I picked up an inexpensive fish finder with the "puck" style transducer and the manual shows either a transom mount or a hull mount where the puck in epoxied to the inside of the hull. The hull can not be a sandwich construction for the hull mount to work. Im thinking about mounting the transducer to the inside hull bottom at the back of the boat in the lazerette area. It wont tell me if Im about to hit something with the front of the boat but still useful. Ill try and get it near the center so its always in the water when the boat is heeled. I was going to mount the transducer on the transom in the back but it looks like there isnt much water line above the bottom edge of the transom (ie, the transducer would be in some shallow water). The best spot would possibly be near the center of the boat but that is also where the rudder is and having the rudder just under the transducer probably does not help. Mounting it away from the center in the back seems like it would result in the transducer comming out of the water in a steep heel. I beleive the fiberglass on the hull just under the lazerette is not of a sandwich construction and also, I dont think the water ballast tank goes that far back. So I think the hull mount transducer should work fine? Any practical experience? I also understand that the wax used for seating toilets can be used to seat the transducer against the hull (work the bubbles out).. So I may try this first before going the permanent epoxy route.
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External transducer
I got an inexpensive Garmin fishfinder and mounted the transducer on the stern, port side between the rudder and the motor. It works fine. I adjusted it so that it's parallel with the waterline and about an inch or two below the bottom of the transom. All it took was two screws and some 5200.
I got an inexpensive Garmin fishfinder and mounted the transducer on the stern, port side between the rudder and the motor. It works fine. I adjusted it so that it's parallel with the waterline and about an inch or two below the bottom of the transom. All it took was two screws and some 5200.
If it is a puck...
I would try to get it up in the v berth. I have a Hummingbird, and I have it under the V berth. What I did was put water in there to see if it would work. After that I dried it out and set it in a pile of silicon with a piece of dental floss under that and set it in. As soon as I had contact with the hull, the transducer started ticking. I have never had an issue. The floss is in case I need to ever remove it, I can use it like a saw, and cut the silicon off, and replace it. I say get it as far forward as possible. I have not done too much, but that one I made sure I was going to see what I am going to hit rather than see what I have just run over. If you have a hatch in the V berth, I would open it up, take out some foam, and set it right in the center, and let dry and replace the foam. The foam is not going to play a part in the performance. I am sure that your Garmin is better than the Hummingbird, so use it to its' potential. Good luck.
I would try to get it up in the v berth. I have a Hummingbird, and I have it under the V berth. What I did was put water in there to see if it would work. After that I dried it out and set it in a pile of silicon with a piece of dental floss under that and set it in. As soon as I had contact with the hull, the transducer started ticking. I have never had an issue. The floss is in case I need to ever remove it, I can use it like a saw, and cut the silicon off, and replace it. I say get it as far forward as possible. I have not done too much, but that one I made sure I was going to see what I am going to hit rather than see what I have just run over. If you have a hatch in the V berth, I would open it up, take out some foam, and set it right in the center, and let dry and replace the foam. The foam is not going to play a part in the performance. I am sure that your Garmin is better than the Hummingbird, so use it to its' potential. Good luck.
Where, specifically in the v?
I also have a Hummingbird. I placed it in the v berth just forward of what appears to be the end of the ballast tank. But it doesn't seem to work. Kinda wish I'd thought about that floss idea (GREAT idea!) I'm sure I can get it off, but it's gonna be a pain. I really would like to have this in or around this location.
I also have a Hummingbird. I placed it in the v berth just forward of what appears to be the end of the ballast tank. But it doesn't seem to work. Kinda wish I'd thought about that floss idea (GREAT idea!) I'm sure I can get it off, but it's gonna be a pain. I really would like to have this in or around this location.
Do you have a hatch......
on the v berth? Mie is right on top, and I opened that up, and placed it as far forward as I could without getting my kid stuffed in there. It is about two feet forward in the v berth. If yours isn't working, you might have air bubbles in the silicon. That will kill the transducer. It needs to send waves through solid surfaces or water. There is another solution, but it is a lot more work. Try this........ Take it off, and put it in a 1 gallon zip lock bag full of water. Lay it in there and it should tell you how hight off the ground you are. If you have your boat in the water, then turn the finder on, and then put it in a bacg of water. It will start working right then. Place it in the hull ,and you will know if it is working. If it is, go ahead and get a tube of clear silicon, and the floss, and use the entire tube on the floor of the hull, and make sure you don't have bubbles. Once you embed the transducer in the silicon, and it starts ticking, go to the screen and take a look. If it working........ LEAVE IT ALONE for about three days to make sure everything is set. Then throw your foam back in and close the lid. You'll be set...... Good luck.
on the v berth? Mie is right on top, and I opened that up, and placed it as far forward as I could without getting my kid stuffed in there. It is about two feet forward in the v berth. If yours isn't working, you might have air bubbles in the silicon. That will kill the transducer. It needs to send waves through solid surfaces or water. There is another solution, but it is a lot more work. Try this........ Take it off, and put it in a 1 gallon zip lock bag full of water. Lay it in there and it should tell you how hight off the ground you are. If you have your boat in the water, then turn the finder on, and then put it in a bacg of water. It will start working right then. Place it in the hull ,and you will know if it is working. If it is, go ahead and get a tube of clear silicon, and the floss, and use the entire tube on the floor of the hull, and make sure you don't have bubbles. Once you embed the transducer in the silicon, and it starts ticking, go to the screen and take a look. If it working........ LEAVE IT ALONE for about three days to make sure everything is set. Then throw your foam back in and close the lid. You'll be set...... Good luck.
overkill?
I have 2 tranducers. One in the laz and one in the V-birth. Both work fine. The one in the laz has a temp probe that exits the stern and rides in the water. I control them with an A-B switch.
I have 2 tranducers. One in the laz and one in the V-birth. Both work fine. The one in the laz has a temp probe that exits the stern and rides in the water. I control them with an A-B switch.
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