Optimal Location to Mount Transom Mount Transducer

[sysinu]

My through hull transducer reads temperature. I assume it is because the hull assumes the same temp as the water, and it is pretty accurate.

I assumed fiberglass to be a pretty good insulator. Guess I'll see if my transducer reads accurate water temp after I install it. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Trm1765]

If you do mount in inside you have to make sure there is no air or it will not work. Put some epoxy down and push the transducer into it while twisting back and forth making 100% sure there is no air bubbles. Mine has been mounted that way for 3 full seasons with no issues at all.

 

[sysinu]

If you do mount in inside you have to make sure there is no air or it will not work. Put some epoxy down and push the transducer into it while twisting back and forth making 100% sure there is no air bubbles. Mine has been mounted that way for 3 full seasons with no issues at all.

That reminds me... I was going to get some play dough and build a glue dam for when I install mine. thanks for the reminder!

 

[Jim Robeson]

@Trm1765 ... do you have to smooth out the surface before you epoxy the transducer into place?? Been thinking of changing mine out to something else and was considering this option. Thanks.

 

[Trm1765]

I didn't smooth it but I did make sure it was clean and not dusty so it stuck real good.

 

[Jim Robeson]

Thanks!! Another new project for this spring!! My wife will be so happy that I have something to do!!

 

[txav8r]

@Jim Robeson There can't be any air bubbles in the hull or under the transducer. It has to be a solid surface it looks thru. So you want to place a puddle of epoxy under the transducer so it has no void when it is placed. And a good idea to maybe place a temporary water dam around where your going to place it to test the hull integrity before yiu install it. Then place the transducer in the contained water to see if it reads easily thru the hull. If the test goes well, let the area dry and go for it. You can build a dam with tape (I bet you have some around the house) for the test.

 

[Jim Robeson]

@txav8r ... great idea! Thanks for that. I have been having some trouble with mine and this is just a good excuse for me to put in a new one. I can not get a reading at speed, only while idling. Once I get underway I don't have a reading at all. I haven't really minded too much seeing I know the lake pretty well but could definitely use this if I were boating more at night. Thanks again!!

 

[Yamaha biggie]

When installing inside , epoxy style. Are you guys putting it in engine compartment or even further back? I have sx192

 

[txav8r]

@Yamaha biggie , I haven't looked Ike's at the 190 up close, but most of the boats have compartment liners, so to get to the actual hull, you need to get under the clean out tray. The engine compartment has a finished compartment floor (liner). So you have to go aft to get away from that.

 

[Yamaha biggie]

Thanks for the quick reply. I will open up the wet storage area and check there. I couldn't think of that name earlier, wet storage! Is that where everyone is putting it?

 

[jdonalds]

If you don't want to drill... the bilge is a VERY good place for thru hull transducers on our boats. Absolutely zero cavitation and if all you're looking for is sonar (and not water temp or downward/side imaging) then it's a great placement without having to go through the fiberglass. I have a "sonar phone" transducer going into my bilge area this coming spring.

I've long had a plan to mount the transducer inside the hull. Just haven't gotten around to it. My depth gauge is not reliable on the transom.

 

[Yamaha biggie]

Well here's my personal findings. My transducer is a transom mount style. Not in the hull but I didn't want to drill. I placed playdoe below the wet locker . I figured if it can read thru epoxy I can test my location with playdoe. Well that didn't work, but then I placed it in a bag of water and it worked perfect through the hull. But I have no way to seal it in. Any suggestions? I mean it worked good up to 30 mph, clear view sonar . I didn't want to have to fill a bag of water every time, but I will if I can't think of anything else. I am Burnt! 1st day of wake boarding after winter break

 

[jdonalds]

The recommendation is to epoxy it to the inside of the hull. It must have an attachment through which sound can travel. It's likely the Playdoe was not a sound transferring material.

I have a Norcross. Here is their instructions for inside the hull. https://support.norcrossmarine.com/hc/en-us/articles/203052318-How-do-I-glue-the-transducer-in-hull-

 

[Drift Away]

Like some others i had mine bolted to the ride plate

 

[Yamaha biggie]

So if I had good reading with the bag of water , it should be ok to epoxy? I'm worried it won't work and then I have to remove epoxy. But the bag of water worked, playdoe was a no...

 

[Yamaha biggie]

Like some others i had mine bolted to the ride plateView attachment 53972 View attachment 53973

U bolted or epoxy, that's nice install

 

[Drift Away]

U bolted or epoxy, that's nice install

Both

 

[txav8r]

You have to have zero air bubbles and play doe is full of air. When you mix the epoxy, do it slowly and don't whip air into it.

 

[Yamaha biggie]

Well it worked perfect. Had to wait a week to test, but today was the day. Epoxy = zero air bubbles, I guess! I'm not sure if this is normal but I lose signal at higher speeds, but it's perfect while trolling. Thanks for all the advise.