Loose transducer

Nov 7, 2012
678
1978 Catalina 30 Wilbur-by-the-Sea
My 78 Catalina 30 is on the hard and I am prepping to do the bottom. Today I will finish replacing my last two metal thru hulls with Forespar Marelon.

My issue is my old depth transducer seems to be loose with just a hint of deflection. More of a clunk noise when moving it with no visible gap. I think it was sprung when the hull was scraped at pull out. My problem is I really don't want to invest the time in pulling the thing and filling the hole. 12-1 may mean the removal of the larger but also unused speed transducer nearby and then a second repair.

Any suggestions or so I just need to bite the bullet here?

Gary
 

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Feb 26, 2008
603
Catalina 30 Marathon, FL
Look at it this way, if you put it in the water and you have a leak you'll have to haul her again - and eat the cost of a second haul.

Or it may start to leak some Monday night after a rough weekend sail. You won't know about it until you find her on the bottom in your slip the next weekend.

To me anything that can sink the boat is a priority...
 
Nov 7, 2012
678
1978 Catalina 30 Wilbur-by-the-Sea
After some consideration it looks like I will be removing both thru hulls and fixing these holes properly.

The bright side is I have to touch up the keel/ smile so have to do some minor grinding anyway. Now I just have a few extra hours work to get the bottom right for paint. I would really like it if they made thru hull blanks but I have yet to be able to locate any.
 
Jan 6, 2010
1,520
Garb,

I've installed transducers by caulk/epoxy inside the hull, no thru hull fitting.
You will need the proper xducer for this application, but the install is easy.
I would think Stu or Mainsail already have directions or links for doing this.

CR
 
Nov 7, 2012
678
1978 Catalina 30 Wilbur-by-the-Sea
Yup, my Garmin that type of transducer.

I pulled the old transducer and speed dodad today ground the holes and laid two coats of mat on the outside. Will plug the hole and smooth the exterior w marine tex epoxy and then make a big ugly 12-1 patch on the inside with glass.

Hope to finish thru hulls next weekend and move on to bottom paint and motor installation. Fun fun.