Hello, After finding out that both of my thru hulls for my depth sounder and knotmeter were leaking badly I had my boat pulled and had a fiberglass guy glass over the two old holes. Now Im getting ready to install a new set of transducers and I am wondering if there are any tricks on drilling through the fiberglass and what type of bedding compound i should use. Thanks!...Jay
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Great timing...check out the article "Say Good-bye to Through-Hull Worries" on page 64 of the June 2004 issue of Crusing World magazine. Covers the subject from A to Z. (www.cruisingworld.com)
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Within the last month someone gave a very complete description of the process. Sanding, bedding with 4200, etc. I finished the inside nut with silicon. I would direct you but I can't get the archives to come up right now. Jeff
Within the last month someone gave a very complete description of the process. Sanding, bedding with 4200, etc. I finished the inside nut with silicon. I would direct you but I can't get the archives to come up right now. Jeff
Thanks
Thanks for the replies. Jeff do you think you could post that link. I didnt have much luck searching the archives for thru hull, 4200, or transducer install. Thanks again!
Thanks for the replies. Jeff do you think you could post that link. I didnt have much luck searching the archives for thru hull, 4200, or transducer install. Thanks again!
A picture.
The Related Link is to a photo of my transducer holes. You can see the pads that I glassed in before drilling the holes. The trick is to get the hole "square" so that the transducer is flush on the outside and the nut is flush on the inside. I used a standard hole saw from Lowes, test the size at home in an old piece of board. I recently installed a new thru-hull for engine water and could not match the size. The thru-hull was exactly 1" but a one-inch hole saw made a hole that was way too tight. I used a grinding bit in the drill to get it right. Drilling big holes in the bottom of your loved one is no fun!
The Related Link is to a photo of my transducer holes. You can see the pads that I glassed in before drilling the holes. The trick is to get the hole "square" so that the transducer is flush on the outside and the nut is flush on the inside. I used a standard hole saw from Lowes, test the size at home in an old piece of board. I recently installed a new thru-hull for engine water and could not match the size. The thru-hull was exactly 1" but a one-inch hole saw made a hole that was way too tight. I used a grinding bit in the drill to get it right. Drilling big holes in the bottom of your loved one is no fun!
Jay, Try 3M 5200 sealant.
I have used 5200 with not problems. It seals right the first time and does not dry out or get brittle. As for drilling I drill the hull 1/8 inch larger than the width of the transducer. This leave 1/16 inch gap. I put the 5200 sealant on the transducer outer lip, on the sides and the screw on cap. I then coat all fiberglass areas. Good Luck.. Ted
I have used 5200 with not problems. It seals right the first time and does not dry out or get brittle. As for drilling I drill the hull 1/8 inch larger than the width of the transducer. This leave 1/16 inch gap. I put the 5200 sealant on the transducer outer lip, on the sides and the screw on cap. I then coat all fiberglass areas. Good Luck.. Ted
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