in hull transducer

[PabloPicasso]

i'm toying with the idea a getting a fishfinder and like the look and price of a Lowrance hook 2 with GPS.

If I get one and install the transducer against the inside of the hull will it work effectively?
I don't think a transom mount would work on my sailing boat and I do not want to cut another hole in the hull.

 

[tillergirl]

It will work fine as a depth sounder properly fitted but might not be an effective fishfinder. It's all to do with the thickness etc of the skin of the boat.

 

[salar]

It will be fine. I have a similar low cost fishfinder with transducer mounted inside the hull. It can even see mackerel feathers below the boat! There have been various threads on the topic here recently. Here's how I mounted the transducer. Just be sure you mount it where it can be vertical and the outside hull area has a clean water flow (no bubbles). Link: Installing a transducer inside the hull - new method - Boat Angling

 

[Jamie Dundee]

i'm toying with the idea a getting a fishfinder and like the look and price of a Lowrance hook 2 with GPS.

If I get one and install the transducer against the inside of the hull will it work effectively?
I don't think a transom mount would work on my sailing boat and I do not want to cut another hole in the hull.

I used transom mount transducers on both my yachts but mounted under rather than on the transom. Both fin keelers though, not sure it would work on a bilge keeler.

 

[Daverw]

We’ve had our Lowrence transducer fitted on the inside just in front of the keel for the last 5 years, just on a big blob of silicone, sonar scan works with no problem and when not in muddy water gets clear views but that’s not the systems fault.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I've had no success with a Garmin Striker 4 on my yacht. Perhaps it depends on the type of hull. I have used the transom option.

I don't fish but it's more fun than an ordinary echo sounder. They now use "CHIRP" technology which perhaps asks more than an ordinary depth pulse.

 

[salar]

I've had no success with a Garmin Striker 4 on my yacht. Perhaps it depends on the type of hull. I have used the transom option.

I don't fish but it's more fun than an ordinary echo sounder. They now use "CHIRP" technology which perhaps asks more than an ordinary depth pulse.

Most likely a problem is due to the position of the transducer. It must be in clear, undisturbed water and if it is mounted behind something like a speed paddlewheel, annode, keel or chine - or the transom lifts into the disturbed water area when sailing - then it will lose signal. Mounting in-hull is generally more reliable and it doesn't get weeded up either!

 

[Pete7]

When I bought my Raymarine Element CP, I quizzed the Hudson Marine staff about transducers. It would appear that the newer Chrip transducers can't be mounted to fire through the hull and need to be in the water, something about cooling. Apparently older transducers fired a signal perhaps 10 times a second whilst the new Chrip technology is more like 100 times a second to achieve the high definition images.

The Lowerance 2 Hook has a Chirp transducer, but no fire through hull option, only transom mount. Seems to be discontinued on the Hudson Marine website, so wonder if the product has been replaced. Hopefully any stock left in dealers is priced accordingly.

Image of Lowrance Hook Chirp transducer.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

When I bought my Raymarine Element CP, I quizzed the Hudson Marine staff about transducers. It would appear that the newer Chrip transducers can't be mounted to fire through the hull and need to be in the water, something about cooling. Apparently older transducers fired a signal perhaps 10 times a second whilst the new Chrip technology is more like 100 times a second to achieve the high definition images.

The Lowerance 2 Hook has a Chirp transducer, but no fire through hull option, only transom mount. Seems to be discontinued on the Hudson Marine website, so wonder if the product has been replaced. Hopefully any stock left in dealers is priced accordingly.

Image of Lowrance Hook Chirp transducer.

You generally don’t need to use CHIRP, most sonars allow you to choose frequency. I’ve never had any problem with transducers overheating when the boat is on the hard, 200mhz, CHIRP or 485mhz down/sidescan. But any air between transducer and water, or I’ve also heard silicone is a no no, and no proper signal. Sidescan won’t work shooting through hull.

 

[Halo]

My garmin worked through the hull for years and my old boat was built like a brick outhouse. The transducer was a few inches outside the hull. Not sure about new transducers.