Wooden Hulls and Transducers

[m1taylor]

Hi, Thinking of either a depth sounder or fishfinder for my 17foot sloop. I have had a fishfinder before, but I found that the transom mounted transducer is affected by cavitation when the outboard is on, and heeling when sailing! So would a depth sounder like the NASA Target one be better - BUT..can you mount a transducer in the hull? I certainly don't want a thru hull fitting. If a transducer can see thru wood, then the transom mounted one is better with the fishfinder?

 

[ccscott49]

Not completely sure, but I think an in hull transducer, doesnt work through wood, never heard of anyone fitting one in hull anyway.

 

[rjp]

I don't think fitting inside the hull works due to the porous structure of the wood. Unless anyone has a better suggestion I think it would have to be mounted through the hull. It should be a relatively straightforward job though as long as you're not floating!

John

 

[kds]

The transducer will not work through the hull. You will have to drill for it. Latest ones are quite narrow.
Ken

 

[m1taylor]

Thanks for that - I think the answer is to stick to a fishfinder - I really don't want to drill holes in the hull - better to put up with the disadvantages of transom mount.

 

[skipperscouse]

ever thought of using a good old fashioned lead line ?
no sarcasim intended. i use one alot on ''olga''
pete

 

[Sniper]

The received wisdom is that a transducer will not work through wood, and as a principle it is sound. However, it is less a question of 'won't work' - more 'won't work very well'. When I bought a new transducer for the old seafarer I had at the time, I wasn't able to fit it properly immediately(i.e. through hull) so I experimented by fixing a short length of drain pipe in the bilge, filling it with castor oil and placing the transducer in it. Result - readings which were accurate but wouldn't measure more than about two fathoms. This was better than nothing at the time. (this was in a wooden boat with 1" thick larch planking)

 

[Peterduck]

I have a depth sounder with the transducer mounted in a block on the end of a wooden dowel, Just hold the thing over the side! Q.E.D. [Quite Easily Done]
Peter.

 

[oldharry]

Simple way to find out: put a couple of inches of water in the bilge (if its not there already!), connect up the echo sounder, and immerse the working face of the transducer. On a GRP boat this works 100%. Oil is only used on in hull mounts because it does not evaporate.

But think you wil find you do not get useable readings, because the wood dampens the signal so much the transducer cannot 'hear' the echo return.

 

[StanFolds]

I fitted a NASA transducer inhull on my Mirador, It worked well in a tube filled with caster oil up to or should that be down to about 3 meters, never gets much deaper on the Broads where I sailed it. The hull was 9mm marine ply I think. Funny thing is I now have it fitted in a GRP boat and it only reads about 10% of the time,
.

Stan