I know alot of questions have been asked about installing shoot thru hull depthsounders in pulsares so I thought I would throw a quick post in here for info about my 21 foot BR.
Over the weekend I installed a Hawkeye D10 depthsounder with the thru hull or transom mount transducer.
I figured the bilge over the pad would be the most likely place being it is supposed to be 1/2 in plywood. I took the bilge pump off the mounting and used a two inch hole saw to remove the center of the bilge pump mounting board closest to the transom to make enough room to seat the transducer. It is nonstructural and actually not painted or coated on the bottom so it can rot.
I tested the transducer according to the directions by putting it in a bed of Vaseline and screwing a wide wire tie over the top of it into the 1 inch or so of wood remaining on side to hold it tight against the hull.
Hooked up everything temporarily and went out on the river. It would register intermittantly in shallow water and pretty consistantly in anything over 10 feet unless it was a very soft bottom. Granted the water is pretty dirty and we have alot of mud out of the channel, still not what I really wanted.
I took the boat out and removed the seat back so I could reach the area better. I ended up doing three hole saw cuts to completely remove the center of the bilge pump mounting board so I could see the area under it. I noticed just behind the gas tank the glass was thinner and not multilayered like back at the transom. I used a small sander with an attachment to grind about 1/2 way thru the glass leaving I woud say 1/8th or a little thicker layer that was level and smooth but still waterproof and large enough to fit the transducer. I also cleaned up the edges of the hole saw cuts and coated the remaining plywwood to water proof it.
Taking a chance because it looked like good glass and little air over the ply I epoxied the transducer as instructed using devcon 2 ton clear slow set epoxy not silicone which is supposed to reduce the signal transmission.
I cut a piece of 1/8 aluminum plate and remounted the bilge pump on it and screwed it back in closer to the transom using the wood left on either side. It fit perfectly behind the transducer.
In any case I tried the sounder yesterday and it works perfectly. Registers depth all the time from 3' to 120' anywhere up to full throttle in any bottom at 60+ so it worked out very well. Happy, with no holes and a still waterproof bilge just need to mount display in dash permenantly. Hope that helps someone.
By the way also took ladder and drain fitting off and rebedded with boatlife caulk. Found almost no waterproofing and screw mounting holes were drilled all the way thru the transom from the factory so some water was getting in. Sealed now.
Over the weekend I installed a Hawkeye D10 depthsounder with the thru hull or transom mount transducer.
I figured the bilge over the pad would be the most likely place being it is supposed to be 1/2 in plywood. I took the bilge pump off the mounting and used a two inch hole saw to remove the center of the bilge pump mounting board closest to the transom to make enough room to seat the transducer. It is nonstructural and actually not painted or coated on the bottom so it can rot.
I tested the transducer according to the directions by putting it in a bed of Vaseline and screwing a wide wire tie over the top of it into the 1 inch or so of wood remaining on side to hold it tight against the hull.
Hooked up everything temporarily and went out on the river. It would register intermittantly in shallow water and pretty consistantly in anything over 10 feet unless it was a very soft bottom. Granted the water is pretty dirty and we have alot of mud out of the channel, still not what I really wanted.
I took the boat out and removed the seat back so I could reach the area better. I ended up doing three hole saw cuts to completely remove the center of the bilge pump mounting board so I could see the area under it. I noticed just behind the gas tank the glass was thinner and not multilayered like back at the transom. I used a small sander with an attachment to grind about 1/2 way thru the glass leaving I woud say 1/8th or a little thicker layer that was level and smooth but still waterproof and large enough to fit the transducer. I also cleaned up the edges of the hole saw cuts and coated the remaining plywwood to water proof it.
Taking a chance because it looked like good glass and little air over the ply I epoxied the transducer as instructed using devcon 2 ton clear slow set epoxy not silicone which is supposed to reduce the signal transmission.
I cut a piece of 1/8 aluminum plate and remounted the bilge pump on it and screwed it back in closer to the transom using the wood left on either side. It fit perfectly behind the transducer.
In any case I tried the sounder yesterday and it works perfectly. Registers depth all the time from 3' to 120' anywhere up to full throttle in any bottom at 60+ so it worked out very well. Happy, with no holes and a still waterproof bilge just need to mount display in dash permenantly. Hope that helps someone.
By the way also took ladder and drain fitting off and rebedded with boatlife caulk. Found almost no waterproofing and screw mounting holes were drilled all the way thru the transom from the factory so some water was getting in. Sealed now.
