles within weeks, and suggests a simple check: push on the edge of the screen and see whether it moves. A shorter arm also helps, because every extra inch of arm adds leverage on the ball.
Pick The Base For Your Boat
The base decides where the mount can go and how permanent it is. A drill-down base bolts through the deck and is the steadiest option on a boat you own. A swing arm such as the RAM-109HU suits a console, where you want to turn the screen toward the driver and then push it aside. A fixed angled plate has no joints at all, which tournament anglers like on a bass boat dash.
Post mounts, like Scotty's, drop a stem into a base you already have, so the screen lifts out and goes home with you. On a kayak, a track mount slides into the rails molded into most fishing kayaks, so there's nothing to drill. Fishing Tool Reviewer splits its picks the same way: a drill-down ball mount for most boats, a swing arm for bass boats, a track mount for kayaks and a Scotty post mount on a budget. For a rental boat, look at clamp-on brackets, but tie them off with a lanyard. Anglers on Walleye Central and The Hull Truth report that suction cups hold at trolling speed and let go on a fast run.
Check The Fit, Then Look After It
A "universal" plate covers the common hole patterns, but it doesn't promise a perfect fit. Most fish finders come with their own U-shaped gimbal bracket, and that bracket bolts to the mount's plate, so compare its holes with the plate before you buy. Some screens have a matched kit: RAM lists its RAM-D-202-25-C-202U for the Humminbird Helix 8, 9 and 10 and the Xplore 9, and suggests a stronger knob for screens of 10 inches and up.
Place the screen where it won't block the driver's view or catch a knee in rough water. Seal every screw hole in a fiberglass deck with marine sealant, and never drill below the waterline. Run power through a fuse. After a day in salt water, rinse the mount with fresh water and check that the knob is still tight. Kayak Base credits RAM's rubber balls with damping shock and vibration, but they still need snugging now and then. We found no recalls for RAM Mounts, Scotty, YakAttack, Humminbird or Brocraft in the CPSC database.
How we researched this
We compared 19 fish finder mounts, read RAM Mounts' part pages for the ball size, load rating and warranty of each RAM pick, used seller details for the Scotty, YakAttack and PROcise picks, read three angling sites' mount roundups and forum threads, analyzed owner feedback for each finalist, and checked every brand against CPSC recall records. Updated October 23, 2026 by Ezvid Wiki Editors.
Sources (10)
- RAM Mounts: RAM-111U
- RAM Mounts: RAM-D-111U-C
- RAM Mounts: RAM-B-111U
- RAM Mounts: RAM-109HU
- RAM Mounts: RAM-D-202-25-C-202U
- Master Fishing Mag: best kayak fish finder mount systems
- Fishing Tool Reviewer: best fish finder mounts
- Kayak Base: best fish finder mounts
- Precision Sonar & Outdoors: mounts
- CPSC recalls
Frequently asked questions
What should I look for when choosing a fish finder mount?
Start with the screen's size and weight, then pick a ball or arm rated to hold it with some margin. Check that the mount's plate lines up with your unit's bracket, and choose a base that suits your boat: drill-down, swing arm, post, angled plate or kayak track.
What size RAM ball do I need for my fish finder?
RAM's B size (1-inch ball) suits screens of about 5 inches, the C size (1.5-inch) covers 7- to 9-inch units and the D size (2.25-inch) handles 9 to 12 inches. RAM rates them for 2, 4 and 6 pounds in normal use.
Where should I mount my fish finder?
Put it where you can see it from the seat you fish or drive from, without blocking your view ahead or sitting where a knee could hit it. On bass boats that usually means the console plus a second screen at the bow.
Will a universal mount fit my fish finder?
Usually, but not always. Universal plates cover the common hole patterns, and you may still need to drill a hole or two. Some screens, like larger Humminbird Helix units, have matched kits that fit without changes.
Should I use a drill-down or a track mount on a kayak?
Use a track mount if your kayak has rails. It needs no drilling and slides off when you load the boat. A drill-down base is steadier but permanent, and every hole in a kayak hull is one more place for water to get in.
