How to plug hole above water line?

[Stamey]

I had to drill a 1" hole in my transom for the transducer plug. I hated to do it but it was the only way. Now I need to figure out how to plug the hole, in a semi-permanent way, in case I need to change out the transducer at some point. I tried to fill it with 5200 and cover it with duct tape while the 5200 set up, but it didn't work out. The hole is 8" above the water line, but the wave that hits the back of the boat when I come off plane is high enough to get water in there.

At this point I am thinking maybe a rubber plug, like you would see in a lab beaker, that has a hole in it for the wire. If I can find one the right size I can put a slit in it to get the wire in then 5200 or 4200 the slit, hole for the wire, and around the plug, when drive it into the hole tightly. Problem is finding that plug.

I am open to any ideas.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Bondo]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

Ayuh,.... I just put a clamshell over mine, with a dab of 4200....

 

[XJpete87]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

Just did the same thing on my boat. Very apprehensive about putting a large hole in my transom. Used a thru hull fitting like the one in the below ebay add. worked great and looks professional. However it required only a 3/4" hole.

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=130577434438

 

[colbyt]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

SS fender washers with a rubber washer under the pond side using a SS screw and nut of the correct size. If you can't find a large enough rubber washer make one out of an old inner tube or bike patch.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

You can use marine epoxy stick but it is permanent

 

[jigngrub]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

I like this stuff:

http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/epxy_mrn_s/overview/Loctite-Epoxy-Marine.htm

 

[dingbat]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

These work well.
BTW: The next time just cut the cable and use a cable junction box

 

[robert graham]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

SS fender washers with a rubber washer under the pond side using a SS screw and nut of the correct size. If you can't find a large enough rubber washer make one out of an old inner tube or bike patch.

My 2nd on this!....About inch and a half diameter Stainless fender washers with about a 1/8" hole in center, 1/8" Stainless bolt with Nyloc nut, a bit of silicone rubber or rubber gasket under washers.

 

[Stamey]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

These work well.
BTW: The next time just cut the cable and use a cable junction box

I would have done that, but searches on here about depth finder transducer installation turned up most people saying that you should not mess with that wire as it would change the sensitivity of the depth finder because of changes to resistance.

Bondo, I do have the clam shell that came off of it (It had a smaller hole for the previous transducer) and it will just barely cover the new 1" hole. I suppose I could lay in a layer of 5200 on the clam shell to fill in some of that gap before I mount it, then fill in the rest once it's screwed onto the hull.

I suppose the fender washers would work, if I cut a notch out of them, but I'm thinking it would look pretty bad on the outside of the hull. Anyone got a pic of that kind of installation?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[dingbat]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

I would have done that, but searches on here about depth finder transducer installation turned up most people saying that you should not mess with that wire as it would change the sensitivity of the depth finder because of changes to resistance.

If it?s on the internet is has to be true.

There is nothing in the depth function that makes a transducer sensitive to changes in resistance. The worst case scenario is the transducer uses an analog temp sensor and your temp is off by a quarter to a half of a degree if you really screw up reconnecting the wires.

You may find it interesting that a lot of high end systems have gone away from connector?s altogether. It eliminates the need to drill a hole and you end up with far fewer cable issues with screw type connections in a sealed enclosure than you do with a connector out in the open.

 

[Stamey]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

Well, consider my position. I don't know what cutting and splicing those wires will do to the depth finder, and when I searched on iBoats to find out the best way to install mine, I found people discussing this very thing, cutting and splicing, and people who said that wasn't a good idea. I'd like to think that there are knowledgeable people here giving others advice, and no, I don't take the first thing I read as gospel, but when there is a consensus I tend to take note. Add to that the fact that Lowrance does not recommend cutting and splicing the transducer wire, and I'm sold.
Doesn't matter now anyway, as I already have the hole. I will keep this in mind for future installations.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[jigngrub]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

Running the transducer cable and speed pitot tube exposed on the outside of the transom is OEM on a lot of boats today.

 

[Stamey]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

Running the transducer cable and speed pitot tube exposed on the outside of the transom is OEM on a lot of boats today.

Of course, and so is mine, but I'm not going to run it across the swim platform, thus the hole just below the rub rail. I have a Gen II out drive and therefore no speedo tube on the transom.

Chris

 

[Solittle]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

Marine Tex will seal the hole and it cures under water. Only thing is it is a permanent fix. The stuff is like steel when cured.

 

[Stamey]

Re: How to plug hole above water line?

I ended up doing the rubber plug, available at Lowes. I drilled a hole in the center then slit it on one side, and put the wire in. I put 5200 in the slit and around the inside of the hole and pushed it in. I have wedged it in there to hold it while the 5200 sets up. I will put the original clam shell back on to cover the whole thing up once the 5200 sets.

Thanks,
Chris