Raymarine Bidata ST40 for Depth how to fit

[thesaintlyone]

Hello
I have a raymarine Bidata ST40 which I managed to pick up for next to nothing (Untested). It doesn't have any cables or manuals so how do I fit it to my Westerly Jouster Project to give Depth Readings never cut hoes in the bottom of a boat before so not really overconfident in this area or what I need parts wise, but this may be a necessity as the boat is currently on the tidal stretch of the Medway.

Regards

 

[Tranona]

Manuals will be on the Raymarine website. You need 2 transducers, one for the log the other for depth sounder plus 2 cables and a fused 12v power supply. If you only have the display you may well find buying the bits almost as much as buying a complete package and probably more than a basic NASA package.

 

[thesaintlyone]

Hi Tarona Thanks
Do I need the two Transducers or can I get away with fitting just the depth???

Regards

 

[thesaintlyone]

Hello
having looked on ebay would something like this be a much more economical option:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HawkEye-Depth-Finder-Sounder-Air-and-Water-Temp-Transom-Mount-Transducer-/381077440360?hash=item58b9fc4768:g:lVUAAOSwnDxUgH4f

 

[Tranona]

Hi Tarona Thanks
Do I need the two Transducers or can I get away with fitting just the depth???

Regards

Yes you can. they are two separate feeds. You can fit the transducer inside the hull so no need to drill holes. The instructions will come with the transducer.

 

[thesaintlyone]

So I dont need to have the Transducer poking through the hull just mounted inside??? I thought that the transducer needed to be thru hull

 

[BabaYaga]

There is a special transducer for in hull mounting:
http://raymarine.com/view/?id=1479
I have used an older version of the P79 with an Autohelm Bidata 40 for more than 20 years. It gives good reading up to 45 - 50 metres, and sometimes much more. Mine sits in a large blob of sikaflex, but I think the recommendation now is bonding it with epoxy.

 

[thesaintlyone]

Right thanks that makes it clearer So if I get the P79 In-Hull Transducer then I don't have to drill any holes but the downside is cost Lowest price I've seen is £85 from the states on eBay obviously that's plus charges!!! what cable will I need to supply power to the unit???

Many Thanks

 

[Tranona]

Just an ordinary 2 core cable to a switch and fuse on the domestic distribution panel. The transducer will come with a cable. If you just want an echo sounder, though you might be better off buying a NASA Target at around £100 complete, new.

 

[doug748]

Hello
having looked on ebay would something like this be a much more economical option:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HawkEye-Depth-Finder-Sounder-Air-and-Water-Temp-Transom-Mount-Transducer-/381077440360?hash=item58b9fc4768:g:lVUAAOSwnDxUgH4f

In your position I would look for a old Seafarer transducer - available for free or very little - bed it on putty inside the hull and see if it works. If it fails you have lost nothing.

 

[pvb]

In your position I would look for a old Seafarer transducer - available for free or very little - bed it on putty inside the hull and see if it works. If it fails you have lost nothing.

Old Seafarer transducers were often 150kHz, but the ST40 needs 200kHz ideally.

 

[thesaintlyone]

Thanks everyone
I mounted the Bi-data today as I quite like the idea of the In hull transducer mounting saves me drilling unessacary holes in the boat.

Regards