Depth sounder w/through-hull transducer....

[sailhog]

I recently finished up a major refit on my Catalina 30, which included a rebedding of my depth sounder's transducer. It required a little heat gun action to get it out, and now that the boat is in the water, the sounder isn't receiving a signal from the transducer. Since the boat's back in the water, it would require a haul-out to get a new transducer installed.

So.... anyone have any luck with in-hull, or on-hull transducers -- the kind that adhere to the hull rather than fit in a thru-hull? Any brands/models work for you?

Sailor with the best answer wins a prize!

[JimMcGee]

I've seen a couple of references to people who bedded their transducer inside the hull using a wax toilet ring.

Google "transducer wax ring" and you'll get a bunch of examples.

Here's one: SailboatOwners.com - Transducer

Hope this helps,
Jim

[Faster]

I think they can work quite well with in-hull mounting, though you'll necessarily lose a bit of range. There are various methods used here. Also note that Airmar does produce a version that is meant to accommodate the deadrise of the hull (ie point straight down even if the hull in that area is not level - which may not be a huge deal because our boats aren't level much of the time anyway!!)

btw good to see you here... I trust your move to Florida has ultimately gone well?

[BarryL]

Hello,

As previously mentioned, you can use a toilet bowl wax ring to test the location of a depth transducer inside the hull. I did that on my boat and found a good location in front of the keel. I planned on removing the wax and using epoxy. However, the wax has worked so well that it's still there 5 years later.

Maybe I have lost some depth performance, but I don't care about SHALLOW water, not deep water.

Barry

[sailhog]

So no special transducer is needed? That's good news....

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen!

Ron,
How are you, Cap? Moving the wife and kids went well. However, I had the boat laid up in Jacksonville for most of a year, due to the Deepwater Horizon event last summer, which was followed by storm season. While dry docked, I had serious water intrusion through the stb. coachroof rail and mainsheet wench.... I checked on the boat in April, and it was fine. I came back in early December and found eight inches of water in the cabin.... it got in the engine crankcase.... unbelievable.... It was the apocalypse....

Anyway, I got the mess cleaned up, rebuilt the engine, worked on teh steering quadrant, did a ton of epoxy work on the bottom, painted the deck, etc. Between work, family and all, I've one busy S.O.B. The engine (an A-4) runs like a sewing machine, and all is well once again. They have a DIY boatyard nearby. I was there for three months and had them replace the cutlass bearing, rebed a couple of thru-hulls, and prime the bottom.... and the bill was $860! And that included a gallon of Micron bottom paint....

Anyway, I'm of half a mind to do a quick haul and properly install the transducer. Then again, I am so dang sick of boat maintenance right now....

Anyway, good to chat, my friend! Looking forward to pestering/ridiculing the Wombat!

[JohnRPollard]

Hog,

Great to hear from you!

Sorry about the boat mishaps, though.

Me personally, I'd just live without the depth sounder until the next scheduled haul-out. But that's me -- I'm thrifty.

[Faster]

Thanks for the update, Dwight.

While you don't need a special transducer, they do produce versions intended for in-hull installations.(like this one)
P79 In-Hull - Airmar Marine Transducers

Btw Airmar makes most of the transducers regardless of who else's name is on it.

Any idea why you're not getting a signal? Have you checked all the wiring connections?

[delite]

I will be installing the transducer for my new system inside my hull. I have read of people using epoxy to mount the transducer and also silicon. If using silicon you need to get the air bubbles out. I'm not sure how this is going to work as I dont get good signals back when holding the unit against the hull.

[sailhog]

I've got 12V to the device, but it gives a blinking 18.8 signal, which the manufacturer (Signet) says is an indication of no signal between the trans. and the device. However, at times it will give a reading of, say 183, and it doesn't blink. As per the Signet, this indicates that there is a signal, but that indicates a previous reading. Does that tell you anything?

Thanks again....

John, how are you!

They've got some very skinny water around here. Getting to and from the Gulf can be a challenge, even when you're in a marked channel. I may wait, as I've got to move it to a new marina, which I'm hoping has fewer depth issues than where I am presently.

The water is unbelievably clear here. Can't wait to get some pictures and videos.... Hope you're well, my friend!
d

[Faster]

Originally Posted by sailhog

I've got 12V to the device, but it gives a blinking 18.8 signal, which the manufacturer (Signet) says is an indication of no signal between the trans. and the device. However, at times it will give a reading of, say 183, and it doesn't blink. As per the Signet, this indicates that there is a signal, but that indicates a previous reading. Does that tell you anything?

Did you re-use the existing cable when you changed transducers or did you re-run the cable that came with the new one? This sounds like a poor connection somewhere between the transducer and the sounder. Are we talking the DS172 old style LCD indicator Signet line? Sounds like it. That's a coax line that gets soldered into the disconnect fitting at the sounder itself. I'd be looking for a cable fault/break/short... these are pretty simple setups and it sounds like the sounder itself is powering up OK.

The only other thought I have now is that the transducer you installed is not actually compatible with that older sounder..... did you get if from Signet?

EDIT _ sorry.. just re read your OP... I gather you simply R&R'd your old transducer... check cable/connections anyway but I suppose it's possible the heat damaged the tranducer itself???