Just how serious is this?

[SailArkansas]

Thanks for all the responses. I may have inadvertantly stumbled into the answer or an answer. I looked up my electronics on the Ray Marine website and found it is an Autohelm ST30 Bi-data. I downloaded the owners manual and my transducers are identical to the ones shown in the manual. The manual shows a breakdown of parts relating to the transducers. They are plastic and there is no washer shown in any of the diagrams. Soooo...based on the diagrams I would guess that I am looking at a sealant product which has either discolored with age or maybe was that color to begin with.

Keeping in mind that the boat is in the water and I have no trailer, do I dare loosen the retaining ring on the thru-hull once the speed sensor is out of the housing and just double check that it isnt some kind of metal washer rusting in there?

I too have replaced a ball valve using a diver with old-fashioned plunger and I recall there wasn't that much water pressure when the plunger slipped off the hull. What are my options here if any?

 

[Ken13559]

If its Airmar(OEM), there is usually a flapper that closes when you pull out the speed transducer. That will reduce greatly the amounbt of water coming in. You can put a palm to shut the trickle of water or wrap a clear plastic sheet over it and tighten with some rubberbands. This is temporary job for you to check the 'ducer.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Thanks for all the responses. I may have inadvertantly stumbled into the answer or an answer. I looked up my electronics on the Ray Marine website and found it is an Autohelm ST30 Bi-data. I downloaded the owners manual and my transducers are identical to the ones shown in the manual. The manual shows a breakdown of parts relating to the transducers. They are plastic and there is no washer shown in any of the diagrams. Soooo...based on the diagrams I would guess that I am looking at a sealant product which has either discolored with age or maybe was that color to begin with.

Keeping in mind that the boat is in the water and I have no trailer, do I dare loosen the retaining ring on the thru-hull once the speed sensor is out of the housing and just double check that it isnt some kind of metal washer rusting in there?

I too have replaced a ball valve using a diver with old-fashioned plunger and I recall there wasn't that much water pressure when the plunger slipped off the hull. What are my options here if any?

Whatever you do, do not loosen that in the water. If you loosen it at all you should go all the way and remove it and reseal it. I am sure there is sealant on the mushroom head of the through hull. The rusting washer-plastic thing-thingamagig is really inconsequential right now.

When I said I replaced a ballvalve, I did not take the through hull out in the water. I have flange adapters so the ball valve screws onto it. A ball valve is just the valve, the through hull is just the part that sticks through the hull. If you put them together then you have a seacock. The plunger on the hull thing is not a good idea because the sealant is not supposed to be in contact with water so it can cure.

Seriously though dude, if the transducer is not leaking at all. You can probably leave it alone forever and not really worry. I mean eventually haul the boat and reseal it properly but this is not a situation to really worry about. Just catch it when you do a bottom job.
I replaced every though hull below the water line, but didn't mess with the transducers at all. that was 3 years ago. Next time I haul I will reseal them. Hopefully this coming January if people will buy some of my Run Rockets when the football season ends.

 

[SailArkansas]

Whatever you do, do not loosen that in the water. If you loosen it at all you should go all the way and remove it and reseal it. I am sure there is sealant on the mushroom head of the through hull. The rusting washer-plastic thing-thingamagig is really inconsequential right now.

When I said I replaced a ballvalve, I did not take the through hull out in the water. I have flange adapters so the ball valve screws onto it. A ball valve is just the valve, the through hull is just the part that sticks through the hull. If you put them together then you have a seacock. The plunger on the hull thing is not a good idea because the sealant is not supposed to be in contact with water so it can cure.

Seriously though dude, if the transducer is not leaking at all. You can probably leave it alone forever and not really worry. I mean eventually haul the boat and reseal it properly but this is not a situation to really worry about. Just catch it when you do a bottom job.
I replaced every though hull below the water line, but didn't mess with the transducers at all. that was 3 years ago. Next time I haul I will reseal them. Hopefully this coming January if people will buy some of my Run Rockets when the football season ends.

I have a lead on a guy that is working up a quote for me to pull the boat and do a bottom job. I am going to put off doing anything about the mysterious discoloration around the transducers until then. Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it.

 

[JVB]

..... I wonder what the recommended procedure for draining the hot water tank is or if its even necessary since the water never freezes around the boat.

The lake water never freezes around my boat in central South Carolina but the temperature inside the boat does get low enough to freeze water unless I put a small heater in the cabin.