Thru-Hull Transducers

[Redneck]

I am going to install my Trim Tabs on my V-21 in a few weeks. From what I have read on this forum they create some turbulence on the sonar transducer and will scatter it's brain for a bit :head::head:. I has thinking of getting the Thru-Hull type that you epoxy to the bottom of the hull. Does anyone have some experiance with them? how well do they work problems with ect...? It sounds like the way to go to me then it also eliminate that problem and no worries about sticks or trash ripping it off. I run a lowrance sonar/gps combo.

[tsubaki]

From what I remember most of the transducers intended for a transom mount now will work fine as a shoot through. Just purchase their epoxy.
Read up on some of the stuff, ideally you want to contact the bottom as flat as possible, with no voids and just a little forward to get away from engine noise. Usually you can adjust the sensitivity to overcome any slight problems.

[macojoe]

READ these links:

Reels install

http://wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=13964&highlight=transducer

Reels results

http://wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=13964&highlight=transducer

[reelapeelin]

READ these links:

Reels install

http://wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=13964&highlight=transducer

Reels results

http://wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=13964&highlight=transducer


THANKS for finding that post, MJ!!...zackly what I was gonna put up...couple of corrections needed...I said in the text the rubber cap would keep the WATER from sloshing out...WRONG...after sealing the well to the inside of the hull, it is filled with MINERAL OIL, NOT WATER as stated...another correction is the idea of sealing the cap where the cable goes thru w/Liquid Electrical Tape did not work...someone warned me it wouldn't and they were right, so you'll have to find something else...you'll seal the well to the hull w/3M 5200, so why not just go ahead and use to seal the cable penetration also...

MJ's 2nd link didn't transfer under REEL RESULTS, so I'll just tell you here...IT WORKED GREAT!!...that boat also had trim tabs...but they were negated with this "shoot-thru" transducer installation...idling around looking for fish all the way to running at full speed, it read the bottom w/out fail...better than any of the standard bracketed installs I've personally done or seen done by others...it REELY was a great way to go...
If you have any questions about this installation, ask away...

One note...some FF transducers have the water temp sensor built into them...and of course installing one as above will not allow the temp sensor to do its thing, so keep that in mind...

[macojoe]

Here is the 2nd link again hope it works??

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=14063&highlight=transducer

[reelapeelin]

Here is the 2nd link again hope it works??

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=14063&highlight=transducer


:clap:Good work, MJ!!...:clap:


ALSO; just to define terms...as mentioned above, this is a "shoot-through" installation and while I wouldn't expect better results from one, it is not a "through-hull" installation...the above requires NO HOLES through the bottom of your boat, whereas a "through-hull" requires a large hole w/the transducer face directly exposed to the water...

[macojoe]

Like mine, I would never do that again!! Something not right about drilling a 2" hole in the bottom of a perfect boat:head:

[smokeonthewater]

my montecarlo has a 3/4" and 3 2" ducer holes in the bottom along with a few seacocks as well...... I plugged 3 of the ducer holes with bronze thru hulls and pipe caps and used the 4th for a ducer



On SEVERAL other boats I have glued a normal transom mount ducer inside the hull with epoxy. It is IMPORTANT to mix the epoxy slowly to avoid bubbles and If you do this on the sloped portion of the hull you also need to build a small dam out of modeling clay to pool the epoxy enough to level the ducer and to hold the ducer level till the epoxy sets up.

when done this way, the temp reading will be within a couple degrees of actual.

[Redneck]

My bad I ment to mean a shoot-through type. I don't like the holes in the side of the boat putting one on the bottom would SUCK! I knew someone would have tried it here thanks for the info it will come in more than usefull.
:beer::beer:

My dad just bought a North West 218 Lightning it comes with the fanciest seats in it. I told him they put them in there becouse it is a rough ride should have got a Wellcraft if you want comfort in a boat!!

[spareparts]

nothin like cutting holes in some one elses boat :you:

[SkunkBoat]

FYI, in a pinch one fall, when my transom mounted skimmer failed, I just propped up a new one inside the bilge in the inch of water that is always there. That got me thru the fall bass run with only an occasional problem when it toppled over.
In the spring I removed the transom mount and sealed over the holes with glass and epoxied the new skimmer to the inside off the hull on the flat area. I guess a picture would help....got it...
I just sanded the area and epoxied using the gel type resin (careful not to make bubbles mixing in hardener).

That one lasted years but the plug corroded so I bought a shoot-thru from LEI.com. That one came with a packet of adhesive. Did need to build a dam with silicone. It has a temp sensor cable to run out to the transom.

They both work great. No problems to 260ft, which is as deep as I've been.

I would never mount a skimmer type outside of the hull ever again.

[reelapeelin]

FYI, in a pinch one fall, when my transom mounted skimmer failed, I just propped up a new one inside the bilge in the inch of water that is always there. That got me thru the fall bass run with only an occasional problem when it toppled over.
In the spring I removed the transom mount and sealed over the holes with glass and epoxied the new skimmer to the inside off the hull on the flat area. I guess a picture would help....got it...
I just sanded the area and epoxied using the gel type resin (careful not to make bubbles mixing in hardener).

That one lasted years but the plug corroded so I bought a shoot-thru from LEI.com. That one came with a packet of adhesive. Did need to build a dam with silicone. It has a temp sensor cable to run out to the transom.

They both work great. No problems to 260ft, which is as deep as I've been.

I would never mount a skimmer type outside of the hull ever again.

I thought after my shoot-thru I'd never transom mount another one either, but this one I did...
Were you able to angle yours so it would shoot straight down?...or is it bedded flat to the angle of the hull?...I can't tell from your pics...

[SkunkBoat]

I thought after my shoot-thru I'd never transom mount another one either, but this one I did...
Were you able to angle yours so it would shoot straight down?...or is it bedded flat to the angle of the hull?...I can't tell from your pics...

angled straight down...they are on the flat parts of the hull (strakes?). The old one is on the port side first strake up from the keel, against the stringer. Here I used gel expoxy keep it angled straight. The new on is the starboard side 2nd strake which is very flat
I wouldn't go out to the farthest one, there will be too much air there.

You could also mount it right in front of the transom drain. On my '84, there is wood glassed into the hull where the bilge pump mounts but there is solid glass for a few inches between that and the transom. Like I said, you can actually just set one there in the inch of bilge water and it works pretty good when its standing upright.

[SkunkBoat]

I thought after my shoot-thru I'd never transom mount another one either, but this one I did...
Were you able to angle yours so it would shoot straight down?...or is it bedded flat to the angle of the hull?...I can't tell from your pics...

angled straight down...they are on the flat parts of the hull (strakes?). The old one is on the port side first strake up from the keel, against the stringer. Here I used gel expoxy keep it angled straight. The new on is the starboard side 2nd strake which is very flat
I wouldn't go out to the farthest one, there will be too much air there.

You could also mount it right in front of the transom drain. On my '84, there is wood glassed into the hull where the bilge pump mounts but there is solid glass for a few inches between that and the transom. Like I said, you can actually just set one there in the inch of bilge water and it works pretty good when its standing upright.