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Depth Sounder in hull transducer

I plan on installing a depth sounder with a in hull puck transducer. Has anyone installed one of these and if so can it be tested out of water? I'm going to install it on my boat in my driveway and want to test the position before I epoxy it down.

Thanks

LarryT
Feb 20
Wait and do it in the water. It cannot be done on land. CWM Charlie
Feb 20
The only way to do it is on water. This is what you need to do:

Get a sand bag or something similar to weigh down the transducer where you think you want it, and flood the bilge so it covers the transducer. Now motor around and look at the readings. If they seem spotty, or inacurrate, then move the puck to a different spot. Keep doing this until you're happy with the readings, and mark the spot. Now you can work in your driveway. :-)

Remember to use SLOW setting epoxy (4hrs or more) when you glue the puck in place, and use a lot of it. The slow set allows most air to escape while curing. Air is bad when between the transducer and water.

Good luck.

--Mike

"LarryT" <LarryTeague@1gmail.com> wrote in message

Mike
Feb 20
I've done a few of these and can tell you, the effort isn't worth the results.

However, you need to be aware of a few things.

Depending on the hull style, a through hull mount might not work properly. For instance, if you have a sharp deadrise (deep vee), it will be hard to find a place to mount the puck at a 90 degree angle to the water - meaning that it shoots straight down instead of at an angle.

Second is finding a spot on the hull to mount it. You need to avoid spaces between stringers, stringers and areas where there might be excess eposy or glass. Make sure the only space between the water and the transducer is hull.

Now, as to testing - yes, you can test out of the water. As Mike said, use a heavy weight like a sand bag or similar kind of device and move the puck around to find a solid return from your driveway without much noise.

Use a slow set epoxy and mix it really well - slowly as you don't want to introduce air to the epoxy.

Now, for the question of the day.

Is there a reason you don't want to hang it off the stern?

Short
Feb 20
I have done this install many times. I put the transducer into a gallon size ziploc baggie filled with water to try it in various locations. When I find a good spot, I figure out a way to mechanically mount the transducer using a bracket so it will be perpendicular to the water. I then make a large puddle of clear silicone, being carefull not to have any bubbles, and gently push the transducer into the puddle. I then screw it to whatever I had figured out for a bracket and let the whole thing sit for 24 hours undisturbed. I have had no failures doing it this way. It does "slightly" reduce the sensitivity of fish finders as far as size of fish, but not enough to worry about if you are using it as a depth sounder. You will still get a nice display of the bottom, and accurate depth readings. CWM Charlie
Feb 20
Just in case you aren't aware, it will not work at all thru metal hull. D.Duck
Feb 20
Thanks for all the replies. It's a fiberglass hull. I actually went to the factory when they were building it and they showed me where they double lap the glass.

I don't want one to hang off the stern because it would just look cleaner being hidden. Just looks that's all. If I can't get the puck to work I would probably buy one.

The sounder is just a depth sounder not a fish finder/sounder. I like the idea of the bag of water.

I'm going to call the dealer and see what their experiences with this boat are. Maybe they can point me to a spot that has worked for them in the past.

Thanks again.

LarryT
Feb 20
Larry, mine is off the stern. Once the boat is in its natural habitat, i.e., water, the stern mount is not noticeable at all. JLH
Feb 21
   

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