Driving me mad - in hull depth transducer

[Otter]

I tested the new Raymarine in hull transducer twice with a plastic bag of water on the inside, both times it worked fine but when I fitted the special bath thing with sealant that goes on the hull the crazy irregular flowcoat or resin (very sloppy job when new) meant I just couldn't get a seal and the oil I put in oozed out and created the most appalling mess. I then wondered about sticking the transducer directly to the hull with silicone sealant which would keep it fixed and create a seal. Anyone else tried this? Please don't suggest sanding the hull to make it smooth, that would be a monumental job!

 

[JumbleDuck]

I tested the new Raymarine in hull transducer twice with a plastic bag of water on the inside, both times it worked fine but when I fitted the special bath thing with sealant that goes on the hull the crazy irregular flowcoat or resin (very sloppy job when new) meant I just couldn't get a seal and the oil I put in oozed out and created the most appalling mess. I then wondered about sticking the transducer directly to the hull with silicone sealant which would keep it fixed and create a seal. Anyone else tried this? Please don't suggest sanding the hull to make it smooth, that would be a monumental job!

I suspect that the silcone/grp interface would be enough of a discontinuity in elasticity (and therefore in sound transmission) to send a significant echo back, which would leave less power to head downwards and perhaps confuse the instrument. I have heard of people epoxying the transducer into place.

 

[VicS]

I tested the new Raymarine in hull transducer twice with a plastic bag of water on the inside, both times it worked fine but when I fitted the special bath thing with sealant that goes on the hull the crazy irregular flowcoat or resin (very sloppy job when new) meant I just couldn't get a seal and the oil I put in oozed out and created the most appalling mess. I then wondered about sticking the transducer directly to the hull with silicone sealant which would keep it fixed and create a seal. Anyone else tried this? Please don't suggest sanding the hull to make it smooth, that would be a monumental job!

Yes I believe you can use a sealant . or as JD suggests epoxy, but then its permanent.

I fixed the tube that forms the oil bath in place with car body filler then when set sealed over that with CSM and resin. Not leaked at all in 37 years


You'll have to clean off all the oil before you try anything else!

 

[blackbeard]

I epoxied a transducer into place, works just fine but I wonder how I might remove it should I ever need to.

Maybe you could try one of those epoxies which melt at low temperatures?

Of course you could always try sealant - a nice thin layer, just enough to make air-free contact over the whole surface, if it doesn't work you haven't lost anything and can easily remove it.

 

[Garfish]

Have you conidered using vaseline and skaflex? See the link below. It seems to work well with raymarine wi fish transducer:

http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/threads/sonar-phone-and-wifi-t-box.3373406/page-4


.

 

[stuartwineberg]

I have a Garmin fishfinder which came with a transducer designed to attach to the bottom of a trolling outboard motor and so be immersed in water. I built a rectangular little frame out of card, blutacked it to the inside of the hull in a spot where the water flow outside should be fairly smooth, filled the frame with clear cheap bath silicone and pushed the transducer into it, making sure it was parallel to the waterline. Works perfectly. Just make sure your hull is solid, it won't work through a foam or balsa cored sandwich or if there are air bubbles in the silicone

 

[alahol2]

I've stuck a fishfinder transducer into the hull using CT1. It works perfectly well and seems to have the reach quoted by the manufacturer. I used CT1 because the bilge is always slightly damp and I didn't want to risk a non-perfect attachment.

 

[geoffatstanpit]

I used BluTack so that I could try it in different places. It worked first try and continued to do so for the 10 years I had the boat!

 

[Contest1]

I tried vasaline last year as a temporary sealant to test the position, still there and seems to have hardened quite well!

 

[sailorman]

I tested the new Raymarine in hull transducer twice with a plastic bag of water on the inside, both times it worked fine but when I fitted the special bath thing with sealant that goes on the hull the crazy irregular flowcoat or resin (very sloppy job when new) meant I just couldn't get a seal and the oil I put in oozed out and created the most appalling mess. I then wondered about sticking the transducer directly to the hull with silicone sealant which would keep it fixed and create a seal. Anyone else tried this? Please don't suggest sanding the hull to make it smooth, that would be a monumental job!

my raytheon puck is epoxied to the hull as per instructions

 

[Moonbeam]

Hello LK...I used a lump of plumbers putty (never goes off) to seat my garmin in-hull transducer as a temporary measure to check it worked, it's worked so well, I've left it there 4 years now. No plans for a permanent fix

 

[Otter]

Thanks guys. Tied up in Harwich this morning, see if we can find a hardware store, there's some good ideas there. Will update.

 

[catmandoo]

Have you conidered using vaseline and skaflex? See the link below. It seems to work well with raymarine wi fish transducer:

http://www.worldseafishing.com/foru...s good for scanning bollocks it's probably Ok

 

[Otter]

Try KY jelly if it's good for scanning bollocks it's probably Ok

Will it provide a strong seat for the transducer - a firm grip but with enough elasticity to transmit the pulses?