How to Install a Humminbird XPLORE 9 Fish Finder on an Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro (No Drilling Required!)

Installing new electronics on a kayak used to require a willingness to drill significant-size holes in your hull and hoping you didn't do permanent damage. Not anymore. The new 2025 Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro is designed with strategically placed, incredibly slick, factory wiring ports, with rubber cable seals that make adding electronics a breeze.

For this build, I'm using the new Humminbird XPLORE 9. I'm mounting it on a YakAttack LockNLoad mount and powering the system with a Newport 12V lithium battery. This is a no-drill, clean-install setup that’s ready for serious bass fishing.

The author out fishing in his Old Town Kayak. — This new 2025 Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro is an amazing platform. It only seems right that I rig it out with equally impressive upgrades like the Hummnbird XPLORE. | Old Town

Watch the full installation video below to see exactly how I mounted, wired, and powered this setup step-by-step. And then check out the rest of the article for more details on the install and my rationale for why this is such a great combo.

Quick Installation Overview

Here’s the quick version of the process before we dive into the detailed how-to steps below. Installing the Humminbird XPLORE 9 on the Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro is a pretty easy DIY project that should take most folks less than an hour.

Mount the Display -Attach the Humminbird XPLORE 9 to a YakAttack LockNLoad mount. The quick-release system locks securely in place and allows for easy viewing angle adjustments on the water.
Install the Transducer -Many Old Town kayaks have a dedicated transducer recess toward the front of the hull, pre-drilled to mount the transducer bracket. Feed the transducer cable up through the nearby scupper hole.
Run the Cables -Use the Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro's factory-installed rubber-sealed wiring ports to route the transducer and power cables through the kayak—no drilling required.
Add Power Source -Secure a lightweight Newport 12V 50Ah LiFePO4 battery in the stern using the preinstalled floor straps. Route the power cables through another easy access port at the stern of the kayak to the Humminbird unit.
Power Up XPLORE -Make sure all the connections are secure between the XPLORE unit, the transducer, and the battery. Power it up, and confirm that everything runs correctly.

Full DIY Walkthrough: Installing the Humminbird XPLORE 9 on the Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro

Installation of the Humminbird XPLORE on my Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro was easy and straightforward. And thanks to the new, clever design of the Sportsman 120 PDL Pro kayak, it doesn’t even require drilling to route the wires. Anyone with even moderate level DIY skills should be able to get this done in under one hour.

Step 1: Mounting the XPLORE Display

Mounting the XPLORE Display in an Old Town kayak — Step 1. Mounting the XPLORE Display | Kurt Mazurek

Attach the Humminbird XPLORE 9 mounting bracket to a YakAttack LockNLoad mount.
As of this writing, there is not a specific LockNLoad mount for the XPLORE but you can use the rectangular base model and drill 4 holes to fit the Hummingbird bracket. Pretty easy DIY.
Slide the LockNLoad into your kayak's track mount system and position to your preference.

Step 2: Installing the Transducer

View under the kayak of installing the Transducer — Step 2: Installing the Transducer | Kurt Mazurek

Old Town molded a dedicated transducer space into the bottom of the Sportsman hull, near the front.
Mount the transducer to its bracket, and attach it to the bottom of the kayak using the original screws.
The transducer cable routes neatly up through the nearby scupper hole and into the kayak’s front storage area using the preinstalled rubber-sealed wiring ports.
These new ports in the Sportsman 120 PDL Pro make the entire process clean, dry, and professional-looking.

Step 3: Routing the Cables

Looking into the front compartment of the kayak showing routing the cables — Step 3: Routing the Cables | Kurt Mazurek

From inside the front storage area, I guided the transducer cable toward the cockpit and out through another convenient built-in pass-through port right below the XPLORE mount location.
Leave enough cable to go from the exit port to the plugs on the back of the unit.

Step 4: Adding Power

Looking into the back of a kayak at the Newport Battery which will power the Humminbird electronics. — Step 4: Adding Power | Kurt Mazurek

In the tankwell behind the seat, Old Town pre-installed two floor strap buckles which are perfect for securing a battery box.
I recommend the Newport 12V 50Ah LiFePO4 battery, which weighs only a hair over 11 pounds yet provides power for multiple long fishing days.
You can use the Newport Battery App to check the charge level. If it is low, use an appropriate charger to get it up to full charge.
Feed the power cable through the stern access port so it runs cleanly inside the hull, and exits near the XPLORE’s mount through the same port as the transducer cable.

Step 5: Final Connections and Testing

The author powering on the new Humminbird XPLORE on his kayak — Step 5: Final Connections and Testing | Kurt Mazurek

After plugging in both cables and confirming all connections, power up the XPLORE and switch to simulation mode to confirm everything is functioning.
Following these instructions, the unit booted quickly and ran flawlessly on the first try.
The Old Town factory wiring ports and Newport battery app made setup smoother than any kayak install I’ve done before.

The Result

Now you'll have a fully rigged, cleanly wired kayak with advanced sonar, mapping, and power. And best of all, no holes needed to be drilled, there are no messy cables hanging around, and it took very little time. And if you're a visual learner, remember, there is a video of the whole process.

Why I Chose the Humminbird XPLORE 9 for My Kayak Setup

I have owned, rigged and modified several fiberglass bass boats in my time as an angler. Over the years, I have formed a pretty strong bias for Humminbird depth finders. I know lots of other brands make great products, but for me, it’s kind of the same as my position on computers. I’m an Apple guy. And I know I've used this analogy before, but bear with me.

Humminbird XPLORE -Ease of Use

Before Apple talk turns some of you away, let me explain. If you’re someone who is into coding and/or have a full understanding of the technical side of computing and want to tinker or modify, that’s awesome. But for me, my computer and my depth finder are simply tools. I don’t need to be able to hack into them and change things. I just want them to work and include a crystal clear, super intuitive, user interface. Humminbird, like Apple, has always fit that description for me. I'm always excited to see what new electronic tools these brands have to offer. The Humminbird XPLORE 9 seems like it’s the easiest user interface ever which is the perfect fit for me.

Humminbird XPLORE -Light and Compact

The XPLORE unit is slim and sleek and considerably lighter than my previous fish finders. I’m installing the smallest of the three sizes offered, but it’s still a 9-inch display. In the kayaking experience, I’ve come to realize space is at a premium and bigger isn’t always better. This screen is plenty big and bright to read easily, even for my old eyes. And at just four-and-a-quarter pounds it’s way less than half the weight of the Helix 10 I run on my other Old Town.

Humminbird XPLORE -Everything I Need

The Humminbird XPLORE has everything I need, and more—MEGA Side Imaging+, MEGA Down Imaging+, Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar and internal GPS with Humminbird Basemap, 13,000 LakeMaster and CoastalMaster maps, plus Bluetooth and Ethernet networking for compatibility with the One-Boat Network™ family of products from Humminbird and Minn Kota including MEGA LIVE 2 forward-facing sonar.

Key Features of the Humminbird XPLORE for Kayak Anglers

XPLORE Works Fast

A Humminbird XPLORE showing the fast easy interface. — The XPLORE is easy and responsive. | Humminbird

The XPLORE™ Series depth finders include a smarter, faster and easier-to-use interface powered by a quad-core processor. It gives you quick access to everything through a super responsive touchscreen. You’ll notice the difference compared to older units.

Detailed Maps are Built Into XPLORE

Humminbird XPLORE mapping features — The XPLORE comes loaded with mapping options. | Humminbird

Go directly to the spot you’re looking for, no matter where you fish. XPLORE includes mapping tools and maps for 170 million acres of fishing territory. It includes 13,00 freshwater lakes in the U.S. and Canada from LakeMaster, U.S. coastal waters and boat lanes from CoastMaster, plus SmartStrike searches and analyzes all of the data available, like season, time of day, temperature and the species you’re targeting and highlights areas of the map where you’re most likely to catch those fish.

Or, create your own maps using the AutoChart feature and store them on your XPLORE unit.

MEGA Side and Down Imaging+

As you'd expect, the XPLORE includes MEGAA Side and Down imaging | Humminbird

MEGA Side and Down Imaging+ allow you to view everything below and out to 200-feet away on either side of your boat in 3D-like detail. Even though you never even came close to that rock pile, 100-feet off your port side, you know exactly where it is and can put a map waypoint on it to fish it anytime you like.

MEGA Live 2 and MEGA 360

XPLORE was designed to excel with MEGA Live 2 | Humminbird

XPLORE was engineered with the all-new MEGA Live 2 in mind. Humminbird’s newest iteration of forward-facing sonar with reduced noise, improved bait tracking and image stability will blow your mind.

Kayak Mounting Solution for the XPLORE Display

The YakAttack LockNLoad Mount makes installing easy. | YakAttack

In order to keep the big screen in place, I used a LockNLoad Mount from YakAttack. This track mount system feels incredibly strong, and provides infinite viewing angles. It even allows me to angle the unit back out over the water to keep everything within easy reach, but eliminate crowding in the kayak.

How I Powered My Fish Finder With a Lightweight Lithium Battery

The Newport Lithium Battery is super light, but incredibly powerful and loaded with features. | Newport Vessel

To power this rig, I installed a 12V, 50AH, Newport Lithium LiFePO4 Battery. It’s just a fraction of the weight of traditional marine batteries (just 11.4-pounds), but still provides all day (heck, call it two day) power. Plus, it’s Bluetooth compatible so you can easily keep an eye on charge level, voltage, AH capacity, temperature, and the number of times the battery has been charged. Pretty slick.

Is All This New Gear Worth It for Kayak Fishing?

When you see how smoothly everything fits together and how well it works, it’s clear the Humminbird XPLORE 9 and Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro are a great match.

The fact that the Humminbird XPLORE is physically smaller and lighter than previous units but it includes all of those maps, and that the touch screen is bright, clear and incredibly responsive, only means my kayak fishing experience just got even better. The Newport Lithium battery is even lighter than my old lithium battery, more powerful, and is packed with way more features. And I had already fallen in love with the Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro the first time I got in it. But now that I’ve experienced how easy they’ve made fitting this all together, I’m blown away.