through hull transducer for cheapskates (me)

[RussC]

Garmin Striker Vivid 7 installed over the winter. they come with a bracket to mount the transducer on the transom. the whole package was under $400.00 and suites my needs well...... except due to the upswept stern of my boat I suspect the transducer would come out of the water much of the time when under sail so I went looking for a through hull type. Yup, no problem, we can fix you up. that will be $450.00 please.. it does exactly the same thing as the transom mounted one as far as I can tell. sonar, depth, temp. WTF!. a replacement for the transom mount transducer only sells for about $90.oo!!...... anyway. where there's a will there's a way and it cost me next to nothing as it's the transducer that comes with the unit. just mounted a bit differently . blast away! .

 

[capta]

I can't tell whether it is mounted forward or aft of the Keel/centerboard.
They give specific installation instructions so the transducer sits in the best water flow for good transmission and reception. Follow the instructions to the letter, or do not expect very good accuracy.
However, a real fiscal conservative would just make a lead line, and use that!

 

[kappykaplan]

Necessity is the Mother of Invention. Looks like you came up with a creative solution.

 

[Timm R Oday25]

Well done .

 

[Davidasailor26]

Or you could just use the transom mount transducer inside the hull, bedded in beeswax, toilet ring wax, silicone, etc - anything that doesn’t have air voids. We did that with a Lowrance transom mount transducer on a previous boat; worked fine.

 

[RussC]

Or you could just use the transom mount transducer inside the hull, bedded in beeswax, toilet ring wax, silicone, etc - anything that doesn’t have air voids. We did that with a Lowrance transom mount transducer on a previous boat; worked fine.

I've done that on previous boats but it wouldn't have worked on this Merit. at least not in the location I used. there are two layers of very thick fiberglass and a balsa core totaling nearly 2" thick in that area. most likely as support for the keel trunk.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I've done that on previous boats but it wouldn't have worked on this Merit. at least not in the location I used. there are two layers of very thick fiberglass and a balsa core totaling nearly 2" thick in that area. most likely as support for the keel trunk.

Ah, yes, a cored hull definitely does change things.

 

[CrispyCringle]

How did you waterproof the wooden piece? Looks well done, however, for a thru hull fitting it may not be the best long term solution. Over time I would keep a close eye out for leaks. Unless its perfectly sealed, and stays that way forever, the wood will eventually allow leaks. You may consider Starboard HDPE material if it gives you problems.

 

[RussC]

How did you waterproof the wooden piece? Looks well done, however, for a thru hull fitting it may not be the best long term solution. Over time I would keep a close eye out for leaks. Unless its perfectly sealed, and stays that way forever, the wood will eventually allow leaks. You may consider Starboard HDPE material if it gives you problems.

First soaked the wood in polyurethane to full absorption. after that cured I epoxied it to the hull. when that cured I set the transducer with liberal beads of 3M Bedit. trimmed the squeeze after it was bolted in place and put down a coat of epoxy from hull to 1/4" down the transducer so all joints are covered. beyond that I filled the hole from the top with RTV silicone.

 

[Calif. Ted]

Looks like it should work well in your environment. Few years ago I got a Garmin 74 CV that was on sale for $400 with transducer (or $450 without, go figure), and considered trying it inside but I already have a depth gauge that reads "Last depth 300 ft" 99% of the time. So I sold it on Ebay for $125.

 

[jssailem]

How did you waterproof the wooden piece?

I believe I would use some G10 or Layers of fiberglass, shaped at the same angle instead of wood.

 

[RussC]

many wooden boats have sailed the high seas. I owned a wood drift boat for many years. solid.

 

[Benny17441]

A cheap fish finder with the transducer fitted inside a plastic bag full of water laid against the hull and free of any air bubbles. Sometimes it takes trying different locations before t6he best and suitable location is found.