in hull transducer - do they work ok?

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by sailjumanji

We cut out the core and inner skin. Then back filled back to level with epoxy. Let that setup, laid in a cone-shaped pile of silicone, and pushed the transducer down into it. The cone shape helps bubbles migrate outward when displaced by the transducer. Worked beautifully on two boats. And if it didn't, silicone much easier to work with removing the transducer.

Well, now that was some good thinking.

I removed the inner skin and core, then filled up the hole with liquid epoxy and sat the transducer in that.

I like your way much better.

Not sure if I’ll just grind this transducer down and do it your way, or try removing it. Probably better to just get a new one.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Well, now that was some good thinking.

I removed the inner skin and core, then filled up the hole with liquid epoxy and sat the transducer in that.

I like your way much better.

Not sure if I’ll just grind this transducer down and do it your way, or try removing it. Probably better to just get a new one.

What's this Chotu? I thought epoxy was gonna kill you at one hundred paces?

Well, now you have yet another reason for not using epoxy!

Jim

[PineyWoodsPete]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Well damn. Mine didn’t work.

I did the epoxy method after decoring the spot. Epoxied it right in and it doesn’t work.

Newest Raymarine unit.

Down to my faulty installation. Possibly I got air bubbles in the epoxy I bed it in

Are you sure it's the transducer and not the instrument end at fault? Do you get any readout at all? Did it come with a dedicated instrument head, or into your MFD?

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

What's this Chotu? I thought epoxy was gonna kill you at one hundred paces?

Well, now you have yet another reason for not using epoxy!

Jim

This was 5 years ago I installed it.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by PineyWoodsPete

Are you sure it's the transducer and not the instrument end at fault? Do you get any readout at all? Did it come with a dedicated instrument head, or into your MFD?

It has a dedicated instrument head.

I’m not sure which is bad, but I had assumed my install. I get some odd, bouncing readings then an error I think. If I remember correctly.

It’s been at the bottom of the to for list for a long time.

Over the decades, I’ve nearly never had a working transducer. LOL. So I’ve gotten used to it.

[PineyWoodsPete]

I'd bet on the instrument or corroded plug-in contacts.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Well damn. Mine didn’t work.

I did the epoxy method after decoring the spot. Epoxied it right in and it doesn’t work.

Newest Raymarine unit.

Down to my faulty installation. Possibly I got air bubbles in the epoxy I bed it in

Our boat came with a glued-down transducer and it was a bit flaky... but it could have been the old instrument end as well. Anyway, with the new depth sounder (and the fishfinder that later replaced it) I went with the "tank" approach, with water or antifreeze as the ultrasonic coupling medium. After all, what couples to water better than water? And because the transducer isn't glued, and the tank only needs to be siliconed down, it's much easier to relocate/remove/replace down the road.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by PineyWoodsPete

I'd bet on the instrument or corroded plug-in contacts.

It was brand new out of the box. I don’t think that was the issue.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Our boat came with a glued-down transducer and it was a bit flaky... but it could have been the old instrument end as well. Anyway, with the new depth sounder (and the fishfinder that later replaced it) I went with the "tank" approach, with water or antifreeze as the ultrasonic coupling medium. After all, what couples to water better than water? And because the transducer isn't glued, and the tank only needs to be siliconed down, it's much easier to relocate/remove/replace down the road.

I was fearful of this approach for my boat. Foam cored hull. So there would be nothing between my tank ad that thin skin of fiberglass the bottom paint is rolled onto.

Modifying your idea a bit, I think a power boat type transom mounted one might work best for my boat. I can hang it on the transom or maybe put it near the outboard well so it’s accessible through there.

[PineyWoodsPete]

Originally Posted by Chotu

It was brand new out of the box. I don’t think that was the issue.

Well, you installed the TD 5 years ago, you said. and I'm all too familiar with FL summer heat, humidity and storm effects on boats and things electronic living on the Gulf coast up in P.C. for six years...

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by PineyWoodsPete

Well, you installed the TD years ago, you said. and I'm all too familiar with FL summer heat, humidity, and things electronic living on the Gulf coast up in P.C. for six years...

It never worked.

I opened the box, installed it and it didn’t work.

[wingssail]

Before permanently installing the new transducer inside the hull I lowered the transducer over the side of the boat (in deep water, about 680ft) and I checked the readings at various sensitivity.

Then I placed the transducer in a puddle of water inside the hull, and repeated my test.

I found that I lost about 10% when shooting through the hull. Acceptable.

Then I put a puddle of epoxy in the inside of the hull and placed the transducer in that. It has worked for 35 years.

Later I repeated the test with my new(er) Lowrance, which has two transducers. Again they work acceptably shooting through the hull.

So now we happily sail along with three transducers (all seperate KHz) shooting through the hull and giving depth perfectly.

One thing, we have a solid hull, not cored with wood or foam or anything.

BTW, none of these transducers was designed for "in hull" installation, they are just stock transducers designed to be put into holes in the boat. two are metal, one is plastic.

[Lineguy]

I have a Lowrance dual band transducer mounted in K-Y just forward of my keel in a Catalina 27. It worked fine for several years until recently. I've tried re-bedding it with no luck(it still sends water temp to head unit). Guess I'll try the water bag to see if it is somehow defective....

[MVDarlin]

I have installed 3 in hull transducers. All work fine. I used silicone to attach.
Fill the cup with a 50% antifreeze / water solution. If boat is left on the hard for the summer be sure to check / refill the cup. You may need to add a NMEA 2000 kit to make it talk to your display. It will not provide knot meter or water temp info.

[Happ]

Yes they do work and are reasonably easy to install.