Shoot-thru transducer mounting - Maxum Boat Owners Club

TBarCYa · 04-29-2008, 11:29 AM

I just bought a Garmin 440s for my 1800MX and I had read that some manufacturers mold a spot in the hull for a transducer. Does the Maxum have such a spot? If not, does anyone have any recommendations for a good place for a shoot-thru or where to mount a transom mount? I'm trying to avoid the transom mount but will use it as a last resort.

Thanks.

seapuppy · 04-29-2008, 02:07 PM

I put my shoot thru hull xdcr about 1 foot to stbd of center line....back in the engine bay...your little skipper boat will probably have more boat out of the water than mine.......
I'd do the sut thru thing...no holes thru the hull to worry about later....

SP

TBarCYa · 04-29-2008, 08:57 PM

I'm really opposed to drilling holes below the water line. I've already drilled a bunch for the VHF radio and antenna and fire extinguisher but those are all in the deck.

I did a bit more research and found that there are people who silicone a piece of PVC pipe to the hull in the bilge area and fill it with mineral oil so the 'ducer never loses contact with the hull/water. I think I may give it a try.

seapuppy · 04-29-2008, 10:56 PM

my new xdcr came with a coffer dam that you glue to the hull ....then fill with antifreeze and sets in there with screws......so far it's working great....no problems at all.......mineral oil works too....

hope this helps...

SP

TBarCYa · 05-03-2008, 11:46 AM

I tested out a couple locations yesterday by siliconing a PVC ring to the hull and pouring in water. It worked pretty well and I found a great spot for the 'ducer. Since it's a transom mount ducer it's got a lot of extra plastic around it and required a 4" PVC coupler (4.5" inside diameter) to hold it. I can't find a top that will seal it and not hit the engine so I'm going to fill the bottom of the ring with silicone and set the transducer in that. It should be solid enough to get good bottom readings and still remain flexible so I can remove it if I need to.

Hopefully the 4200 will be dry enough this morning for me to start putting in the silicone.

Mad Max · 05-03-2008, 04:14 PM

Interesting. Your transducer 'floats' suspended in a solution? I'm too far behind on technology. Can anyone post a pic of their install?

Mine mounts direct to the hull (on a step manufactured for it) with a special epoxy. You do have to take care when mixing (don't stir, fold) as you can introduce excessive air bubbles to the epoxy which will deminish the signal.

My concern about floating it would be keeping the 'attack angle' stable (not allowing the transducer head to rotate from vertical).

TBarCYa · 05-04-2008, 02:03 AM

It doesn't float but I had the ring full of water so that there was no air between the 'ducer and the hull so it would get a reading. That was just to find a location and now it's sitting in a pool of silicone and works great. I don't know which boat you have, but mine doesn't have the step although I wish it did. Right now, the silicone maintains the proper angle so it shoots straight down.

I was originally going to have it sit in mineral oil (doesn't freeze or evaporate) but couldnt find a suitable cap for the PVC ring that wouldn't hit the engine. Had I done that, it would have been held in place simply by friction as it is a somewhat tight fit when it's at the right angle.

TBarCYa · 05-04-2008, 01:42 PM

Here's a pic of what I did. Pics of all of my projects can be found at http://www.tombarcia.net/lottie-da/GPSMAP440s.htm

Wil · 12-11-2008, 03:02 AM

Tom, I recently purchased a Garmin 550s with a transom transducer and would want to get more details from you on how you mounted it as a "shoot thru the hull". I own a Maxum 2400SE cruiser and I am doing this as a first boat project. That silicone you used is that the adhesive or the grease? How do you orient it or would that matter? Thanks for any help and info you'd share. Wil Oceanside, CA

seapuppy · 12-15-2008, 04:32 AM

Wil...welcome to the zoo...glad you can post and have a nice little pocket cruiser...

the transome mount is oriented like it would be on the transom...pointing down with the bracket in the up position facing fwd....aligned with the keel of the boat.....

SP

TBarCYa · 12-31-2008, 07:11 PM

Actually, my transducer is mounted sideways because that's the only way I could get it to point straight down due to the angle of the bilge.

Since that post, I have had several issues with the transducer mount and eventually got it to work by using a grinder to remove the paint from the fiberglass (I thought it was white fiberglass) and then epoxying the ring to the hull. Once the epoxy was cured, I put the transducer in place and put enough light oil in the ring to keep the bottom of the xducer wet and installed a threaded cap.

SilveradoSS · 01-11-2009, 11:22 PM

Nice web site. I am glad I visited because I got a 430x for Christmas from my wife and I was figuring out how to mount it without drilling holes!

TBarCYa · 01-11-2009, 11:56 PM

I'm actually going to change the mount because the cable hits the garmin mount and I can't tilt it up. The new mount will use a piece of aluminum angle instead of the plate that was milled and drilled so the garmin mount goes down.

I actually got the idea from someone here who used a RAM mount but that wouldn't work for me because it would have put the unit too close to me. Check the gallery and I'm sure you'll find the pics.

SilveradoSS · 01-17-2009, 12:08 AM

Will you please post a picture of the new mount?

Thanks

TBarCYa · 01-17-2009, 12:17 AM

The boat is wrapped for the winter so I won't get started on the new mount until spring. I'll post new pics then.

SilveradoSS · 01-17-2009, 11:23 PM

Thanks! I look forward to it! (mines wrapped also)

Wil · 03-11-2009, 04:42 AM

TOM
Just want to let you know that I've installed my originally a transom mount transducer as shoot thru the hull by following your instructions and it works perfect. Thanks again for your info...Wil