Transducer placement on Sea Ray 175 Sport

[acs2653]

Hello! This is my first post. I have been lurking for a few weeks since buying my 2008 Sea Ray 175. I have to say that there is a plethora of information available, but I could not find where I should mount my transducer on transom. I bought a hullsaver (big plastic piece that glues to the hull) to keep from having to screw it into the hull. Will I still need to drill a hull for the wiring? I assume so but am a little unsure of where to drill at. Would it be best right below the back platform? How would I run the wires up to the helm? I have friends with systems but most have bass boats and just mount it to the trolling motor. Any help would be great! better yet, if someone could post a picture of where to make the holes and transducer placement, that would be great! Thanks.

 

[Rick Stephens]

You'll end up running the cable along with your shift cable and wiring harness back from the dash - or same from the passenger side if you are mounting there. It is always a major PITA routing a transducer wire. You have to thread it from engine end up, and the end is fairly large. Lots of wire ties and cussing.

Drill your hole in the transom directly above the transducer mount point. And put it WAY above any water line. I have a transducer on each side and here's where they sit on my transom. Pretty easy to see. The one on the starboard side was already there when I bought the boat. I added the one on the port side. I never liked having the wire routed over and then up. Have to have more screw holes that can allow water in.

NOTE: ALWAYS use 3M 4200 to seal up screw holes in your transom. Silicon is totally worthless for this task and you will leak if you rely on it. 4200 is the good stuff and available from iBoats or more marine sources.

 

[acs2653]

I'm just worried that the waterline may come up to the back deck. I'll post pictures tonight when I get home.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Put it up as high as you can and seal her up. It'll be fine. My waterline is, at rest, the top of the step with a few people on board. My hole is about 5 inches above that. Water sloshes it all the time, I just don't want it underwater any more than I have to.

 

[acs2653]

Here is where I am planning on putting the transducer and running the wire. Will I have any issues? Here is a link to the picture. I couldn't upload it on the forums.

http://imgur.com/4w2u60c

 

[Rick Stephens]

Looks good. Make sure you can get to the backside before drilling. It'll be fine