H23.5 Depthfinder

[Dan Z.]

I recently purchased a 1994 H23.5 and would like to install a depthfinder. Any recommendations on transducer type (transom, puck, thru-hull) and manufacturer? Thanks!

 

[Beau Lawrence]

Thru hull

I installed a thru hull depth finder with a simple digital read out. The gauge or electronic read out unit fits perfectly on the bulkhead wall. (right on the other side of the power panel.) No wires can be seen from either side and the unit is totally hidden. I put the transducer behind the water ballast tank. (center of the boat). Has worked great.

 

[Ken Shubert]

Location is Everything

I use a Garmin GPS135 Sounder which is overkill but gives me everything in one box. It came with a transom mount transducer so I tried it and found it to be worthless on the H23.5. Any heel or change of rudder position causedloss of depth reading. The Garmin people said to stick the same puck down to a flat spot in the center of the hull with RTV. There doesn't seem to be any way to get to the hull up front so mine is stuck just aft of the water ballast tank too. Shooting thru the hull may reduce sensitivity some but the deepest water I've been in was about 80' and it worked fine. Fish-finders are very competitively priced and show bottom profiles and fish, as well as depth.KenS/V Wouff Hong

 

[Tom Adams]

h240 Depth

I purchased a h240 water ballast last year. I had the dealer install an Autohelm Bidata system. This has depth and knot meter. Both transducers are thru hull behind the ballast tanks. They have worked great. Could not live without them now. The read-out is mounted in the cockpit on the starboard bulkhead to the cabin. The wires are run between the deck and the interior shell. Good luck.

 

[Alan Long]

23.5 Depth

I too have a 94 23.5. I bought a Raytheon 265 fishfinder and mounted the transom transducer inside the hull behind the ballast tank using RTV silicone. Didn't work. I called Raytheon and they said that "unofficially" you could use the transom transducer inside the hull, but it has to be mounted in epoxy. I ruined the transducer cable trying to remove it (entirely my fault) and am waiting for a puck tranducer that is presently backordered. This is a really a cool little unit, its under 200 dollars and appears well made...if I could just get it working..Fair WindsAlan LongS/V Random Access

 

[Dave Condon]

Depth and knot

The only location to install transducersis behind the water tank underneath the rear berth for all water ballast Hnter boats. There are various types of unitsbut for depth I prefer the thru hull transducer for accuracy. Using epoxy, silicon, etc to attach the transducer to the inside of the hull depending on the unit can be tricky. Suggest that you use 5200 marine sealant for any thruhull fittings.