How vertical is your depth transducer?

[rob2]

The installation instructions for the Raymarine ST60+ depth quotes a maximum angle of 10 deg. for the thru hull transducer supplied. As I couldn't meet this criteria I bought the adjustable Airmar transducer (P79), then later discovered there is a thru hull model to allow a 20 deg angle (P19). As already pointed out, if you select a transducer for oil bath mounting, any angle can be accomodated when setting the mounting tube to the hull. Of course, this cannot be done with the DST 800.

Rob.

 

[gjgm]

I thought the ceramic sounder was angled in the tube to help point "down".. 5/10/20 degrees- as opposed to being mounted in the tube at 90 degrees "looking" straight down.
If it is then angled in the tube, surely it matters which side of ther angled hull you place it, as either it then fires "down" , or the "correction" is now the wrong way, and it fires off at the angle+ (ie not minus) the deadrise?

 

[David2452]

No, the position on the hull is an irrelevance, if you have an angled (at the bottom) support tube for an in hull install then you would just rotate the whole thing 180 degrees dependant on which side to fit it. The support mechanism is what is used to get the actual transducer pointing down whether it is an internal tube or an external fairing block. The ceramic element inside the transducer puck itself has not nor needs any adjustment for angle, that is taken care of by the angle it is mounted at and they are all adjustable to a greater or lesser degree. Actually the old method of glassing in a tube with the transducer in a bath inside it will cope with almost any situation bar cored hulls, despite it's simplicicity it is still one of the easiest and most reliable for big angles.

 

[gjgm]

No, the position on the hull is an irrelevance, if you have an angled (at the bottom) support tube for an in hull install then you would just rotate the whole thing 180 degrees dependant on which side to fit it. The support mechanism is what is used to get the actual transducer pointing down whether it is an internal tube or an external fairing block. The ceramic element inside the transducer puck itself has not nor needs any adjustment for angle, that is taken care of by the angle it is mounted at and they are all adjustable to a greater or lesser degree. Actually the old method of glassing in a tube with the transducer in a bath inside it will cope with almost any situation bar cored hulls, despite it's simplicicity it is still one of the easiest and most reliable for big angles.

But dst800 and P19 are through hull, so the tube itself isnt angled at all, it mounts at 90 degree to the hull, whatever angle the hull is at... the ceramic sensor is angled isnt it (otherwise how the 12/20 degrees etc)

 

[David2452]

Yes, but a through hull, if not sited on an area that has little deadrise (<5deg) would have a fairing block fitted if done correctly to make it point straight down. Yes you can get a P19 with the puck angled inside the housing as well as the standard but as per my previous comment, if you use it on the other side of the hull it makes no difference as you just rotate it 180 degrees, they even have arrows pointing to the keel so you can't get it wrong whichever side you fit it. Not that I would ever recommend one, puny 375w RMS output.

 

[gjgm]

but as per my previous comment, if you use it on the other side of the hull it makes no difference as you just rotate it 180 degrees, they even have arrows pointing to the keel so you can't get it wrong whichever side you fit it.

Hmm I have been very slow this afternoon... yep, I can see that now!

 

[David2452]

I can go to the pub now then ?

 

[BERT T]

I’ve often wondered why a transducer for yachts isn’t available for in hull fitting in an enclosed bath and able to swing in it so as to compensate for them falling over a bit when the wind blows. I may experiment. It wouldn’t be beyond the wit of the manufacturers to have clinometers in the head to compensate using the processor either.

David you have just set me thinking! A double pendulum????