Depth sensor location

[Chuck]

Hello, I Have a '96 Hunter 23.5 and am looking into adding a depth sensor. I was looking at transducers that glue to the inside of the hull, so I don't have to drill thru. The sensor say it must be single layer hull construction for the sensor to work. Since my boat has a water ballast I have no clue if this is possible. I was hoping anyone could provide suggestions /recommendations /location (if any) for this applicationThanks,Chuck

 

[Dave Royce]

Transducer

You can look at one of two places. The thru hulls I have are under the aft bunk on centerline. This location is good but the draw back is that it is aft the centerboard and you will already be aground if you are not careful. You could mount it forward under the v-berth. But I think the ballast tank is in the way. but you may be able to mount it slightly off center.

 

[AJ Wortelboer]

bag it

Put your transducer in a zip lock bag full of water and lay it in the spot that you think will work for you. Make sure the tranducer face is pointing down through the hull and the bag of water has got the transducer completly submerged. Lay the bag on the hull in a locker or bildge till you find the right location. I used this method for several years on a trailerable boat that I had in lue of drilling holes in the bottom. It works well down to about 80 ft. then my unit lost the power to get any deeper. Don't forget the water will freeze in the winter. If you use this method as a permeminent fix use vegetable oil insted of water to prevent a freeze up.

 

[Hayden]

I used epoxy to set the transducer in place

aft of the water ballast tank, near the center line, ubder the aft bunk. I used the water bag trick to determine where I got the best readings and could not get a good reading from the forward locker. Either the hull was too thick or the water ballast tank got in the way.Once I found the sopt aft, I used epoxy to fasten a 3" piece of PCV pipe (about 2" high) to the bottom of the hull (hole points up). Then I placed the transducer in the pipe, ppointing it down through the hull, and filled under and around the transducer with epoxy. I then turned on the depth finder to be dure I was getting a reading. I held it in place for several minutes while the epoxy hardend and it was ready to go in a few minutes. I used quick drying epoxy so I wouldn't have to spend thenight holding th etransdcuer in place.More questions? Try me at hayden_jones@renolan.com.Fair WindsHayden