Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

[jarheadtex]

I am trying to decide where to mount mine. Have any of you mounted the transducer inside the hull?

 

[SteveRoss]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

Hi Jarhead...

On a fiberglass boat, inside the hull is probably the best bet. Since mine's aluminum, I was forced to use the transom mount approach. What a pain !! Still not sure if I have it right or not.

My Humminbird manual says to stick it down to the fiberglass with epoxy. Seems to me that if it doesn't work right the first time, you are "stuck" so to speak. I'd stick it down with some GE Silicone first just to make sure you can get it up if you need to reposition it for some reason.

I'm sure others will have more advice... I'm still a novice at this transducer mounting thing.

Regards,
Steve

 

[mbgaski]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

Mine's on the transom, about 8 to 10" to the starboard side of the drain plug. Almost all of them that I've seen on small boats of my size have them there.

 

[Thad]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

Mine is in the bilge. Centered about 6" in front of the pump. It is epoxied in place.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

Mine is glued down in the bilge as well.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

Mine is in the bilge but it sticks out thru the bottom

 

[jarheadtex]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

thanks guys, im going to mount it in the bilge

 

[Mordekai]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

How are you guys finding room to go underneath your engine to epoxy the transducer in place?
I can barely reach down to touch the bilge ;/

 

[ufm82]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

Fiberglass hulls- shoot-thru or true thru-hull. Only way to go.

Aluminum hulls- Alumaducer- mounts in the bilge. No brackets, no holes in your hull, no rooster tails and no problems. Google it up and forget the transom-mount woes.

UFM82

 

[Thad]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

I can almost completely lay down on either side of my engine. Also, there is a lot of clearance for me to get my arms down into the bilge area. I am 6'5" and 240#.

If you are having a hard time getting down in there, you might need just move around, lay over something, whatever it takes to get into a good position to get where you need to be. Stand back and assess the situation. Where there's a will, there's a way. Or, enlist the assistance of someone with longer arms. It can be done.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

Okay, dumb question. Can a transom-mount transducer be placed inside the hull, instead?

Aside from the casing, what are the difference between the 2 types- transom mount vs. shoot-thru-the-hull?

Anyone know this one?

 

[PDubs]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

Okay, dumb question. Can a transom-mount transducer be placed inside the hull, instead?

Aside from the casing, what are the difference between the 2 types- transom mount vs. shoot-thru-the-hull?

Anyone know this one?

Transom-mount tranducer can be placed inside the hull to act as a shoot-thru-hull transducer. I'll try to find a link but someone posted a nice how-to complete with pictures and all. Note that you will not get an accurate water temperature reading if the transducer supports that.

Transom mount is designed to be placed as it says, on the transom. Shoot-thru-hull inside the vessel. Difference being the shape where thru-hull will be more of a "puck" style

And as others have mentioned, I have installed my thru-hull in the bilge encased within PVC and epoxied just next to the engine.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

one thing to consider... If you want temperature, you need to be outside the hull. (and the obvious, if you have a transducer with a paddlewheel for accurate trolling speed, that won't work so well inside!)

 

[PDubs]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

some good notes: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=375409

with pictures: http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/281453-install-thru-hull-transducer.html

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

Okay...so I can install a regular transom mount transducer from a Humminbird inside the bilge area of the boat under the engine. Man all these years I thought this thing had to be mounted outside the boat so it was sitting in the lakewater.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

The two biggest errors people make when they mount a transducer in the bilge is that they do not use the correct epoxy. The second, is that they don't mount the face of the transducer perfectly perpendicular to the bottom.

The first issue causes a loss of sensitivity. Like putting earmuffs on an wondering why you have a loss of hearing. The second problem skews the depth and makes it all but impossible for fish to ?arch? on the screen.

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

I am trying to decide where to mount mine. Have any of you mounted the transducer inside the hull?

"Shoot-thru-the hull" Transducer

The transducer is mounted inside of the hull, usually in a bilge, sump or keel, permanently adhered to the hull with an epoxy or may be contained in a liquid reservoir. The sonar ping emitted from the transducer must penetrate a solid unblemished hull material to effectively record a sounding. The transducer has no contact with the water outside of the boat. These generally are installed to avoid the necessity of making screw-holes in a transom below the waterline, for protection, and in most instances, will reduce or can compromise the effectiveness of the transducer and equipment sounding. Compromises are made in regards to eliminating a speed wheel, if equipped, recording water temperature and a reduction in the quality of its sounding performance. Unlike the easily maintained and adjustable transom-mounted transducer, this method of mounting is generally fixed in place with a bonding material and cannot be adjusted, serviced or changed without the likelihood of destroying the transducer during removal. The user generally will install his transom-mount designed transducer in this manner and will settle for reduced performance as a compromise to sacrificing his boat hull as a "trade-off" for screw-holes and leaks.

Captain Chris

 

[dg512055]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

I glued a Humminbird tansom transducer to the inside of the hull in the bilge area. I first let some water into the bilge to just cover the transducer about halfway up. This lets you test the location before the epoxy step (do this while on the water). I lightly sanded the transduce face and the inside of the hull, then used plenty of marine epoxy. You must be careful not to let any air bubbles get trapped in the glue. Use a very slow curing epoxy for this. Mine always shows accurate depths at any speed.

 

[jbing81]

Re: Wher did you mount your depth finder transducer??

PO had a thew hull. Then removed it without welding a patch.