Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

[catfishcharlie]

I bought a new sea ark and now intend to install a garmin depth finder. It calls for drilling into the transom to mount the transducer braket. anything avialable to avoid those holes? I can imagine some type of stand off piece that may be epoxied or something. Any ideas?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

epoxy a piece of wood like block of 2x4. paint it 3 coats of oil based rustoleum. then mount.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

I'd stick the wood to the aluminum with 3M 5200 after scuffing the metal with fine sandpaper and cleaning it with acetone. You can use (duct) tape to hold the wood in place until the 5200 sets up. Make the wood big enough so you can relocate the 'ducer side to side or up and down some for best performance.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

My brand of depth finder/fish finder (Eagle) offered a suction cup accessory...that allows me to mount the transducer without any drilling. This setup has been working fine, even up to 45 mph. I can move my unit to any of my two boats...even my PWC.

You might try your unit's website....

 

[mthieme]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

Don't ya hate drilling holes through the transom?
Follow TD's advise.

 

[cranksbait]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

I used a suction cup for mine on my old boat for two years. It worked great. Sure sometimes it popped off. But being that I used my boat almost daily, the couple of times it did was no big deal.

I now have it mounted on a plate that has been glued to my new boat. If I did not have this, I would use the suction again.

The only downfall is that at speed, usually over 8 mph I would loose bottom on my finder. I figured If I was going fast I would know bottom was there before I saw it on the depth finder anyways.

 

[Dunk50]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

I also have a new aluminum boat and hesitate putting holes in it. At least below the water line. This is what I intend on using.


http://www.iboats.com/Rig_Rite_Vert...29359886--**********.235438711--view_id.39538

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

What's the big deal. Your aluminum boat, unless its all welded, has a gazillion holes in it already for the rivets and it doesn't leak. Drill the two holes, apply sealer, secure the transducer and go. Sure looks better and will perform better than a chunk of 2x4 hanging on the back of the boat. I've had aluminum boats for many decades and have used locators since they first became available. All have been mounted with screws into the transom and none have ever leaked. If you have a transom that has wood sandwiched between two layers of aluminum, inject some epoxy into the holes. This will seal the wood.

 

[joed]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

here is what I did.
I had a piece of 2x3x.5 nylon that I hot glued to the boat. Then I screwed the transducer to the nylon. Unless you hit something it stays just fine. And if you want to remove it a smart crack and off it comes. It has never come off unless I wanted it off.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

you could also spring a couple extra bucks for a thru hull transducer and they are more accurate also. but then you must drill a hole through the bottom of your boat.

 

[catfishcharlie]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

WOW, these forums really get some results. Thanks to all for the suggestions. They are all good ones. Since I just cringe at the thought of drilling into my new hull I will probably try the teflon and hot glue idea since I have all these materials. Thanks,, Tight lines to all!

 

[alumi numb]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

my islander has an aluminum flat piece much as dunk50 is recommending held in place by already existing holes.
do what ever you want but i would try everything else before using permanent fastening methods.
my thinking is like cutting a board, you can take a little of if it's to long but can't do anything if it's to short.
that's me and my way of thinking.
enjoy.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

On my last bass boat, an aluminum semi V flat bottom Grumman, I attached a piece of white nylon to each side of the transom with bronze bolts and sealer. I then attached any add on accessories to those. That way I had only four permanent holes. If I needed to make a major change, I'd just change out the plastic panel and not have to fill any holes in. It never leaked.
I had tried gluing the blocks on but I had trouble getting the adhesive to stick to the plastic. The 5200 would have stuck fine to wood though.
The reason for the double panels was both for looks and to separate the speed wheel from the transducer and get it all away from the prop wash as best as possible. The boat had two tranducers for the fish finder, a factory depth gauge transducer a speedometer tube and a speed wheel for the fish finder.
The original hardware all attached right to the transom on a long slotted black plastic bar type mount which broke the first time I used it in freezing weather.
I also ran a transom mount electric motor on that boat so I also had to be careful to leave clearance for that as well.

Your best bet would be the wood block and 5200 or some good epoxy, I'd even coat the block with epoxy if you have any around there. At least a block of wood is cheap and if you need to replace it after a while your not out much and your boat is still undrilled.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

i would keep a sharp eye on that transducer, hot glue gets brittle with age and doesn't bond well for long, imho

 

[DJ]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

On any boat, I fasten a piece of "Starboard" to the transom with MarineTex. BTW "Starboard" is the same stuff that plastic cutting boards are made of. See: Wal Mart.

Once there, you can drill all you want-(being careful not to puncture the hull). That board can always be replaced.

 

[alumi numb]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

On any boat, I fasten a piece of "Starboard" to the transom with MarineTex. BTW "Starboard" is the same stuff that plastic cutting boards are made of. See: Wal Mart.

Once there, you can drill all you want-(being careful not to puncture the hull). That board can always be replaced.

not a bad idea.
i have a bunch of corian pieces, sounds like the same stuff.
i cut them down and use them for push sticks on the table saw.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

Don't ya hate drilling holes through the transom?

Ayuh,..... Only the 1st 1.....

I will probably try the teflon and hot glue idea since I have all these materials.

That'll Never work.....

Hot Melt Glue don't work so good on Smooth surfaces,...
And,...
Teflon sticks to Nothing....
Just the opposite of Sillycone,... It sticks to Everything but Itself.....

Measure Twice,+ Drill Once....

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

If you want your electronics to function properly and maintain the correct angle to the water surface drill the holes and follow the manufacturer instructions. its an aluninum boat no wood core no rot potential what exactly are you worried about?

 

[charleso]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

Instead of sticking a piece of wood to transom, find a fabricator with a metal brake and get them to make a standoff plate and mount it to transom, could even have it welded to transom. Then you can mount transducer, speed pitot, and any other device to that plate instead of directly to transom.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: Must I drill holes in trasnsom of aluninum boat to install depth finder

On any boat, I fasten a piece of "Starboard" to the transom with MarineTex. BTW "Starboard" is the same stuff that plastic cutting boards are made of. See: Wal Mart.

Once there, you can drill all you want-(being careful not to puncture the hull). That board can always be replaced.

Epoxy didn't hold Starboard to my gelcoat, neither did 5200, I'll try the Marine Tex next time. Oh, and my WalMart cutting board got powdery/brittle after a few months in the sun...

YMMV