Airmar transducers and winterizing

[Scott B]

Was up at the boat today doing some of the final winterizing and tarping. A couple years back there was a discussion about pulling the dummy plugs from your Airmar transducers after the boat is hauled out to allow any trapped water to drain. Some have had an issue with trapped water then freezing and actually cracking the thru-hull. I have pulled mine since then but was surprised today to see how much water was actually trapped in the thru-hull. Airmar have a rubber seal to slow the water when you pull the transducer while in the water. This seal will actually trap water in the thru-hull when you replace the dummy plug.

Just a public service announcement to make sure you pull the plugs after haul-out to let them dry before the big freeze....

 

[DougM]

Thanks for the heads up. I have never pulled the knot meter transducer for winter storage in the ten years I have owned my boat. Maybe I have been lucky. If the transducer remains in place , I am curious as to how water can get past the paddlewheel. Anyway, it's too late to pull it this year, boat is already stored until spring.

 

[quadrille38]

Read that thread some time ago. Since then I make it a practice to pull the transducers (or the plugs) when the boat is in th cradle. Then put them back in. You only need them out long enough to release the trapped water.

 

[THECUSCUS]

I pull the speed and depth transducers out when on the hard to drain any water and then leave them out. It helps to keep some fresh air circulating into the bilge.