Depth Sounder for H34

[Mike]

I just bought a 1986 34 (moved up from a 28.5), but it doesn't have a depth sounder. The boat is in the water now, and I'm looking for suggestions on what to use for the rest of the season, until I can have it hauled and can put in a thru-hull transducer. Has anyone had any experience with the fish finder type of transducer that mounts on the inside of the hull?

 

[Bruce Harkness]

Through Hull Depth Sounder

I have used a through hull sounder in a small 19ft Starwind I owned. I used a transducer that was meant to be transom mounted. If you use clear silicone and find a spot on the hull that does not have air bubbles it works just fine. You have to be careful to not generate air in the silicone when you put it down. If it does not work in the first spot, just move it around till you get a reading.

 

[R. Palaia]

Had a Standard depth

On my last boat, Precision 23, I mounted a Standard DS40 depth with a transducer that mounted inside the hull. I called Standard and they said that I needed the special "inside mount" transducer, and that a thru hull or transom mount that was bonded to the hull wouldn't work. So I did get the "inside" mount transducer and I used marine tex to bond it to the hull. I was told not to use silicone because of the damping effect. The marine tex should be free of bubbles. I used it for 5 years and it worked like a champ. One criteria is that your hull has to be solid fiberglass, not cored. I think all Hunters are solid below the waterline. My opinion is, mount the inside transducer and forget the thru hull, why have an extra hole in your boat. I wish my current boat had an inside mounted depth. The only disadvantage is that you lose some top end reading efficiency, but if you're in 150 feet of water, who cares.Rocs/v Sea Life (h33.5)

 

[Dakota Jim Russell]

Inside - way to go

Just emphasize the last comment, my 97 340 has an inside the hull depth meter. Has worked great. Autohelm 30 series.Recommend inside.

 

[Steve Dion]

Navico unit from 1986

We had our depth sounder mounted under the v-berth in '86 when the boat was new. It has worked fine. The only negative I can say about this location is when we are in heavy seas it appear to be comming out of the water and the reading will jump around. Other than that no problems. The advantage is that we do not have another hole in the boat to worry about.