I have purchased the Raymarine knot meter & depth meter package and am about to try to install the sending heads. The instructions say to place the heads as far forward (underwater) as possible, and in front of a keel, to minimize turbulance. When I asked Hunter where they recommended placing the heads, they suggested behind the water ballast tank, to either side of the bilge pump. I usually tend to follow their suggestions, as they have a lot more experience with the 260 than I do. However, I'm wondering if anyone has tried placing their knot and depth meter heads forward of the ballast tank. Does this place them too far forward? Since I already have the Raymarine units, suggesting use of a fish finder, that doesn't use a thru-hull, is not going to help. Any ideas on placement and the effects on accuracy are welcome. Brigg
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John Baumgartner
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Bill O'Donovan
No big deal
Check any 26-footer on the hards at your yard, and you'll find the thru-hulls positioned forward but not too far forward. One key factor is your being able to access them easily from within, so move your hands accordingly to ensure you can lift them out for cleaning.
Check any 26-footer on the hards at your yard, and you'll find the thru-hulls positioned forward but not too far forward. One key factor is your being able to access them easily from within, so move your hands accordingly to ensure you can lift them out for cleaning.
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Jim Loats
I looked at the bow area and decided to go aft
on my '95 H26 to mount my pick up for knotmeter. (Mine needs no hole, but the pick-up does need to be near the sender.) I chose a spot right beside the bilge pump for the first year. I found that the magnets of the bilge pump interfered with readings when I was moving slow. Otherwise it seemed to work fine. Were I in your shoes, I'd drill holes back there. Be sure that your units will not be messed up by the magnetic field of that pump. I have now moved mine to the starboard to get away from the motor. Up in the bow area, to get past the front of the ballast tank you have to be quite far forward. It seemed to me that the unit would be too exposed to hitting things like trailer parts, etc. By the way, a good way to check all this out out is to lay a small refrigerator magnet on the inside of the hull and use a "stud finder" on the outside so you can see where it'll end up. Good luck, Jim s/v Grizzly Bear
on my '95 H26 to mount my pick up for knotmeter. (Mine needs no hole, but the pick-up does need to be near the sender.) I chose a spot right beside the bilge pump for the first year. I found that the magnets of the bilge pump interfered with readings when I was moving slow. Otherwise it seemed to work fine. Were I in your shoes, I'd drill holes back there. Be sure that your units will not be messed up by the magnetic field of that pump. I have now moved mine to the starboard to get away from the motor. Up in the bow area, to get past the front of the ballast tank you have to be quite far forward. It seemed to me that the unit would be too exposed to hitting things like trailer parts, etc. By the way, a good way to check all this out out is to lay a small refrigerator magnet on the inside of the hull and use a "stud finder" on the outside so you can see where it'll end up. Good luck, Jim s/v Grizzly Bear
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Tom Wootton
Aft is better
The usual reason for going forward is to avoid turbulence from the keel. The problem on the 26/260 is that you have to go so far forward in order to miss the ballast tank that you're in the area where bow turbulence becomes a concern instead. The other reason for going forward is getting an earlier read on upcoming shoals, but this doesn't amount to much if you do the math. At 6 knots, you're moving about 10 feet per second, so the most you'd gain on a 26/260 from a forward location is a second or two.
The usual reason for going forward is to avoid turbulence from the keel. The problem on the 26/260 is that you have to go so far forward in order to miss the ballast tank that you're in the area where bow turbulence becomes a concern instead. The other reason for going forward is getting an earlier read on upcoming shoals, but this doesn't amount to much if you do the math. At 6 knots, you're moving about 10 feet per second, so the most you'd gain on a 26/260 from a forward location is a second or two.
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Bob Thome
Get a cheap GPS
I have Raymarine depth and knot meters installed aft. I find my Garmin etrex, cost $100, is much more accurate for speed. I have compared my speeds while alongside many other boats.Their knotmeters and GPS agree with my GPS. My knotmeter consistantly reads too low. Adding in a bias helps but the GPS is still more accurate. Current is not a factor for me as I am on an inland lake. s/v Thome Inn
I have Raymarine depth and knot meters installed aft. I find my Garmin etrex, cost $100, is much more accurate for speed. I have compared my speeds while alongside many other boats.Their knotmeters and GPS agree with my GPS. My knotmeter consistantly reads too low. Adding in a bias helps but the GPS is still more accurate. Current is not a factor for me as I am on an inland lake. s/v Thome Inn
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Crazy Dave Condon
for the record
I investigated this thourghly when I start selling the 26 with hull #1. Placement of the transducers forward will not work properly as the transducers will point outward to the side. You do want the depth finder facing downward as much as possible. If you heel over, there is a chance the transducers will come out of the water and what good are they then? Also, there is too much curvature in the hull and trying to get those rascals to seat flat properly is hard. I have been asked if you can go through the water ballast tank. I can do that but I will not as it will void any hull warranty should you still have warranty on the hull. The only place is adjacent to the bilge pump on both sides. With the 26 and 260, I probably have installed about 150 in those boats. Crazy Dave Condon
I investigated this thourghly when I start selling the 26 with hull #1. Placement of the transducers forward will not work properly as the transducers will point outward to the side. You do want the depth finder facing downward as much as possible. If you heel over, there is a chance the transducers will come out of the water and what good are they then? Also, there is too much curvature in the hull and trying to get those rascals to seat flat properly is hard. I have been asked if you can go through the water ballast tank. I can do that but I will not as it will void any hull warranty should you still have warranty on the hull. The only place is adjacent to the bilge pump on both sides. With the 26 and 260, I probably have installed about 150 in those boats. Crazy Dave Condon
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