Transducer mount, chines and step hull?.?.

[RobsTV]

Trying to figure out where to mount FF transducer.

Manual says do not mount behind a step or chine, and instead position on transom on angled part of hull at least 15" away from keel.

First for the dumb questions.
What is the difference between a step and a chine?
FF manuals shows a step as a portion of the bottom of the hull, that ends forward of the transom. I don't see this on the V20's, yet I see posts stating it is a step hull? Is the step referred to in these forums the area between the chines?

The chines are easy enough to see.
Looking at photo's in the gallery, and at least 12 out of 15 boats have transducer mounted starboard side, behind lowest chine. (exactly where manuals say NOT to place it). Some inboards have it mounted port side, lowest chine.

I tried mounting transducer on angled portion of hull, between lowest chine and keel, as close to chine as possible without being behind it. Roughly 12" starboard side of prop. No good. Above 11MPH it goes nuts. Also, it was too close to prop and bubbles from transducer caused ventilation (blow out).

I am left with what I think are two choices (not going thru hull). Mount like most, behind lowest starboard chine. Or, mount a little more to starbord of lowest chine (between the two chines). The second option might place transducer out of the water when on a plane?

Has anyone tested various locations on a V20 CC for best results? Or just set it and forget it..?

[Airslot]

I'm all over this thread. I'm a bit anal about my transducers and I haven't got it just right after three years. I'll have to look and see where mine is now.

Airslot

[macojoe]

Wellcraft V-20 Forum / Repairs / Re: In hull transducer mounting/placement . May 3rd, 2006, 1:23pm
Started by labii ***124; Post by labii
I sent an email to Wellcraft and ask if they could assist with the best location . Tom Dystra returns with :

"6 to 8 inches off the keel and 12 inches forward of the transom "
I'm going to give that a shot this weekend .



Read the hole thread here:

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Repairs;action=display;num=11465979 70;start=9#9

[RobsTV]

Thanks macojoe.
I read that thread, and it pertains to shoot-thru-hull mount, not the typical transom mount that I am inquiring about. For various reasons, this will need to be transom mounted.

[macojoe]

Sorry!!

I will Take a pic of mine, It works great with my Garmin!

I can watch the guy jiging off the back of my boat!!

[reelapeelin]

First, the chines are the "flat" areas on the outside edges of the bottom of the hull...coming down the sides of the boat from the gunwales, the chines are where the hull first turns under the boat....the steps are under the hull and run from the bow to the transom... ;) :D...

I mounted the transducer on the port side DIRECTLY behind the 2nd step from the keel(what the manuals say NOT to do)...mounted it one time, never adjusted and reads bottom/ depth at any speed, including WOT...The trick is FORGET about tryin' to line it up w/ bottom of hull, etc...I dropped mine as LOW as it would go into the water and it's not been a problem... ;D...

[RobsTV]

Thanks reelapeelin,

So the first flat area of hull, (the small outermost flat area on bottom of hull), is the chine.

Then, the two other flat area's as you move towards the keel, are the steps. Two steps and one chine on each side?

I think I see it in your gallery mounted on starboard side on first step up from keel. Was there a problem with that location so you moved it to port side and up to second step?

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album35&id=P1010018

Thanks,
Rob

[reelapeelin]

Yeah, Rob, you got it on the step/ chine locations...

The unit you see on the strbrd transom in the Gallery is the speed/temp sensor...the sonar is not shown in any of the Gallery shots (sorry) and is on port side under the swim-platform...the reason I went to port for the transducer is so it would be easier to go under port gunwale to run wiring SEPERATE from all other wiring in boat...all the other wiring would cause "interference"...try to isolate the transducer wire as much as possible when you install... ;)...

[RobsTV]

Great point on the port side wiring to reduce interferance.
That may be part of the problem with transducer losing it at speed.
A little tougher with a center console, as wires go under floor from starboard side.

And just to confirm, it is on the top step, not the lowest step like your speedo/temp is? Yet even that high, it stays in the water when on a full plan?

If it works on top step, then it seems FF install manual could be followed, and transducer could be mounted between steps, on the angled portion of hull.

[76GMC1500]

I put mine right on a step, it's really the only place the trailer allowed. At speed, I lose a lot of detail and can't see any fish, but I have never lost bottom. I ran it on the port side because there are fewer wires there as well.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c8/76GMC1500/DSCF1180.jpg

[macojoe]

Mine reads great!!

http://syncboard.com/albums/Boat-Tackle-Box/P0003074.jpg

http://syncboard.com/albums/Boat-Tackle-Box/P0003075.jpg

[RobsTV]

I'll test it this weekend in the same position macojoe and most others use, and will post results. Sounds like it should be fine there.

[racerx]

very interesting thread. be a while b4 i ready to install electronics but, i think this will help in the future. tx guys

[reelapeelin]

Rob...guess I'm gettin' old...FF ducer IS on 1st step from keel...sorry... ::)...

[RobsTV]

No problem. Thought it was a typo. Would have been great if it worked that high.

[reelapeelin]

It might...I never tried it there, though...why do you wanna put it there?...

[RobsTV]

If it worked that high, it could be placed lower, between the steps on the angled portion of hull, and it would perform even better because step would not be disturbing the water flow.

I am guessing the hull rides on the steps at various speeds, so when wide open, only lower step remains fully in the water?

[reelapeelin]

These V-20s aren't bass-boats ;) ...haven't looked w/ that particularly in mind, but my bet is the entire transom's in the water, chine to chine ;) :D :D ...

[RobsTV]

Saturday tests results were not good with transducer on lowest starboard step. Below 12MPH, bottom would correctly show 6' to 11' but above that speed and it would start to jump up to 800' or more, even though still in 6' to 11' of water. Raised, lowered, adjusted tilt, angle, internal settings, still not good.

Will move between first and second steps and test that today.

[Mac_Attack]

Here is where mine is mounted, at this position it works great at all the speeds I've achieved. Bill Mc ;D


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/memorialweekend003.jpg

[reelapeelin]

Rob, didja drop it down as low as it'll go?...mine works best w/ a SLIGHT back-end low tilt...

[RobsTV]

Yep, dropped it down as low as it would go off back of step. Raised it, tilted it left/right. Angled it up/down (a little down helps).

End results after 3 test trips: (all tests on starboard side)

First test was between lowest step and keel.
No good above 11MPH, plus it shot water into prop causing ventilation/cavitation.

Second test was on lowest step.
Prop was now fine, but same as above, no good depth above 11 MPH.

Third test was between lowest step and next highest step.
Bingo!
Works perfect at all speeds!!!!
Even raised up or lowered down in that location and it still keeps working, although it works best all the way up (using template that came with transducer). Tilted a little down at back of transducer (or shooting a little forward).

Hope this helps the next guy.

I thought the hull raised up.
Thought Steplift meant at lower speed hull would rise to first step, and at higher speed hull would rise to second or lowest step. Steps would lift. Guess not. Like reelapeelin says, these aren't bass boats.

[macojoe]

step, strike, chine, this is all so confusing!!~

Give us a picture!!~ ;)

[RobsTV]

Nasty pix of transom, didn't clean up transom for it's photo op, and used camera in phone, but here is mount location:

You can see some of the 5200 where other locations were tested, as well as blue area where old original flasher transducer was located.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album104&id=Transduce rLocation2

EDIT:
Cleaned up transom with new transducer location:

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album104&id=after2

[macojoe]

thats one ugly transom!!!

But its great news that the transducer works!!

[Airslot]

Hmmmm. Ideal transducer location is alos ideal trim tab location. Sh!t.

Airslot

[reelapeelin]

Just as with propellers, I believe there is "WITCH-CRAFT" involved in transducers...there sure isn't any "rule-of-thimb''...more like snowflakes...all different...

Bottom-line is, glad ya found the right place for it ;) :D...

[TheTinMan]

Hmmmm. Ideal transducer location is alos ideal trim tab location. Sh!t.

Airslot

I was thinking the same thing. I want to install a set of Bennett M120's.

[macojoe]

If you7 go with Tabs you will have to shot thur the hull!