Hey, ALL! ...boy, look at me...I have not picked up my boat yet, but already looking to modify it :O) :O) :O) I want to install a depth/fish finder on my Mac 22. In the light of that I have a few questions: What are good depth/fish finders that are fairly easy to use, reliable and inexpensive? What are generally good brands ? I really dont want to drill any more holes in the boat, so would like to find a depth finder with a transponder that could be installed inside the hull. Are there particular brands of those?...or is it just the power output of the transponder that matter wheather you could installe it inside or not? Another issue with Mac22 and an inside transponder is that Mac22 has water ballast, so there must be some particular places where an in-hule transponder can be installed...where is it? :O) Would appresiate any input or offer(in case you have one for sale for some reason) :O) Thakns ! it's been a really usefull forum so far, I really hope, it continues to be so friendly and informative!(Hats off to the creators of it)!
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No-hole transponder
There is a great article in the Spring 2004 issue of Boat Works on installing a transponder without drilling holes in the hull. It looks pretty simple using common PVC pipe and coupling. I'd like to get it done this winter.
There is a great article in the Spring 2004 issue of Boat Works on installing a transponder without drilling holes in the hull. It looks pretty simple using common PVC pipe and coupling. I'd like to get it done this winter.
No-hole transponder
Justin, if you're doing this in a Mac just do what I've done for the last 3 boats. I just use some 5 minute epoxy, mix enough to bed the transducer. Before this, take some modeling clay or caulk and make a small dam. Fill the dam with epoxy and hold the transducer down against the hull until the glue sets up or sit something on it,or tape it. If you need to remove it it will break loose. Then you can sand the epoxy off and use it again.I've done it 3 times and depth sounder still works great. You can use a pve end cover if you want to protect the transducer and glue or caulk that down as well. Steve
Justin, if you're doing this in a Mac just do what I've done for the last 3 boats. I just use some 5 minute epoxy, mix enough to bed the transducer. Before this, take some modeling clay or caulk and make a small dam. Fill the dam with epoxy and hold the transducer down against the hull until the glue sets up or sit something on it,or tape it. If you need to remove it it will break loose. Then you can sand the epoxy off and use it again.I've done it 3 times and depth sounder still works great. You can use a pve end cover if you want to protect the transducer and glue or caulk that down as well. Steve
depth finder
A couple of inexpensive choices would be the Cuda 128 or Cuda 168 made by Eagle. These will give you depth as well as fish and bottom data on a compact unit. Each priced less than $100. Find a flat place on the inside hull as close as possible to where the water tank joins the hull floor and as near midship as possible. Do not mount right adjacent to or behind the keel as turbulence plays tricks on the sensor. Sand the bottom, mix some two part epoxoy, and expoxy the transducer to the hull. Very important -- smoth expoy on boyh surfaces and press out all air bubbles. If you want to check operation before making permanent, use a smooth peanut butter to mount transducer. Use it just like the epoxy for a temporary mount to test unit. Then wipe off and epoxy .
A couple of inexpensive choices would be the Cuda 128 or Cuda 168 made by Eagle. These will give you depth as well as fish and bottom data on a compact unit. Each priced less than $100. Find a flat place on the inside hull as close as possible to where the water tank joins the hull floor and as near midship as possible. Do not mount right adjacent to or behind the keel as turbulence plays tricks on the sensor. Sand the bottom, mix some two part epoxoy, and expoxy the transducer to the hull. Very important -- smoth expoy on boyh surfaces and press out all air bubbles. If you want to check operation before making permanent, use a smooth peanut butter to mount transducer. Use it just like the epoxy for a temporary mount to test unit. Then wipe off and epoxy .
deadrise
Good tips guys. I have zero experience with depth finders. Some features of the technique that the article describes that I think are noteworthy are: they claim that manufacturers require that the transponder be mounted perpendicular for effective operation. The PVC pipe - beveled and epoxied to the hull corrects for hull deadrise allowing the unit to be mounted anywhere below the water level, preferably in the bow. Submerging the base of the unit in mineral oil gives it a happy medium for the signals to travel through. I'm not sure how water ballast affects performance. I'm inclined to think I should intall one outside of the ballast tank area. I could be wrong.
Good tips guys. I have zero experience with depth finders. Some features of the technique that the article describes that I think are noteworthy are: they claim that manufacturers require that the transponder be mounted perpendicular for effective operation. The PVC pipe - beveled and epoxied to the hull corrects for hull deadrise allowing the unit to be mounted anywhere below the water level, preferably in the bow. Submerging the base of the unit in mineral oil gives it a happy medium for the signals to travel through. I'm not sure how water ballast affects performance. I'm inclined to think I should intall one outside of the ballast tank area. I could be wrong.
Deadrise
The only spot I could find on my Mac 26S was directly behind the rear berth at the bottom of the rear storage compartment. The transducer must be in the center of the sailboat. If you mount it offsides when you heel you'll have false readings. One way too deep, the other way too shallow. Mine works just fine from the rear. Just set the depth alarm to where you'll be comfortable and go sailing. Steve
The only spot I could find on my Mac 26S was directly behind the rear berth at the bottom of the rear storage compartment. The transducer must be in the center of the sailboat. If you mount it offsides when you heel you'll have false readings. One way too deep, the other way too shallow. Mine works just fine from the rear. Just set the depth alarm to where you'll be comfortable and go sailing. Steve
Peanut butter
I used the good stuff -- Peter Pan. Why go to the trouble of PVC pipe and mineral oil when you can stick the transducer directly to the hull? Shooting thru double hull of ballast tank is not good and would work only if the tank is completely full with no air bubbles to distort signal.
I used the good stuff -- Peter Pan. Why go to the trouble of PVC pipe and mineral oil when you can stick the transducer directly to the hull? Shooting thru double hull of ballast tank is not good and would work only if the tank is completely full with no air bubbles to distort signal.
I use bait to find my fish....
Actually I have a Hummingbird Matrix 17 with temp, spreed, and depth. It is great in fresh water, but not as good in salt. My transducer is in hull, and what I did was 100%silicon caulking, and a long peice of dental floss. Make sure that whenever you are going to install this, that you are in the water.... That way you will know for sure that it is working right away. The floss is in case that it fails for whatever reason. You can use it like a saw, and cut away the caulking. If you use the slow cure epoxy, use the floss. It will help. Trust me. I spent a full day in the hull of my dad's Gemini two months ago, replacing his, and the floss cut away all but the last 1/8" and all we had to do was move it to another location. I was going to get the Garmin Fishfinder/depth, but the transducer is sold seperately, and I was on a budget. Get all of the features you can afford, and the largest screen. Good luck, and see you on the water!!!
Actually I have a Hummingbird Matrix 17 with temp, spreed, and depth. It is great in fresh water, but not as good in salt. My transducer is in hull, and what I did was 100%silicon caulking, and a long peice of dental floss. Make sure that whenever you are going to install this, that you are in the water.... That way you will know for sure that it is working right away. The floss is in case that it fails for whatever reason. You can use it like a saw, and cut away the caulking. If you use the slow cure epoxy, use the floss. It will help. Trust me. I spent a full day in the hull of my dad's Gemini two months ago, replacing his, and the floss cut away all but the last 1/8" and all we had to do was move it to another location. I was going to get the Garmin Fishfinder/depth, but the transducer is sold seperately, and I was on a budget. Get all of the features you can afford, and the largest screen. Good luck, and see you on the water!!!
hummingbird - good results
good idea to test mount in water. I have the cheapest humming bird I could find, and it works fine. mounted it in thickend epoxy inside laz. just be sure its not above the water balast. ie has a clear shot at the bottom from the hull.
good idea to test mount in water. I have the cheapest humming bird I could find, and it works fine. mounted it in thickend epoxy inside laz. just be sure its not above the water balast. ie has a clear shot at the bottom from the hull.
Can I mount a "transom transducer" in hull ??
I guess, I need to clarify my question. There are many transducers types and mounts, plus the output power of the depth finders themselves vary(proportionally with price :O)) So, can I a transducer that is designed for transome mount inside a hull(because I dount want to drill my boat or epoxy anything to it's bottom...??? What output power is enough to shoot thru the hull? Or am I making too big of a deal over it??? :O) Cheers
I guess, I need to clarify my question. There are many transducers types and mounts, plus the output power of the depth finders themselves vary(proportionally with price :O)) So, can I a transducer that is designed for transome mount inside a hull(because I dount want to drill my boat or epoxy anything to it's bottom...??? What output power is enough to shoot thru the hull? Or am I making too big of a deal over it??? :O) Cheers
yes, we all have done this.
the 100sx humming bird was designed for the transom of a powerboat. I just installed it with epoxy in the lazarette. works fine. fiberglass will not affect the transducer... as long as there is a solid base between the transducer and hull. if you have air pockets or mount over the water balast, or over the lead swing keel, you could have some issues. you could also mount it with silicone, for a while.... some folks mount the tranducer in the bow, thinking they will have time to stop before they hit bottom... this depends on how long the wire is, and how you can route the wires. -just dont cut them.... if you can splash the boat, do so and mount w/ silicone for a while....
the 100sx humming bird was designed for the transom of a powerboat. I just installed it with epoxy in the lazarette. works fine. fiberglass will not affect the transducer... as long as there is a solid base between the transducer and hull. if you have air pockets or mount over the water balast, or over the lead swing keel, you could have some issues. you could also mount it with silicone, for a while.... some folks mount the tranducer in the bow, thinking they will have time to stop before they hit bottom... this depends on how long the wire is, and how you can route the wires. -just dont cut them.... if you can splash the boat, do so and mount w/ silicone for a while....
MacGregor 22 - Water Balast
Mac666, Mounting the transponder may be easier than you think, if you are concerned about the water balast interfering. I had a 1984 MacGregor 22, and it didn't have a water balast. You might want to double check yours, because I don't think that MacGregor made the 22' model with a water balast. It has a very heavy (500 lb) swing keel, that is raised and lowered by a wench. Please let us know what you find. Thanks, Bruce Cowin
Mac666, Mounting the transponder may be easier than you think, if you are concerned about the water balast interfering. I had a 1984 MacGregor 22, and it didn't have a water balast. You might want to double check yours, because I don't think that MacGregor made the 22' model with a water balast. It has a very heavy (500 lb) swing keel, that is raised and lowered by a wench. Please let us know what you find. Thanks, Bruce Cowin
In hull mounting
Even the very inexpensive Eagles and Bottom Lines can be mounted for thru hull operation. The most important thing is not to have any voids, ie airspace, between the unit and the water. That would be over the water ballast or air bubbles in the epoxy used to mount the unit to the hull. I go back to my original suggestion (which i used) -- use peanut butter ( brand not important, but must be creamy) to stick unit to hull for temp testing in as many locations as you like. No messy residue like silicone. Wipes off clean and unit can be mounted in same spot with epoxy.
Even the very inexpensive Eagles and Bottom Lines can be mounted for thru hull operation. The most important thing is not to have any voids, ie airspace, between the unit and the water. That would be over the water ballast or air bubbles in the epoxy used to mount the unit to the hull. I go back to my original suggestion (which i used) -- use peanut butter ( brand not important, but must be creamy) to stick unit to hull for temp testing in as many locations as you like. No messy residue like silicone. Wipes off clean and unit can be mounted in same spot with epoxy.
You're right, Bruce, mac22 has no H2O ballast
Hi, ALL and especially Bruce from Keyport You were right-Mac22 (78) does not have a water ballast they started putting that option only on Mac26. So, I would not have to worry about the transducer shooting thru the air in a ballast. 500 lb keel is enough of a ballast.Thanks! Hey, Bruce,(or anyone here) have you salied lake Michigan? Wanna share your story/advice with me? Please write me to doktorpalka@mail.ru Thanks to ALL! Alex
Hi, ALL and especially Bruce from Keyport
You were right-Mac22 (78) does not have a water ballast they started putting that option only on Mac26. So, I would not have to worry about the transducer shooting thru the air in a ballast. 500 lb keel is enough of a ballast.Thanks! Hey, Bruce,(or anyone here) have you salied lake Michigan? Wanna share your story/advice with me? Please write me to doktorpalka@mail.ru Thanks to ALL! Alex- Status