Chris "Plumbers Putty" Patterson

Kermit

.
Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
So, Chris strongly suggested and highly recommended using plumbers putty for bedding the transducer in a shoot-through-the-hull installation. Crazy Dave and I tried the bag-of-water technique for testing the transducer before final installation with 3M 4200. No joy. Just so happens I picked up some plumbers putty just in case we needed it. Upon my insistence, Dave smushed the transducer into a great big blob of putty. Daggummit, it worked perfectly! Even Good Ole Dave learned a new trick today. Thanks, Chris!
 
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Mar 30, 2013
700
Allied Seawind MK II 32' Oologah Lake, Oklahoma
I'm using a big glob of toilet ring wax with good results with my Lowrance Mk install.
 
Sep 30, 2013
3,582
1988 Catalina 22 North Florida
CP is seldom wrong. :)

I can attest to the wax toilet ring method, also. My boat has two transducers; the one it came with is at least several years old and is still bedded in toilet wax. I'm leaving it as is for a spare.
 
Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Cool trick. I did a modified version of that same trick. I made a damn with plumbers putty around the transducer and then filled it in with epoxy. My transducer is now part of the boat..... so I think Chris' idea is more versatile.
 
Nov 19, 2011
1,489
MacGregor 26S Hampton, VA
I bought 2 toilet rings. Might have cost 5 bucks total. It holds up well and it's not part of the boat. Just make sure it's in a place you won't store stuff in without covering it. That stuff sticks to everything. Oh and wear disposable gloves and have rags near by, after it's installed, you'll love that it's not glue.
 
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Mar 30, 2013
700
Allied Seawind MK II 32' Oologah Lake, Oklahoma
Doc makes a point I left out. The Lowrance unit was originally bought for my Macgregor 26S and when I bought the Cal niehter the speed log or depth sounder was working. Easy swap and if I decide to take the Mac out again before it sells I can swap it back in pety quick.
 

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
The plumbers putty left no residue. No gloves required. I'll keep an eye on it to see how well it holds up through the seasons.
 
Oct 10, 2009
1,035
Catalina 27 3657 Lake Monroe
I tried a wax ring last year and made a mess. I've heard of duct putty being a good medium as well. Is that the same as plumbers putty? Any way, with the attempt last year I could not get a read. It is a cheap fish finder but it says it can shoot through the hull. I am placing it aft of the keel, so I don't think the issue is the location. I've also wondered whether this transducer is just not strong enough.
 
Jun 8, 2004
10,374
-na -NA Anywhere USA
I helped Kermit to install that sounder puck and questioned the use of plummers putty. Well, it works and from a standpoint of being a retired sailboat dealer of over 30 years, I was impressed with the suggestion from Patterson on that one.

As for prep, sand down to glass insuring a smooth surface but you can leave the gel coat in the fine pores. Acetone that area to insure no water, cleanliness and so forth. Use a glob, putt the puck in it and mash down to insure no air bubbles and build up over the puck. It worked.
 
Oct 10, 2009
1,035
Catalina 27 3657 Lake Monroe
Thanks for the tip C-Dave. I am revisiting this next week and have done some sanding to clean up the area.
 

Kermit

.
Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
I tried a wax ring last year and made a mess. I've heard of duct putty being a good medium as well. Is that the same as plumbers putty? Any way, with the attempt last year I could not get a read. It is a cheap fish finder but it says it can shoot through the hull. I am placing it aft of the keel, so I don't think the issue is the location. I've also wondered whether this transducer is just not strong enough.
Make sure the spot you use is solid fiberglass and is not cored. Air is NOT your friend here. I handed Dave about half of the small container of plumbers putty. He mashed the puck into the big blob and built the putty up over it once I confirmed the reading. Again, no mess. Didn't even feel the need to wash my hands afterwards. (But I did wash them before fixing Dave a sandwich for lunch. Or maybe I just wiped my hands on my pants. Either way they were clean. hehehe)
 
Oct 10, 2009
1,035
Catalina 27 3657 Lake Monroe
The hull is not cored, but I see now how using the putty can be a good way to find a spot where I can actually get a good reading. Tried the water/bag method but with the combination of a cramped space to maneuver beneath the cockpit and not having enough hands and/or dexterity, that effort just made me sweat profusely without ever getting a good reading.

Dave's probably built up a layer of immunity over the years of trading sailboat help for borderline safe sandwiches.
 

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
Dave's probably built up a layer of immunity over the years of trading sailboat help for borderline safe sandwiches.
The water bag didn't work for us, either. Bingo on the putty. I think it was the big-ole slice of tomato that made the sandwich safe to eat.
 
Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Plumbers putty is great stuff. I always keep a tub on my boat in the box of spare parts. It is also useful as a temporary caulking compound. It never fails that the one leak during a rain storm will be right over your bunk.... but a walnut size piece of plumbers putty will fix that 'till morning and let you get back to sleep. I've even used it while sailing to stop leaks around the swing keel pivot bolt..... and when I rebedded my windows on my last renovation.

It might be interesting to start a thread/list titled....

What is in your spare parts/emergency box?

r
 
Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
I actually saw this the other day, and I was so flattered I thought to respond would seem arrogant.After getting over the initial shock of seeing my name where I did not offend somebody, or the death threats that are becoming so common nowadays, I calmed down for a minute and quit packing.

While I am widely known as "The Lord of the Idiots" around here, evidently I have managed to fool a few people so far. (Things like this help very much at my sanity hearings once a month). But now I have an idea. Plumbers Putty for sale. That's right. It is not known here, but I have searched the world over for the correct blend of just the right putty. I know some of you are just using the regular old hardware brand and it is wrong. Mine is imported from Bangladesh, with just the right consistency to, well, smash under a puck. And of course mine DOES look like the same ol' stuff, however.......I have this putty shipped in by the trainload, too much wear and tear on our poor roads what with the dozens of tractor-trailers coming and going, and offloaded in front of the yard's witch-doctors residence. When he sobers up about once a week, he staggers outdoors to bless this stuff, (or whatever it is he is doing with all those sticks and bones), and from there we ship it to you. For the low low price of about twenty bucks a can, and we prefer it in Krugerrands which seem kind if stable at the moment. Plus processing and handling of course. And while I have no idea whatsoever what all that means, we will handle it somewhat. At least the witch doctor will.
So don't be surprised if your new high dollar can of putty looks just like the same stuff you are buying direct for two bucks, it AIN'T THE SAME.

Hey wait, I've got an even better idea. YOU go buy the two dollar putty at the store, and just mail me the difference and that should work as well. You just tell me where it is going to be applied, and I will tell W.D. to include it in his prayers, or ramblings, whatever the hell he's doing over that cauldron.
I somehow knew I would get rich like this. Lord of the Idiots no more..

Seriously, thanks guys. Little tip. There ARE some incredibly smart people on this board, I was just satisfied by the moments illusion that I may have tread a couple of steps in their shadows..
 
Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
lol so if we act right now will you cut the price by 25% and if we pay by credit card will you double the offer and free shipping
 

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
Dang. I overpaid. I paid $2.59 at Triangle Hardware in Camden, SC. So much for sending the extra to you, Chris. But thanks again!
 

Bob J.

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Apr 14, 2009
774
Sabre 28 NH
Pretty neat ideas using Plumbers Putty or a wax ring for this.
A wax ring will last forever, plumbers putty will eventually dry out & crumble so keep an eye on.