Installing a Depth Finder in a 240

[Len]

I plan to install a fishfinder/depth finder in a 240. It would be helpful to gain from other's experience on where to put the transducer and how to install it. My local marine dealer suggests either a through the hull installation (cutting a hole in the hull seems abnormal) or setting the tranducer in epoxy on the inside of the hull.Also, where have others located the head unit in the cockpit.Thanks your thoughts and advice!Len

 

[Tom Wootton]

Epoxy

Lots in the archives on this. I epoxied mine to the inside hull aft of the ballast tank, after first bedding it in KY jelly to make sure there were no bubbles in the hull at that point (H26, but boats are similar.) Thought about a forward location, but surface angles up there and possible turbulence from the bow wave are not conducive to accuracy. Also routing the cable would have been a problem. The presumed advantage ("early warning") of a forward transducer doesn't hold up if you do the math. Even at 5 knots, the boat travels nearly its own length in less than a second, hardly an early warning. BTW, aft of the ballast tank is what Hunter recommends.

 

[Jeff Davis]

I agree

I also did mine under the bunk behind the ballast tank on my 240. It works great.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Aft of the ballast tank is the correct place and

if you later decide to install a knot meter (with a through hull paddle wheel)then you might want to consider that location now. A knot meter mounts in the same area but needs to be offset from the centerline so as to be out of the turbulent water flow caused by the centerboard. That said, if you mount the depth meter offset also, then there will be plenty of room on the otherside for the speedo.RayS/V Speedy

 

[Jeff Peltier]

through hull

It doesn't cost much to add speed and temp to a fishfinder but you need a through hull for this. Most fishfinders include all in one so there is only one hole. If you are nervous about the hole, thinking of it like a heating element in a water heater, which is very similar, should make you feel more comfortable. On a trailerable boat, it dosen't get any easier and certainly dosen't take any more time.Jeff Peltier

 

[BART FORD]

where to mount

I have the same problem. Not real crazy about drilling a hole in a new boat and with my luck, Murphy's law will come in to effect.I mounted the depth transducer to the transom with one one the aluminum brackets. I have glued the speed temp unit to the bottom with 3m 4200. This can be taked off if need be, 5200 can not.I ran the wires out the back of the gas can space. The wire for the speed unit runs into the trim molding, down the the boat, then exits and goes under.The display unit I mounted to the access hole for the winch on the right side, using a piece of wood and 2 ram mount clamps. I have the base, a clamp, an extension made from 2 wooden craft balls epoxy and a piece of threaded rod, another Ram mount and the ram base unit. I can swivel it into the companion way when using it and out of the way when not. Questions write me at bart5008@aol.com