In hull transducer location on a 30' Hunter
- Thread starter Island
- Start date
You're welcome. Airrmar remains a leader in the transducer market and used by Hunter for many years. Their site here https://www.airmar.com/
Defender would be a good retail source. https://defender.com/en_us/b-g-dst-810-depth-speed-temperature-smart-sensor-transducer-000-15735-001
Defender would be a good retail source. https://defender.com/en_us/b-g-dst-810-depth-speed-temperature-smart-sensor-transducer-000-15735-001
Airmar makes just about all the transducers, the difference between brands is the connectors.
The transducer should be mounted on a flat part of the hull in front of the keel and away from any turbulence in the water. To see if it is a good spot place the transducer in a water filled zip lock bag and seal it (so the water doesn't leak out), connect it to the display, and set it where you would like to place it. If that is a good spot, meaning no coring and a good fiberglass layup the depth sounder will show the depth at or close to what you would expect it to be. If there is coring or if the glass layup is dry or has lots of bubbles in it, the sounding will be in accurate or not at all.
There are mounting devices that will compensate for the dead rise on the boat. Useful if there is not a suitable flat spot.
The transducer should be mounted on a flat part of the hull in front of the keel and away from any turbulence in the water. To see if it is a good spot place the transducer in a water filled zip lock bag and seal it (so the water doesn't leak out), connect it to the display, and set it where you would like to place it. If that is a good spot, meaning no coring and a good fiberglass layup the depth sounder will show the depth at or close to what you would expect it to be. If there is coring or if the glass layup is dry or has lots of bubbles in it, the sounding will be in accurate or not at all.
There are mounting devices that will compensate for the dead rise on the boat. Useful if there is not a suitable flat spot.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,509
Welcome to the SBO Forum.
You got the best solution from Terry. He is an excellent resource for Hunter boats.
When you get the transducer, you can put it in a plastic baggie of water to search the hull for an optimum location.
Connect it to your display. Set the bagged transducer on the hull location and turn it on. The transducer will transmit the signal through the water to the hull. If the hull is solid the signal will be sent into the water and report back to your display the depth beneath the boat to the bottom of the water. Doing it in a slip where you know the depth of the water will help you gauge the accuracy of the system.
You got the best solution from Terry. He is an excellent resource for Hunter boats.
When you get the transducer, you can put it in a plastic baggie of water to search the hull for an optimum location.
Connect it to your display. Set the bagged transducer on the hull location and turn it on. The transducer will transmit the signal through the water to the hull. If the hull is solid the signal will be sent into the water and report back to your display the depth beneath the boat to the bottom of the water. Doing it in a slip where you know the depth of the water will help you gauge the accuracy of the system.
And ....................................................... when you've proven that your desired location is solid with no coring and gives a good reading, attach the sensor with any various substances including plumber's putty or IMHO silicone sealant. Avoid getting bubbles into the puddle of sealant by pressing the nozzle gently against the hull and start squeezing until you have a large puddle with no bubbles.
Do not fall into some of the weird prctices that first appeared when the idea of an interior depth sounder first appearedwas first discovered. There were people out on day passes stumbling about proclaiming that the sensor had to be submerged in columns of antifreeze or light oil which were in turn stuck to the hull.
Yes, it worked but had a nasty habit of spilling when the boat heeled. Avoid this stupidity and use a material like a sealant which sets to a reasonably solid base. The nice thing about using silicone or plumber's putty is that they can be removed if the need should arrise..
Do not fall into some of the weird prctices that first appeared when the idea of an interior depth sounder first appearedwas first discovered. There were people out on day passes stumbling about proclaiming that the sensor had to be submerged in columns of antifreeze or light oil which were in turn stuck to the hull.
Yes, it worked but had a nasty habit of spilling when the boat heeled. Avoid this stupidity and use a material like a sealant which sets to a reasonably solid base. The nice thing about using silicone or plumber's putty is that they can be removed if the need should arrise..