Depth Transducer

[Bobobolinsky]

Just removed a through hull depth transducer, leaving a 40mm hole, or thereabouts. I don't have a whole lot of room beneath the sole. I don't presently have a depth sounder fitted, so I am going from the fill the hole, buy the depth sounder route. I am prepared to fill the hole and fit an internal transducer, or fit a tranducer housing. Presently open to your thoughts.

 

[Poignard]

Just removed a through hull depth transducer, leaving a 40mm hole, or thereabouts. I don't have a whole lot of room beneath the sole. I don't presently have a depth sounder fitted, so I am going from the fill the hole, buy the depth sounder route. I am prepared to fill the hole and fit an internal transducer, or fit a tranducer housing. Presently open to your thoughts.

I have a NASA Clipper with the transducer inside. It works fine.

 

[[10753]]

I fitted a transducer internally in an oil bath and it really wasn't happy. Would work up to about 8 meters then keep erroring. The GRP thickness was in excess of 2 inches. I have now fitted externally and all is fine. I must add that I sent the unit back to the manufacturer and they replaced an internal component so I can't confirm that the poor performance was due to the hull thickness.

 

[Leighb]

It must depend to some degree on your hull constrruction, however I have spent 3 years trying to get an internal one to work satisfactorily in different positions. I have now bitten the bullet and fitted a through hull transducer and hope that it now works. Only just launched and not been out yet.

I will be very cross if it is no better.

 

[chewi]

Araldite the transducer

I had oil bath ones in two boats and they were both always troublesome.
Replaced with Garmin Fishfinder and Araldited the transducer to the (scraped clean) inside of the GRP hull 13 yrs ago.
It has never failed yet and is a much lower profile than the oil bath ones.

You could fill your hole with a bronze skin fitting (sawn off if necessary) and a cap until you have an opportunity do do it more seriously.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

I'm on the hard for a while yet. I am looking towards a Nasa Target 2, but rather wanted to fit a transducer mechanically, as the hole is right by the companionway, the dust is going inside no matter what, sanding for the frp repair

 

[niallw]

erratic depth soundings

anyone still following this thread?
It seems I have a similar problem to previous posters. I have nasa depth sounder system on my Nic26.
As with others the GRP hull is quite thick -around 3/4" I believe.

How do i go about fault-finding or testing to find the faulty component(s) transducer, wiring or head/display system.

The display sometimes flashes or reads E (for error?) then can jump around giving very erratic readings.
I'm reluctant to go down the through hull route, already enough holes in my boat as it is. Any other suggestions.

 

[Iliade]

Nasa

I'm on the hard for a while yet. I am looking towards a Nasa Target 2, but rather wanted to fit a transducer mechanically, as the hole is right by the companionway, the dust is going inside no matter what, sanding for the frp repair

Slightly off-topic, but I would avoid the NASA unit if you plan an in-hull transducer. Actually I would just avoid the NASA unit. I had one which would tell me the water was shallowing after I had run onto the mud... It would also hunt in all manner of depths, such that I had lost all faith in it (the previous Seafarer worked fine for decades with a through hull transducer in the same mount)

For the current boat I bought an ancient Garmin and a new transducer (BIG but fairly shallow, in-hull) The graphical display is far more intuitive when in shallow water.

If there's room you could retain the hole for a salt water deck wash/galley supply like a real boat, or fit a capped off skin fitting for future reference.

 

[chewi]

anyone still following this thread?
It seems I have a similar problem to previous posters. I have nasa depth sounder system on my Nic26.
As with others the GRP hull is quite thick -around 3/4" I believe.

How do i go about fault-finding or testing to find the faulty component(s) transducer, wiring or head/display system.

The display sometimes flashes or reads E (for error?) then can jump around giving very erratic readings.
I'm reluctant to go down the through hull route, already enough holes in my boat as it is. Any other suggestions.

you can use a bag of water as a meduim between transducer and hull, moving that around to find the best spot, but I'd agree to get a fishfinder instead, far far better, and nowt to do with fishing either.

 

[smeaks]

anyone still following this thread?
It seems I have a similar problem to previous posters. I have nasa depth sounder system on my Nic26.
As with others the GRP hull is quite thick -around 3/4" I believe.

How do i go about fault-finding or testing to find the faulty component(s) transducer, wiring or head/display system.

The display sometimes flashes or reads E (for error?) then can jump around giving very erratic readings.
I'm reluctant to go down the through hull route, already enough holes in my boat as it is. Any other suggestions.

I have had no bother with in hull sounders on some thick hulls. Try using silicone to locate. Your problem could be the sounder picking up the keel or turbulence... Try adjusting the sensitivity and gain to get round this.