Iv'e got a 1988 Hunter Legend 35 that I want to install a Fishfinder on. I don't want to put a thru-hull transducer in if I dont have to. Any recommendations out there on the unit and the transducer. Being here on the Great Lakes, I started Perch fishing and want to try for Coho and Brown also. I know I know, I'm a Sailor. But even Sailors run out of Wind days. Any help is appreciated. Dave
Fishfinder and Transducer HELP
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Fishfinder
I mount mine in the bilge with epoxy. When you buy yours, the instructions will tell you how.
I mount mine in the bilge with epoxy. When you buy yours, the instructions will tell you how.
Fishfinder
The P79 is a popular transponder for your purpose. From the Raymarine website for the P79: "In-hull (a.k.a. shoot-through) transducers are epoxied directly to the inside of the hull. These are only used in fiberglass hulls. In-hulls will not work with wooden aluminum, wood, or steel hulls, or in foam sandwich or hulls that have air pockets. Any wood, metal, or foam reinforcement must be removed from the inside of the hull. With an in-hull transducer, the signal is transmitted and received through the hull of the boat. As a result, there is considerable loss of sonar performance. In other words, you won’t be able to read as deep or detect fish as well with an in-hull transducer as with one that’s transom mounted or thru-hull mounted. Fiberglass hulls are often reinforced in places for added strength. These cored areas contain balsa wood or structural foam, which are poor sound conductors. The transducer will need to be located where the fiberglass is solid and there are no air bubbles trapped in the fiberglass resin. You’ll also want to make sure that there is no coring, flotation material, or dead air space sandwiched between the inside skin and the outer skin of the hull." For more information check these links: http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/Default.asp?site=1&Section=2&Page=606&Parent=40 http://kobernus.com/hunter260/depth/depth.html
The P79 is a popular transponder for your purpose. From the Raymarine website for the P79: "In-hull (a.k.a. shoot-through) transducers are epoxied directly to the inside of the hull. These are only used in fiberglass hulls. In-hulls will not work with wooden aluminum, wood, or steel hulls, or in foam sandwich or hulls that have air pockets. Any wood, metal, or foam reinforcement must be removed from the inside of the hull. With an in-hull transducer, the signal is transmitted and received through the hull of the boat. As a result, there is considerable loss of sonar performance. In other words, you won’t be able to read as deep or detect fish as well with an in-hull transducer as with one that’s transom mounted or thru-hull mounted. Fiberglass hulls are often reinforced in places for added strength. These cored areas contain balsa wood or structural foam, which are poor sound conductors. The transducer will need to be located where the fiberglass is solid and there are no air bubbles trapped in the fiberglass resin. You’ll also want to make sure that there is no coring, flotation material, or dead air space sandwiched between the inside skin and the outer skin of the hull." For more information check these links: http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/Default.asp?site=1&Section=2&Page=606&Parent=40 http://kobernus.com/hunter260/depth/depth.html
Fish finder
I installed the cheapest fishfinder I cound buy (Eagle $79)I took silicone (So I could remove it easily) and stuck it to the inside of the hull. Works great, no holes and I have depth finder that is accurate. Any fishfinder with a shoot thru hull transducer will work it just depends on how much you want to spend.
I installed the cheapest fishfinder I cound buy (Eagle $79)I took silicone (So I could remove it easily) and stuck it to the inside of the hull. Works great, no holes and I have depth finder that is accurate. Any fishfinder with a shoot thru hull transducer will work it just depends on how much you want to spend.
Archive here has over 100 postings on this topic.
By the way - use slow cure epoxy, not fast cure for best results.
By the way - use slow cure epoxy, not fast cure for best results.
Silicone will work
I mounted a piranha fishfinder transducer inside my hull using silicone. I did this because I was planning to relocate it later. It's been there for a year and still works fine. Supposedly a hard epoxy will work better. That's what I used on two other boats. But once a transducer is epoxied in place it is very hard to remove. A bonus was that I decided to go with a traditional depth sounder and the transducer was the same. I now have the fishfinder for my fishing boat using the new transponder that came with the depthsounder.
I mounted a piranha fishfinder transducer inside my hull using silicone. I did this because I was planning to relocate it later. It's been there for a year and still works fine. Supposedly a hard epoxy will work better. That's what I used on two other boats. But once a transducer is epoxied in place it is very hard to remove. A bonus was that I decided to go with a traditional depth sounder and the transducer was the same. I now have the fishfinder for my fishing boat using the new transponder that came with the depthsounder.
I’ve been told…
…that you can put the transducer in a plastic bag of water (and set it on the hull) to test if the hull area in question will allow a signal to pass. Also, whatever material you use to attach it to the hull, you can’t have any air bubbles in that material when you squeeze the transducer down.
…that you can put the transducer in a plastic bag of water (and set it on the hull) to test if the hull area in question will allow a signal to pass. Also, whatever material you use to attach it to the hull, you can’t have any air bubbles in that material when you squeeze the transducer down.
plastic bag works
If the area is small and confined you can even pour a small puddle of water directly into the boat. Then just sit the transducer in the puddle. I did this when I mounted a transducer. I also used the water in a bag on a different boat. Almost any method will work that eliminates air between the transducer and hull. A flatter section of hull is desirable so that the sound will go straight down. Deep in the hull is desirable so that air won't interfere in rough conditions as bubbles get under the hull or heeled over.
If the area is small and confined you can even pour a small puddle of water directly into the boat. Then just sit the transducer in the puddle. I did this when I mounted a transducer. I also used the water in a bag on a different boat. Almost any method will work that eliminates air between the transducer and hull. A flatter section of hull is desirable so that the sound will go straight down. Deep in the hull is desirable so that air won't interfere in rough conditions as bubbles get under the hull or heeled over.
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