- Dec 30, 2009
- 680
Hi all, I have a depth guage question. I have an old boat 77 jeanneau 38' Sloop, hull is like an inch plus thick. Will an inside transducer work thru this hull? ANyone have any experience with these? Thanks Red
depth guages
- Thread starter redhead78
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While I feel pretty certain that a properly installed in-hull transducer puck would shoot through solid fiberglass without a problem, I'd contact the customer service department of the manufacturer from who you may be buying from first. Different makers may have different performance characteristics.
Shooting depth signal through such a thick hull will at least 'dampen' the signal (out & return). Most manufacturers will clearly state for such a thick hull that the best is to mount the transducer in a through hull.
Nevertheless, as transducer mounting can be a problem because of the 'slope' of the hull at the 'choice' location and to not go through a lot of FRG work to straighten the 'shoot angle', get the distributor/retailer of the depth instrument to agree to a 'return' if the PUCK system does not work properly.
To test the puck, put it into a plastic bag filled with water, the depth sounder on a fused temporary 12vdc connection ... and do TRIALS throughout the hull to find if indeed the signal return is OK. Do the trials over shallow water as well as DEEP water and include 'gooey gelatenous mud' bottom.
Thats about the ONLY way you'll ***know*** if the puck system will work in a thick (hand layed, resin rich, full of air bubbles) fiberglass layup from the 70s.
In a hull with approx the same thickness, I ultimately had to install a transducer throughhull - not easy on a hull with steep hull sides; plus, its impossible to get a BRONZE throughhull for tranducers these days.
Nevertheless, as transducer mounting can be a problem because of the 'slope' of the hull at the 'choice' location and to not go through a lot of FRG work to straighten the 'shoot angle', get the distributor/retailer of the depth instrument to agree to a 'return' if the PUCK system does not work properly.
To test the puck, put it into a plastic bag filled with water, the depth sounder on a fused temporary 12vdc connection ... and do TRIALS throughout the hull to find if indeed the signal return is OK. Do the trials over shallow water as well as DEEP water and include 'gooey gelatenous mud' bottom.
Thats about the ONLY way you'll ***know*** if the puck system will work in a thick (hand layed, resin rich, full of air bubbles) fiberglass layup from the 70s.
In a hull with approx the same thickness, I ultimately had to install a transducer throughhull - not easy on a hull with steep hull sides; plus, its impossible to get a BRONZE throughhull for tranducers these days.
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