Mounting A Transducer

[Jan from Humboldt]

Isn't the hull a sandwich of ropalene, foam, ropalene?

The airspace (Foam) wll kill the action of your transducer so it won't work. And as I recall the boat owners manual specificaly tells you not to attempt it as it won't work

The associate is full of bull.

[Codfish]

I agree with everyone on the shoot through. It will not work due to the foam between the inner and outer hulls. I have had shoot throughs on glass boats. They work where there are no air bubbles in the hull. Most are mounted in epoxy because it can be laid without air bubbles also.

As far as the plastic plate on the transom, I did that but not with just elastomeric sealant. I also put three screws spaced evenly across the plate and then mounted the transducer and the speed/temp sensor to the plate. It has held tight for three full seasons now. I had concerns of fewest holes into the hull and I wanted to allow the transducer to rip free without leaving holes in the hull if it got caught on something while running at speed. I used a heavy foam board, not roplene for the mount board material.

You can see it in my photo of the inner hull drain install.

Codfish

[Mike in Maine]

Thanks Fri,
I e-mailed Triumph (no reponse yet) maybe Dick form Merritt may know. Hopefully they'll have an answer. Worst case, i'll return the "Puck" and put on a transom mount. I like the Puck concept, I hope it will work if not i'll save some $$$$ by going to plan B.

M I M

Codfish, Now thats what I'm talking about. Theirs got to be a way to glue the plastice to the hull. When ever I get mine that's the 1st thing I'm going to do.

[Mike in Maine]

I talked to Bryant at Triumph. He said "No Way!" to the "Puck". Looks like I'm of to West Marine for an exchange and a couple of $$$$. Goin' to Plan B. Thanks to everyone for the help I would have been ****** if I ended up not doing the research. Glad this forum is here.

M I M

When you get to West Marine give the sales guy a good swift kick in the pants. I see that kind of miss information all the time.

[k9reno]

I attached my tranducer right to the transom. No problems at all. The screws that came with it to mount it did not penitrate through the transom. I predrilled only about half an inch and coated the screws with rule when I screwed them in. even if the transducer gets ripped off the boat it willnot let water in. With the location of the mount even a hole would only go to the foam filled area.

[MolarBoater]

Most transome mounted transducers will pop up if hit by floatsome....sometimes it will cut thru the transducer cable! I run two separate units (not at same time) and they mount easily and the screws are too short to penetrate into the foam core on a Bay 190....still use that Rule.

[Codfish]

I agree with both Molar and K9, however I did the ducer mount with the extra plastic before I knew all about the design and makeup of the boat. I had a transducer ripped off a boat, just the screws left so I knew that could happen. With the roplene, which is not as holding of screws as glass, I wanted to have more bite and the failsafe aspect of no water intrusion. My screws go through the plastic plate and about 1/2" into the outer hull of roplene. I was just looking for maximum strength with my mount.

Now that we better understand how the boats are made, and how strong they are, I may go with a straight transom mount on the new 235.

Codfish

[blakinsmith]

WHOA! Codfish - I note that last line you kinda slipped in there! Guess you
are serious about that 235 - cool. You'll be one of the first on the west
coast I figure. I want a ride!

On the subject of "ducers", thought I'd relate that I had mine (Airmar) beat up
pretty good in Baja last year while pulled into an island for a potty break. Surge moved the boat laterally against some rocks. It severely bent portions of the mounting bracket and external portion of two screws (which I subsequently replaced) but the sensor was intact. I bought the boat used - it was screwed directly with the factory screws and rule.....Barry