in-hull sounder transducer

[innervations]

I have installed a Raymarine A50 D but have not mounted the transducer as yet. I have seen several posts mounting the transducer externally on the transom but has anyone tried to mount the transducer (designed for through hull sensing) inside the hull? I need to find a suitable location with only single skin hull. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[NiceAft]

Do a search for this in the "Repairs and Modifications" section. You could also do a search on this page. Look at the very top, right hand corner. Either way, this topic has been discussed a few times, and you should be able to see who has done it before, and then contacting them.

Ray

[Hamin' X]

Here are the search terms that I used for your wants:

transducer mount thr*

I used the asterisk after thr to capture both "through" & "thru"

Here are the results:

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/s ... unt+thr%2A

~Rich

[cookwithgas]

I recently installed a transducer inside the hull on my Venture 222. It was really easy. I didn't glue it to the hull. Instead I cut the bottom out of a tupperware container, used silicone to seal the container to the floor inside the V-berth, then bolted the transducer to the side of the tupperware container so it would look forward. I then filled the container with water and put the top back on. It has worked for five trips to the lake with no problems or having to refill the container. I didn't want to glue the transducer to the bottom because of problems with air bubbles. I can now see the depth of the water just before I get there and stick the keel. I stuck it a few weeks ago when I was out there with Chris on Joe Pool Lake. We were just drifting and talking from boat-to-boat and I noticed the water was about 3 feet. My keel was not locked down, but it stopped the boat and stayed put. I simply cranked up the keel a little and motored out of the shallow area when done.

[TAW02]

I have installed a Raymarine A50 D but have not mounted the transducer as yet. I have seen several posts mounting the transducer externally on the transom but has anyone tried to mount the transducer (designed for through hull sensing) inside the hull? I need to find a suitable location with only single skin hull. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Welcome aboard Mr. Innervations!

I mounte mine like this;



Ran the cable inside via the existing cable bundle from the outboard. So no drilling of cutting required. Just a trolling motor mount and a stainless hose clamp.

I looked into the possiblilities of an inside mount, but decide against it because my unit also has a fishfinder function and software support for the like. Further, the transducer also reads water temperatures of the water. In Florida climates water temp data and knowing how to use that information means the difference between bringing home a catch while all others don't. Even the slightes temp differences make a huge difference when knowing where the fish are biting.

Good luck sir.

[Russ]

I then filled the container with water and put the top back on. It has worked for five trips to the lake with no problems or having to refill the container. I didn't want to glue the transducer to the bottom because of problems with air bubbles.

That will certainly work and it's hard to argue with success. Some have done that and filled it with some kind of oil instead of water which can get yucky after time.
Honestly, the silicone caulk is easy to take a razor blade and cut off if it gets bubbles and won't work. I've installed many with silicone caulk directly to the hull with great success. I just cut the bottom out of a plastic bowl, squeezed out a tube of clear silicone caulk on the hull inside the bowl and mashed the transducer into it.

My GPS transducer is mounted on the transom and provides water depth, else I'd mount it indoors.

How does your forward facing transducer work in deeper water? Not that deeper water is when you need it most.

--Russ

[Dennis]

I mounted our Lowrance skimmer transducer at the rear port side of the ballast tank. It is mounted using a lot of plumbers putty; I like working with this product. Just make sure all the air bubbles are out. By using plumbers putty you can easily try different locations. I've tried shooting through the full ballast tank with mixed results. At its present location it works fine unless heeling beyond 25 degrees. Dennis

[vizwhiz]

Hey Russ and Cook...you guys have any pictures of the finished product (or work in progress)? Are they posted in the mod section?

[ROAD Soldier]

I have installed a Raymarine A50 D but have not mounted the transducer as yet. I have seen several posts mounting the transducer externally on the transom but has anyone tried to mount the transducer (designed for through hull sensing) inside the hull? I need to find a suitable location with only single skin hull. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Welcome aboard Mr. Innervations!

I mounte mine like this;



Ran the cable inside via the existing cable bundle from the outboard. So no drilling of cutting required. Just a trolling motor mount and a stainless hose clamp.

I looked into the possiblilities of an inside mount, but decide against it because my unit also has a fishfinder function and software support for the like. Further, the transducer also reads water temperatures of the water. In Florida climates water temp data and knowing how to use that information means the difference between bringing home a catch while all others don't. Even the slightes temp differences make a huge difference when knowing where the fish are biting.

Good luck sir.

Introducing the newest inductee into the Redneck Hall of Fame. For his most stupendous and functional mod in transducer installments category being hailed by common sense judges everywhere even one famous local Secret Identity Redneck stated "It's so simple anyone should of thought of it but didn't, where were you when I installed mine 2 1/2 years ago".

[ROAD Soldier]

I recently installed a transducer inside the hull on my Venture 222. It was really easy. I didn't glue it to the hull. Instead I cut the bottom out of a tupperware container, used silicone to seal the container to the floor inside the V-berth, then bolted the transducer to the side of the tupperware container so it would look forward. I then filled the container with water and put the top back on. It has worked for five trips to the lake with no problems or having to refill the container. I didn't want to glue the transducer to the bottom because of problems with air bubbles. I can now see the depth of the water just before I get there and stick the keel. I stuck it a few weeks ago when I was out there with Chris on Joe Pool Lake. We were just drifting and talking from boat-to-boat and I noticed the water was about 3 feet. My keel was not locked down, but it stopped the boat and stayed put. I simply cranked up the keel a little and motored out of the shallow area when done.

Introducing the next newest inductee into the Redneck Hall of Fame. For his most stupendous and functional mod in poor man's forward looking sonar category being hailed by common sense judges everywhere even one famous local Secret Identity Redneck stated "It's so simple anyone should of thought of it but didn't, and thanks I now have a new mod planned".

[Russ]

Hey Russ and Cook...you guys have any pictures of the finished product (or work in progress)? Are they posted in the mod section?

I wish I did. My M came with the transducer mounted on the transom which provides water temp as well.

On my Hunter, I cut the bottom out of a margarine container as a containment boom of sorts. Some people use a short piece of PVC pipe. The only purpose is only to keep the silicone caulk from running all over the place. Some people skip this step.
Once I place the bottomless bowl where I wanted to mount the transducer, I squeezed about a 1/2 tube of silicone caulk trying to avoid bubbles against the hull. Then I pushed the transducer down into the goo positioning it at the angle that is perpendicular.

If it doesn't work (which is unlikely) take a razor blade and cut it free. You haven't put any holes in your boat.

The only trick with the Mac is to mount it away from the ballast. That's pretty easy because the ballast is the ribbed lines on both sides and below the v-berth compartments.

[J.Teixeira]

Hi

Under the Ice chest.

Easy access and near the center...

Jose

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

My depth/fish finder works real well, mounted inside, flat on the floor, using plenty of silicone surrounding the transducer (avoid any bubbles in the silicone). My boat is an "X", and installation was under the galley, next to the ballast tank.
My prev. boat, a Mac "S", had the same installation, flat on the floor in back of the boat using silicone.

This has been my installation preference, and I've had no problems. This sorta installation is quite easy.

[TAW02]

I have installed a Raymarine A50 D but have not mounted the transducer as yet. I have seen several posts mounting the transducer externally on the transom but has anyone tried to mount the transducer (designed for through hull sensing) inside the hull? I need to find a suitable location with only single skin hull. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Welcome aboard Mr. Innervations!

I mounte mine like this;



Ran the cable inside via the existing cable bundle from the outboard. So no drilling of cutting required. Just a trolling motor mount and a stainless hose clamp.

I looked into the possiblilities of an inside mount, but decide against it because my unit also has a fishfinder function and software support for the like. Further, the transducer also reads water temperatures of the water. In Florida climates water temp data and knowing how to use that information means the difference between bringing home a catch while all others don't. Even the slightes temp differences make a huge difference when knowing where the fish are biting.

Good luck sir.

Introducing the newest inductee into the Redneck Hall of Fame. For his most stupendous and functional mod in transducer installments category being hailed by common sense judges everywhere even one famous local Secret Identity Redneck stated "It's so simple anyone should of thought of it but didn't, where were you when I installed mine 2 1/2 years ago".

To set the record straight, I found the above mod while surfing this site. It was not my idea. I stole it from Mr. Road Soldier it apears. My apologies go out to him.

I did not intend to imply in any way that this mod was my idea. It was not. I just assumed that we were brothers here ... neighbors to say the least, whom which share great ideas.

Mr. Roadsoldier, please PM me and let me know how much I owe you for this obvious copyright infringement. After all ...

To you I am a dumb redneck.

[Rick Westlake]

Hi

Under the Ice chest.

Easy access and near the center...

Jose

I mounted mine close to your "under the ice chest" position as well, but sice I had a Plastimo water bladder directly under the ice chest I mounted it back further. Mine is just under the cabin sole at the door to the head, and close to the centerboard trunk.

It's also over a "thin" part of the ballast tank, drat it! My depth finder cuts out with the ballast empty, and that's the only logical reason I can figure. It also cuts out intermittently on a hard starboard reach (25 - 30 degrees heel), but that may be some sort of cavitation problem, if it isn't that the hull under the transducer is just out of the water at such a deep angle.

I am considering whether-or-not I might be able to drill a ring of small holes around my transducer, and fill the void just underneath of it with epoxy. But I very rarely run under power at high speeds, which is the only time I might want to be on the water with empty ballast.

If you DO run routinely with the ballast out, I recommend you stern-mount your transducer ... even "field expedient style" as did TAW02 and ROAD Soldier.