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thru hull transducer
- Thread starter zstevens
- Start date
hotbeek
Active member
You may want to check to make sure you can shoot through your hull first. One trick you can try is put the transducer in a plastic bag full of water. Wet the spot on the hull where you'd like to mount it, then take the bag of water and transducer set it on the spot and press transducer to the hull. Now see if you get a reading.
Most through hull transducers are glued in. Usually find a spot near the center of hull. Sand a smooth spot with some course sandpaper. Now the key is to get some CLEAR SLOW CURING TWO PART EXPOXY ! Mix and disperse expoxy onto clean and cleared spot. Take your transducer make sure it's pointed the correct way and slowly twist into the epoxy.(this will help remove air bubbles) Let cure and hope like hell it works when your done.
If you don't have a through hull model you'll have to mount on the transom. Again find a location that will have the least amount of aerated water water.(stay away from the lifting strakes) Go for your deepest areas of the hull (always in contact with the water)
I'm sure I'm forgetting something but some one will chime in and finish it for me.
Good Luck !
Most through hull transducers are glued in. Usually find a spot near the center of hull. Sand a smooth spot with some course sandpaper. Now the key is to get some CLEAR SLOW CURING TWO PART EXPOXY ! Mix and disperse expoxy onto clean and cleared spot. Take your transducer make sure it's pointed the correct way and slowly twist into the epoxy.(this will help remove air bubbles) Let cure and hope like hell it works when your done.
If you don't have a through hull model you'll have to mount on the transom. Again find a location that will have the least amount of aerated water water.(stay away from the lifting strakes) Go for your deepest areas of the hull (always in contact with the water)
I'm sure I'm forgetting something but some one will chime in and finish it for me.
Good Luck !
BullittBen
Member
I don't think a thru hull transducer will work at all on a cored boat. At least that's what I read when I wanted one.
I think all Checkmates are balsa cored, unless there have been some made without that I'm not aware of.
You may have to have a transom mounted transducer.
I think all Checkmates are balsa cored, unless there have been some made without that I'm not aware of.
You may have to have a transom mounted transducer.
gchildre
Member
Thru Hull Worked on My Check...
I put a simple Hummingbird depth meter in my Pulse 186 last year using a thru hull transducer and it works fine. I didn't want any more holes/wires at the back of the boat. I just followed the directions, almost exactly as the first poster described and it works fine.
Glenn
I put a simple Hummingbird depth meter in my Pulse 186 last year using a thru hull transducer and it works fine. I didn't want any more holes/wires at the back of the boat. I just followed the directions, almost exactly as the first poster described and it works fine.
Glenn
BullittBen
Member
Hey, that's cool, I've been wanting a depth gauge, but didn't want holes in my transom either. Most of the packages I've read say not to use a thru hull on a cored boat, but if it works it works. Thats great.
hotbeek
Active member
Yeah ! that's what they tell you. That's why I like to test mine before I glue it. Some kits come with tansom mount kits too. I'm not a big fan of putting any more holes in my transom either. Some people have good luck with these but others have nothing but problems(breaking mounts or erratic readings at speed because of aerated water)
gchildre
Member
Transducer...
I don't remember ordering a separate or different transducer for mine, it's been a while. But it definately looks like a puck with two "ears" or "tabs" on the top side. I just followed the directions, sanded the attaching area smooth and then epoxied it down, twisting to remove the air bubbled. I weighted it down overnight to make sure the wire didn't lift it up while it was drying. It is probably much like a radar detector in my truck, it will tell me when something bad just happened but I like to know how much water I is below the expensive parts of the boat.
Glenn
I don't remember ordering a separate or different transducer for mine, it's been a while. But it definately looks like a puck with two "ears" or "tabs" on the top side. I just followed the directions, sanded the attaching area smooth and then epoxied it down, twisting to remove the air bubbled. I weighted it down overnight to make sure the wire didn't lift it up while it was drying. It is probably much like a radar detector in my truck, it will tell me when something bad just happened but I like to know how much water I is below the expensive parts of the boat.
Glenn
zstevens
Well-known member
ok i ask cuz directions and factory rep show trans mnt 4 both applications they said i can swp but puck doesnt have temp sender unless its in water ! (off the transom !) how much material did u sand or cut away ? n how? im guessn youve all put 6to8" frm the trans? thanks again
gchildre
Member
Sand only...
I just sanded the attachment area with 120 grit to smooth it out a bit. I did find a spot near the center line but 6-8" from the transom, I was worried that the hull was quite a bit thicker at the transom and the transducer wouldn't work as well any further back. Your goal is to create a fairly smooth atea so the epoxy can attach better, you won't remove much material. Make sure to clean the sanded area with cleaner before sanding to reduce the chance of pushing oil/grease into the surface. I like hotbeek's suggestion of putting the transducer in a bag of water to test the location, I didn't think of that. My meter had no temp sensor so I can't help you there. My location was just aft of the gas tank and so it was fairly difficult to see, I did it mostly by feel.
Glenn
I just sanded the attachment area with 120 grit to smooth it out a bit. I did find a spot near the center line but 6-8" from the transom, I was worried that the hull was quite a bit thicker at the transom and the transducer wouldn't work as well any further back. Your goal is to create a fairly smooth atea so the epoxy can attach better, you won't remove much material. Make sure to clean the sanded area with cleaner before sanding to reduce the chance of pushing oil/grease into the surface. I like hotbeek's suggestion of putting the transducer in a bag of water to test the location, I didn't think of that. My meter had no temp sensor so I can't help you there. My location was just aft of the gas tank and so it was fairly difficult to see, I did it mostly by feel.
Glenn
Tesla220
New member
What brands work?
Ive been wanting to install a depth guage too. Not gonna do the transom mount again cuz in rough water the sensor always gets pushed up out of position. I need a tru hull type. I havent bought a tru hull type yet cuz the ones I have read about said that they wouldent work with a cored hull so I dident buy one. You guys who hav'em that work, what brands are they?
Thanks... Ken
Ive been wanting to install a depth guage too. Not gonna do the transom mount again cuz in rough water the sensor always gets pushed up out of position. I need a tru hull type. I havent bought a tru hull type yet cuz the ones I have read about said that they wouldent work with a cored hull so I dident buy one. You guys who hav'em that work, what brands are they?
Thanks... Ken
gchildre
Member
Hummingbird HDR 610
I bought a simple 2" dash mount Hummingbird from Overton's for $100, search for "75681 - Humminbird® HDR 610 In-Dash Digital Depth Sounders with puck/ inside mount transducer " It came complete with everything you need including epoxy, it even had two gauge overlays, one black and one white.
I bought a simple 2" dash mount Hummingbird from Overton's for $100, search for "75681 - Humminbird® HDR 610 In-Dash Digital Depth Sounders with puck/ inside mount transducer " It came complete with everything you need including epoxy, it even had two gauge overlays, one black and one white.
bdusted440
Active member
How does it work at speed though?