For those who've installed a through-hull transducer

mnwakeboarder

I know it says to make sure there are no bubbles in the epoxy when you install the transducer, but my question is how big/small are the bubbles. I can get the bigger ones but do I have to worry about really small ones? if so how do I get rid of them? any tips before I do the install?

wpcustoms · Criminal Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 94 City: Austin

you have to sand sand and sand. If it is possible use and orbital palm sander it took me about an hour by hand and it was a real pain. Sand it until it is perfectly flat

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

i assume you found an optimum location from testing?

stir slow as not to make air bubbles. smash the transducer into the epoxy while it is soft.

Leggester · Posted: May 03, 2004 7:04 am Post subject:

While I don't know what WP is talking about...

try to get NO bubbles. I've taped a mold with masking tape about 1/" larger than the transducer. Then put 1/2" of epoxy in. After that, vibrating ( tapping ) the transducer can get most, if not all, of the bubbles out. Much like is done with cement.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

whats a transducer?

That something that facilitates the dropping of a deuce? Shocked

mnwakeboarder · Posted: May 03, 2004 10:53 am Post subject: thanks

Thanks for the replies, I'm not going to test the location. I spoke with a Glastron Engineer and he told me where they install them on the factory rigged boats, I figure that has to be the best place. How to you get down in the bilge area to get good access to the spot to make sure there are no air bubbles, my engine pretty much takes all the space..

wakerwes · Outlaw Joined: 31 Aug 2003 Posts: 135 City: belgium

i also don't kwow what a transducer is Sad

intotheflats · Posted: May 03, 2004 1:35 pm Post subject:

there is a product called marine tex. this is what to use. it is thicker than normal epoxy and there will be no bubbles to contend with.

If you must use normal epoxy, get a cup and cut it in half. use the top half and put a bead of silicone around it and stick it to where you plan on mounting the xducer. then pour your epoxy into the cup. the silicone will stop it from running out the bottom and you can let it sit for awhile so the bubbles will come out. when you put the xducer in, move it in small circles in the epoxy. this will move the bubbles to the outside of the epoxy.

Levi · Criminal Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 65 City: Boise, ID

A transducer is part of a depth finder system. It is the part that sends the waves down and receives the signal back up so can get a reading of the depth...kinda like the "antenna".

Soooo, my question is.... Can you just mount the transducer w/ silicon or does it have to be the epoxy? I mounted mine on dry land just hoping I would be ok but I got it out last week and I was getting any readings...... I'll have to peel it back up and try again...but I don't want to be wasting my time if I'm using the wrong stuff....I heard that you can do it w/ just silicon though??

oshensurfer · Posted: May 09, 2004 1:31 pm Post subject:

Mines adhered with what appears to be a silicone marine sealant. Then the mounting bracket is filled with mineral oil and the tranducer clicks in.

Levi · Criminal Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 65 City: Boise, ID

hmmm..that sounds quite a bit different than mine. I don't even have a bracket. Just the transducer unit w/ the wire coming out of it. I just siliconed that right to the hull inside the bildge.

stich · Newbie Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 15 City: Pioneer

I too have installed my Lowrance 3500 depth finder and I guess I must have done it wrong or it does'nt work right and I'm not sure which yet. First of all , I installed the transducer whith epoxy like instructed in the center of the hull in the engine compartment. I don't think I got any bubbles in it but now I'm not sure. Also, I put the transducer in a spot between the first and second strake in the boat (I guess thats what they're called) but there again, is that causing some burbbling efect so that the depth finder doesn't read right?. Sometimes when I first start the boat, it reads the right depth but then as I start moving it either holds the last depth reading or starts flashing zero
Any ideas from you techies?
thanks

Levi · Criminal Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 65 City: Boise, ID

stich - you need to make sure that it isn't by anything that is causing turbulance. Ie...prop, shaft, or skags. If you put it right by the skags then that would explain your correct readings at no speed and errors under speed. If you can you probably want to get the mounting point in front of those or far enough to the side to no be affected???

stich · Newbie Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 15 City: Pioneer

Levi- Next question. How can I get the trans. off without damaging the thing or the hull? Also,if I mount it to one side of the skags, the trans. points down at an angle and would give me a false reading to the lake bottom, no?

mnwakeboarder · Posted: May 10, 2004 9:01 am Post subject: install

I installed it this weekend, everything went really smooth. I first duct taped the transducer to the hull and tested it, then I used the supplied epoxy and glued it in..

wpcustoms · Criminal Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 94 City: Austin

sorry im a tard and didnt read the entire post, What i meant when i said you have to sand, i meant the floor of the boat. It has to be completely flat and free of voids. And yes try not to get any bubbles in the epoxy.

Levi · Criminal Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 65 City: Boise, ID

stich - I'm not too sure about getting it off? if the epoxy that you used is still flexible I'd imagine that if you pulled on it may just peel up? or maybe use a razor blade to cut throught the adheasive? I used silicon so I know that I can just peel it up and redue it w/o much difficulty. As for putting beside a skag....you're right if your hull slants up quickly. Mine has a pretty good flat spot for a ways so it wouldn't make much difference I figured. If you can't go beside then you may have to go in front of them if possible. If you cant then maybe in the back corner? *I just looked in your profile...what you actually should do is just call up Centurion and ask them where they put it in from the factory. Your boat is new enuf that they should be able to tell ya I'd think. Also..I see you board at Hogen.....a big group of people are going there I think this weekend from wakeworld.com. You should check out the thread on their trip there........a lot of cool people will be camping for the weekend.......well...good luck!

intotheflats · Posted: May 10, 2004 5:47 pm Post subject:

silicone will work temporarily, it won't stay on there long. Use epoxy.