Fish Finder installation

rho · Newbie Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 46 City: Alameda

Has anyone installed a FishFinder on their boat?

I was thinking of installing a depth meter but for a few more dollars I could get a FF.

The big question is where to install the transducer, transom or hull? Will the thru-hull transducer work on a 1991 Ski Centurion's fiberglass hull ( I assume the hull is pretty thick, 2 walls and probably foam between ).

Erik · Posted: Jul 19, 2005 1:13 pm Post subject:

Since noone has responded, let me just say this. I know very little about fishfinders. But if you consider the fact that many people including those to whom you may sell the boat in the future, may not want a thru-hull transducer for a fishfinder in their tournament-level slalom boat. I think you'd be better off doing a stern transducer. This is just my personal non-fisherman opinion. I hope others respond as well. I like to fish on shore occasionally, but I dont let anything with a hook in my boat.

410fortune · Soul Rider Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 314 City: Morrison

drilling through the hull is never fun, but dont be scared of it, because the installation of the fish finder will likely be permanent anyways, so whats the difference? I mean unless you plan to take it out when you sell the boat, why not drill a small hole?

I had a finder in my old boat and it was very usefull in determining the depth of the water of course, where th big ass fish were (never caught them) and also if there are any rocks at the face of that cliff your buddy is about to jump off of...

I plan to install one in my boat again eventually, i dont fish much, but it sure was fun to look at......I know they make portable ones these days, maybe thats a good option if you dont want to drill....

Viet Rider · Newbie Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 49 City: Portland

Transom mount fish finder is the easier of the two. You only need to drill two small hole to attach the tranducer. Don't do the thru hull method.

rho · Newbie Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 46 City: Alameda

Erik Jernberg,

I did not want to drill thru the hull... They have hull transducers that you mount in the boat that shoot thru the hull (no drilling)...

rho · Newbie Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 46 City: Alameda

DJew Jake · Posted: Jul 19, 2005 4:00 pm Post subject:

If you mount it on the transom then you have to get all the way over what ever you are trying not to hit.

bmh2208 · Posted: Jul 19, 2005 5:25 pm Post subject:

I installed a fish finder in my '77 CC. I opted for the thru hull setup. It worked great even through the fiberglass, albiet it is only like 3/8" thick. The thing I liked about the fish finders versus the regular depth finders is that the depth finding works at any speed, whereas most I have seen suck when you are going anything faster than 15mph. I just used some epoxy to glue it in the engine compartment. You just have to make sure that you get it perfectly level.

Plus...if you ever wanna fish....you know where they are. I found that the fish finders were considerably cheaper than the regular depth finders. Also shows submerged objects under the water.

grapic · Outlaw Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 192

I was told that the transducer for the depth finder and fish finder are the same. The difference is the electronics for analyzing the signal. My depth finders on last 2 boats were thru hull and worked at all speeds.

The transducer epoxies to the hull opposite side of the perfect pass paddle wheel.

rho · Newbie Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 46 City: Alameda

wesgardner · Posted: Jul 20, 2005 2:15 pm Post subject:

hey rho,

I've installed hundreds, mostly in sailboat hulls but the principles are the same...you can epoxy the trans. to the inside of the hull getting all the air bubbles out of the epoxy...

I believe someone stated correctly the transducers for fish and depth are basically the same - it works like sonar or radar sending and receiving a "ping" and then calculating the time delta to get depth(and fish)

Oh, some sailboat (and powerboat) hulls are cored with foam - the transducer won't work with this type of construction as it reads the foam as air....I don't think this is the case with most ski/wakeboats.

Wes

Jensen · Posted: Jul 20, 2005 4:30 pm Post subject:

we have a feruno fish finder/radar all setup on our fishing boat and we installed the transducer in the hull. it used to be set up on the stern but there was a lot of noise so we bought a new one that works quit well for even the huge depths we find out in the ocean. good luck.

rho · Newbie Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 46 City: Alameda

Does anyone know if a 1991 Ski Centurion has a single walled hull? I know I probably could physically check but often times with all those funky ass angles and optical illusions from the curves of the hull I'll probably come up with the wrong answer....

grapic · Outlaw Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 192

My 2001 Moomba and my 2005 Centurion both have/had thru hull transducers epoxied to the floor. I believe every Nautique, Mastercraft, Supra, and Malibu I've been in the past couple years have thru hull transducers for depth finders. The foam core is evidently not a problem.

Leggester · Posted: Jul 21, 2005 5:59 am Post subject:

There sounds like some confusion here.

A "through hull" sounder is mounted inside the hull and sensd the signal "through hull". It's no a hole cut in the boat.

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

I put a through-hull in a 96 Centurion and it worked well. It was aft of the center drain plug, forward of the engine (direct drive, obviously).

And, as Leggester said, no holes.

Colclough999 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 410 City: Boston