removing depth sounder without breaking it

[JBas]

Hello to all!
I have an issue I'd like your advice on:
I'm in the process of re-fiber glassing my boat.
To do that I need to remove my depth sounder - without breaking it...

It's the thru hull kind, airmar xducer P319. I've removed the nut from inside. But there's no budging this thing without a lot of force - which as you can see- isn't an option.

Any idea of how to go about it?

Thanks a lot!

[Cheechako]

Hmmm, maybe it's just the sealant, they can be tough to get off. Hopefully it's not 5200. But erven if it is, I would cut around the unit from the inside between the hull and unit with a sharp pocket knife or Xacto knife. Then I would do the same outside between the mushroom and the hull. Then try to force it out.
If it's a bronze unit, after cutting you could try carefully tapping a wood chisel etc between the mushroom and the hull on the outside and see if it moves at all. But careful, even bronze bends readily... which can be straightened out if you dont bend severely.

[smac999]

Break it out and buy a new one. I doubt you will get it out in one piece if it was sealed well

[evm1024]

Hey, there is a new one for sale on ebay. You could make an offer on that.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/113660544832

Oh wait, I'm selling that one.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by JBas

Hello to all!
I have an issue I'd like your advice on:
I'm in the process of re-fiber glassing my boat.
To do that I need to remove my depth sounder - without breaking it...

It's the thru hull kind, airmar xducer P319. I've removed the nut from inside. But there's no budging this thing without a lot of force - which as you can see- isn't an option.

Any idea of how to go about it?

Thanks a lot!

Heat gun around the t ducer, on the hull.pressure from the top,
Wedge, soft mallet, consistent pressure on it.
It will work.
Cheers
SV Cloud Duster

[Matsubob]

Removing the nut won't release the fitting. The sealant needs to be severed before it comes out. A sharp cutter blade pushed between the hull and the outer flange all the way around, then go to the inside and carefully drive the blade into the sealant and cut all the way around until the seal has been broken will then release the thru hull enough to remove it with some gentle tapping with a hammer, but be sure to put a wood block or piece of plywood on top of the fitting so as to not destroy the threads. It will start working loose and eventually come out. Just did that last summer, with one of two that I removed. The other one, well, it was epoxied in, for some obscure reason, and the only way to remove it was to totally trash it. (that was fun!)

[belizesailor]

Likely its 5200, which has poor chemical resistance.

https://www.boatingmag.com/marine-so...ng-5200#page-4

[JBas]

Thank you everyone for your advises! I got it out! After breaking numerous knives, the soft mallet did the trick! What a relief!