Depth Again

[Ed Mollencupp]

Does anyone know how to test a depth transducer with the boat out of the water?I am looking for the best place to put it before I mount it.I have seen forum about placement but want to test befote install.I have a through hull transducer but really dont want to drill!!!!HELP PLEASE

 

[ken]

depth sounder

ED.....................Seems to me that you could hook it up to the 12V system and have an assistant hold it tight against whereever you want to mount the transducer....... and see what the readout is. Don't think you will need water for that.I mounted my transducer in the portipotty area just forward of the keel. Used 2 part epoxy... no holes to drill.... works great!kennethbernard2@attbi.com

 

[Campy]

Depth Sounder

While sailing with my daughter last year, we discovered that the swing keel is an ideal depth sounder. You just have to get used to the warning noises it makes. Kind of makes a wierd "swooosh" sound when your in less than 4 feet of water and the bottom is sandy. It again makes a "bonkabonka" sound in less than 4 feet of water when the bottom is rocky.Recognition of the sounds while your 13 year old is at the tiller during your napping period is paramount. Beaching the boat isn't so bad... at low tide.Good laughs anyway! Great story in school I'm sure.Campy

 

[Aldo]

Do you mean Electrically Test It?

Ed: Do you mean electrically test it? If that's what you want to do, I would think you could take your depth sounder, the transducer, and a battery, (like a motorcycle or garden tractor battery) and test it in a pool. I plan on getting a depth sounder this spring too. I'm thinking about mounting the tranducer in front of the head area on the forward side of the liner. Has anyone else mounted their transducer there? (My C-22 is a 1980). Where did you see articles about transducer placement? I'm planning on mounting the transducer in a piece of PVC pipe, epoxied to the inside of the hull, and filling it the pipe with mineral oil. I've read that this work OK, and just reduces the maximum depth a little. It's not the Maximum depth that I'm worried about on the Chesapeake. I won't drill a hole through my hull. Thanks Ed for getting me started thinking about this. Aldo

 

[Lynn Larremore]

Depth Finder

I have my transducer mounted in the compartment forward of the portapotty where it's epoxy'd to the hull (you could, & probably should, use silicon or 3M 4200). The transducer sees polyester, epoxy & silicon about the same as water so you don't lose accuracy and there's need for the tube & oil using that method. If you use a thru fitting or want yours transducer "loose", then you will need your tube, of course. I understand the trick is to have NO air pockets between your transducer & the water.Lynn

 

[Lynn Larremore]

Depth finder transducer test

Ken's suggestion is a good real-life check. Put your transudcer in the same space we used but add enough water under it to fill the void. That will be critical for your test. Tested mine that way- Cruising World's idea, not mine. Dammit, but it worked well. Dropped a line over to measure depth under my hull & compared 'em & we're spot on.

 

[Ed Mollencupp]

Thanks

Thanks To all the test at the pier worked great a BIG THANKS TO ALL