Through the hull transducer installation

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Mike H.

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Mar 16, 2009
303
Hunter Vision-36 Richmond
Does anyone have any experience with "through the hull" tansducer installation?

Also, does anyone know how to tell the difference between the existing speed and depth transducers that are currently installed.

I'm replacing my inoperable depth transducer with a "through the hull" type so I don't have to pull the boat out of the water.
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Mike:

My boat came with ST50 instruments. I just changed out the display with ST60's and went sailing. No thru hull replacements required. This is not to say your transducer is okay. It needs to be tested to be sure that it works properly. Have you tested it before you try to replace it?
 
M

Mike H.

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Mar 16, 2009
303
Hunter Vision-36 Richmond
Steve Dion said:
Mike:

My boat came with ST50 instruments. I just changed out the display with ST60's and went sailing. No thru hull replacements required. This is not to say your transducer is okay. It needs to be tested to be sure that it works properly. Have you tested it before you try to replace it?
Click to expand
Steve: I hired Reliable Marine Electronics from Alameda to trouble shoot my system. Great company by the way. I'm very happy with their service. They bench tested the depth head, speed instrument and autopilot. They also brought a second transducer to my boat and hooked it up to my depth head, the head worked proving that my transducer was shot.

They also rewired the shoddy job the last electrician did and now my GPS and chartplotter work fine. Apparently the previous electrician was trying to power the GPS through seatalk and that was the problem with the GPS chartplotter.

Anyway, have you ever used a "through the hull" transducer? It is mounted inside the boat and the signal shoots through the fiberglass. I can install this without having to pull out the boat.

While I am asking questions, are Hunter Vision 36s solid fiberglass hulls or cored?

Thanks,

Mike
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Mike: I do not know that Hunter ever built a cored hull. This may be different in those very small boats, but not in the large boats. My 1985 H'31 had a transducer that shot thru the hull and there was no problem. There are ways to mount them so they do NOT need to be glued to the hull.

I believe that they use PVC pipe and mineral oil. Some also silicone or epoxy them, but you need to be sure that there are no bubbles.

If you want to test it, just use some peanut butter and stick it down with that for the test.
 
Vinny

Vinny

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Apr 6, 2006
343
Boat Less New Bern NC
The mounting box that is sold at the marine stores is quite simple. The box is in fact an open tube on the bottom and the instructions will tell you how to figure the dead rise at the location you have picked to mount it. It is affixed to the hull with a bedding compound that comes with the kit. Once it is fixed to the hull it is filled with mineral oil and the transducer is placed inside and sealed up. Once you have it in place it will work fine.
 
M

Mike H.

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Mar 16, 2009
303
Hunter Vision-36 Richmond
Steve Dion said:
Mike: I do not know that Hunter ever built a cored hull. This may be different in those very small boats, but not in the large boats. My 1985 H'31 had a transducer that shot thru the hull and there was no problem. There are ways to mount them so they do NOT need to be glued to the hull.

I believe that they use PVC pipe and mineral oil. Some also silicone or epoxy them, but you need to be sure that there are no bubbles.

If you want to test it, just use some peanut butter and stick it down with that for the test.
Click to expand
Thanks Steve!

I have two existing transducers that look very similar, speed and depth. Which one is depth?
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Thanks Vinny, that is the deal.

Mike: If you remove the transducer the one with the paddle wheel is the speedo.
 
Vinny

Vinny

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Apr 6, 2006
343
Boat Less New Bern NC
Mike H. said:
Thanks, but how can I tell while my boat is in the water?
Click to expand
The paddle wheel is removable from the inside so that it can be cleaned. I'm not sure if the sounder is or isn't. But the paddle wheel should have a plug attached to it somewhere near. The top has a ring like the one that is on the 30A shore power cord. Unscrew the ring and the paddle wheel unit will come out. Water will come in but if you have the plug put it in or if you do not just have someone hold their hand over the hole.

But you should not have to take it out.

None of this is going to make any difference the new sounder will have a new cable attached. That needs to be feed up to the read out gauge where ever it is. At your helm or on your sea hood where ever. You do not want to cut the wire on the new unit and use the old wire because the resistance might be incorrect. Use the new wire.

So which ever one is which is moot.
 
M

Mike H.

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Mar 16, 2009
303
Hunter Vision-36 Richmond
Vinny said:
The paddle wheel is removable from the inside so that it can be cleaned. I'm not sure if the sounder is or isn't. But the paddle wheel should have a plug attached to it somewhere near. The top has a ring like the one that is on the 30A shore power cord. Unscrew the ring and the paddle wheel unit will come out. Water will come in but if you have the plug put it in or if you do not just have someone hold their hand over the hole.

But you should not have to take it out.

None of this is going to make any difference the new sounder will have a new cable attached. That needs to be feed up to the read out gauge where ever it is. At your helm or on your sea hood where ever. You do not want to cut the wire on the new unit and use the old wire because the resistance might be incorrect. Use the new wire.

So which ever one is which is moot.
Click to expand
Thank You Vinny!

That's exactly the info I was looking for and it makes perfect sense. Now I know what that funny plug thing is for.

My electrician said it was perfectly acceptable to cut and splice the old wire. The new transducer came with short leads.
If it doesn't work, I know I'll need to replace the wire.

Thanks again!
 
Vinny

Vinny

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Apr 6, 2006
343
Boat Less New Bern NC
Mike H. said:
Thank You Vinny!

That's exactly the info I was looking for and it makes perfect sense. Now I know what that funny plug thing is for.

My electrician said it was perfectly acceptable to cut and splice the old wire. The new transducer came with short leads.
If it doesn't work, I know I'll need to replace the wire.

Thanks again!
Click to expand
If you need to cut and splice, make sure you solder and heat shrink the connection.
 
M

Mike H.

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Mar 16, 2009
303
Hunter Vision-36 Richmond
Vinny said:
If you need to cut and splice, make sure you solder and heat shrink the connection.
Click to expand
Do I tin the ends of the wires, use a butt connector, then shrink tube?

Or do I twist the wires, solder the connections, then shrink tube?
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Mike: I think either method is acceptable. Remember these wires are very small so using crimp fittings is okay, but may be difficult to find (I would try a speciality electronic shop). I think that the twisting & solder with the shrink tube is your best bet.

Other opinons will follow.
 
Vinny

Vinny

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Apr 6, 2006
343
Boat Less New Bern NC
Steve Dion said:
these wires are very small so using crimp fittings is okay, but may be difficult to find (I would try a speciality electronic shop). I think that the twisting & solder with the shrink tube is your best bet.
Click to expand
You hit the nail on the head. That is why I suggested soldering and heat shrink.
 
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