7 replies to this topic

[fischspot]

I'd like to install a "shoot-thru-the-hull" depth transducer in my 2003 Speedster 160. Does anyone have any experience as to where is the best place to mount it is? I'm looking at a Norcross Hawkeye that advertises that it's good for making accurate readings up to 60 mph. My thought is to epoxy the transducer to the inside of the hull, just in front of the intake. Any comments or suggestions?

[tiggerman]

Not me, I used a transom mount.

[vlpace]

fischspot, on Jun 3 2004, 09:19 PM, said:

I'd like to install a "shoot-thru-the-hull" depth transducer in my 2003 Speedster 160. Does anyone have any experience as to where is the best place to mount it is? I'm looking at a Norcross Hawkeye that advertises that it's good for making accurate readings up to 60 mph. My thought is to epoxy the transducer to the inside of the hull, just in front of the intake. Any comments or suggestions?

I installed a depth sounder/water temp gage by mounting it at the back of the transom (outside the hull) - it works fine at all speeds.

[tiggerman]

Your idea of just in front of the intake is right on. Anywhere the turbulence is least is the place. Avoid areas where there are structural 'beams'.
Get a ziplock bag, put the transducer in it and fill with water. Place it in various places inside the bilge to see what kind of readings you get. Ideally, it should be placed over the thinnest part of the hull, where it will have less density to shoot thru. I used a transom mount myself, and it works satisfactorily. Just more holes to drill in your hull- which just seems wrong to do to a boat........

[fischspot]

thanks for the input...
i'm sure the transome mount will provide a cleaner signal and probably better readings, but like you said, it's just the thought of putting holes in a boats hull (below the water line) that makes me think twice about doing it. especially when there might be another option where i don't need to drill holes.

also, right in front of the intake (in the engine compartment), appears to be a thinner and flat part of the hull to glue it to.

Steve
2003 Speedster 160 w/ 240 Merc efi

[tiggerman]

That is where I would try it then. Try the ziplock thingie and see what happens. I think you are supposed to use a slow set epoxy to do it with, so you can move it around a bit before it cures hard. It should work just as well thru the hull as it does on the transom. The problems with the transom mount is turbulence coming of the edge of the hull. I almost never got mine adjusted properly.

[tda3]

I know I'm a bit late to this thread, but here's some thoughts from my past experience.

I all but gave up trying to make a transom mounted transducer system work on a 16" bowrider.  Conceded to the fact that it would never give accurate, stable readings at speed.

So when I bought a 19' bowrider (V8 powered I/O) I decided I'd try something based upon the 26' and 30' cabin cruisers my dad owned.  His boats' depth sounder transducers were thru hull models.  Not comfortable with drilling a big *ss hole in my hull, I temporarily placed my transducer in the bildge in various locations until I found one that gave accurate, stable readings.  Before this, I called the folks at Hummingbird and asked how to attach/install the transducer and was told to use marine grade silicone.  The tech told me to put a nice size pile of the silicone in the location I settled on and to then slowly push the transducer into the silicone puddle wiggling it as I pushed it down.  He said this would ensure that no air bubbles would occur between the face of the transducer and the hull and if I got erratic readings, it was because there were air bubbles in the silicone.  I asked about epoxying it in place and he said that method would work, but there's a chance of air bubbles with that method too.  His feeling was that if you do get air bubbles and have to re-do the installation, you're hosed if you used epoxy.  And I would have to agree.  So I used silicone and got excellent readings from sitting still to running flat out.

I plan to do the same thing with my Speedster 160.  Heck, I might even look into a thru hull transducer just so I can drill a big *ss hole in the hull!     

[cAn'T sWim]

tda3, on Jul 9 2004, 10:30 AM, said:

I plan to do the same thing with my Speedster 160.  Heck, I might even look into a thru hull transducer just so I can drill a big *ss hole in the hull!     

Let us know ho this goes...............I have a Cuda 240 on order and will be here any day.  Sitll not sure how I will tackle the mounting piece so I hope to get some ideas from you guys.