HELP! Can this FishFinder be used without putting holes in my boat?

[hotwls13]

I am going to Lake Nacimiento on Friday. I was told the lake is really low right now and I am scared I am gonna tear up my boat. I need a cheap depth/fishfinder and I need it quick. If I order from Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Humminbird-PiranhaMax-220-Fish-Finder/dp/tech-data/B000KYFIE4/ref=de_a_smtd I can get it by Thursday. I was hoping to be able to epoxy it in the engine compartment. Will this work? What epoxy do I need?

I know this is not the best, but I just need a depth guage and this adds fishes.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: HELP! Can this FishFinder be used without putting holes in my boat?

It has a transom mount that just requires a few holes and some sealant. you could temporarily run the cable up over the transom. Its not the transducer mounting that takes all the time...its running the cables, connecting power and mounting the head unit that is the most difficult and time consuming.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: HELP! Can this FishFinder be used without putting holes in my boat?

I have mounted transducers to 2X4's and clamped them to the transom of my tinnys if you have a small boat.

 

[hotwls13]

Re: HELP! Can this FishFinder be used without putting holes in my boat?

I have a Bayliner 175.

I was just trying to avoid the holes and I have read about guys mounting inside the engine bay with epoxy.

 

[thunder219]

Re: HELP! Can this FishFinder be used without putting holes in my boat?

I put a thru hull in my last boat and it just epoxied in the engine compartment. It came with everything needed to do it for around $100.00. The hardest part about it was getting all the old wiring and depth finder out.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: HELP! Can this FishFinder be used without putting holes in my boat?

I installed a transducer in the bilge of my fiberglass boat (shoot-thru-hull) and it worked well. You can run into problems if there are air pockets in the hull or in the epoxy used to glue the transducer down, so it's not guaranteed to work 100%.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: HELP! Can this FishFinder be used without putting holes in my boat?

You have to have a flat spot horizontal to the waterline to do it. Like the previous poster said, some hulls can't be shot through. As a test, fill the bilge with some water and place the transducer into the water of the bilge and see what the performance is like. Then take the transducer and lower it over the side of the boat. You can get a comparison of how well it works in each scenario and decide where you would like to put it.

For my transducer, I like it mounted on the transom becuase it also measures temperature and speed.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: HELP! Can this FishFinder be used without putting holes in my boat?

4 little holes, some 3M 4200 and never worry about it again.

 

[hotwls13]

Re: HELP! Can this FishFinder be used without putting holes in my boat?

Alright guys, so what epoxy should I be using? There is a flat horizontal spot in the engine area. I think I need a Puck Transducer and that shoots through the hull. I have found another depth finder that comes with the thru hull design. I may go with that one.

 

[obezag]

Re: HELP! Can this FishFinder be used without putting holes in my boat?

I have a Wellcraft Eclipse and installed a Uniden QT206 in the engine compartment. It's got an adjustable base for V hulls. Uses GE Silicone sealant to adhere the base. Add some mineral oil then the transducer and it has worked perfectly for 3 years now. No fish, temp, or speed though. I was just interested in depth.

 

[hotwls13]

Re: HELP! Can this FishFinder be used without putting holes in my boat?

OK guys just to clarify. I have found a Depth Guage Only that has the Puck at Amazon. But, I really wanted to have the fishfinder option as well. The fishfinder I listed above has a Transom Transducer. Can this transducer be epoxied inside the boat as well, or does it HAVE to be the puck style?

I have read on here that a temporary in-hull fix is to put the transducer in a baggy filled with water and zip-tied. I plan to try this as I will not have time to do a permanent mount.