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Bought a new Lowrance and also purchased a thru the hull transducer. Whats the best way to install that transducer? Should i clean the hull area where its sitting right now and glue it down?
Dan
Dan
installing new transducer
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Follow manufacture's installation guide. Make sure it won't interfere or hit anything on the trailer. Don't leave boat in water for days without checking it.
http://www.lowrance.com/Support/installation_guide.asp
h2o<--says call Lowrance and ask questions
http://www.lowrance.com/Support/installation_guide.asp
h2o<--says call Lowrance and ask questions
Is this a true 'thru' hull transducer or the more comm 'shoot' thru hull?
The thru hull you drill a hole in the bottom of your boat for the trandsucer. The shoot thru you mount it on the inside of the hull.
when you are installing a shoot thru hull make sure that the transducer is level when the boat is in the water. If it is angled, you can get erros in the depth readings.
Clean the surface to get oil/gas etc. so that the adhesive will bond well. You need to also be sure that you don't get an air bubble under it. The farther forward you put it, the better the chances are that it won't work when running on plane as that portion of the hull may be out of the water.
it is actually really easy to install. The hardest part can be running the wire back up to the unit.
The thru hull you drill a hole in the bottom of your boat for the trandsucer. The shoot thru you mount it on the inside of the hull.
when you are installing a shoot thru hull make sure that the transducer is level when the boat is in the water. If it is angled, you can get erros in the depth readings.
Clean the surface to get oil/gas etc. so that the adhesive will bond well. You need to also be sure that you don't get an air bubble under it. The farther forward you put it, the better the chances are that it won't work when running on plane as that portion of the hull may be out of the water.
it is actually really easy to install. The hardest part can be running the wire back up to the unit.
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193 Posts
Run to the hardware store and get a 4-6 inch section of a PVC pipe. Also pickup plenty of SLOW!!! curing 2-part epoxy (24hrs is best). Diameter of the pipe should be large enough to fit your transducer. Usually a 4'' diameter does the job for garmin and lawrance. Find a spot on your hull that will least likely have a layer of foam between 2 layers of fiber glass. That spot is usually located right infront on the sides of or behind the engine mounts, since those are the areas of the hull that have to take on the most stress and therefore are more likely to have solid fiber, with no foam in between the layers. Cut one end of the pipe to the same angle as your transom at that spot. Meaning, if your boat is a deep V, and that spot is on a 20 degree angle, that angle has to match the angle of your cut, so when you put the pipe section down, the top of it is perfectly horizontal in relation to the ground. (PM me if more clarification is needed on this step).
Now, position the pipe section on your hull, and make a relativly watertight seal all around it (on the outside) with good acrylic or silicone caulk. Mix a bucket' o poxy, and pour about 1/4 inch into the pipe (already positioned and sealed so epoxy wont leak from the bottom.) Gently place the transducer into the pipe, and epoxy, using a slight twisting motion until transduce head almost touches the hull. Use slight twisting motion to work out any bubbles. Once positioned, pour the rest of the poxy into the tube, very slowly, avoiding bubble formation. (NO BUBBLES= THE KEY TO SUCCESS). Do not layer it, pour it non stop until the head of the transducer is either almost or completely covered. Secure it all with a couple of small sand bags or whatever other material may be handy. Let it cure. Do No Take the boat out for 24 hours or you will have a wasted transducer.
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Works like a charm up to 35 knots if properly done. Unless transducer uses low power or of poor quality in general.
Good luck
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P.S. Fit the pipe to whatever size you feel won;t interfere with stuff in your engine compartment. As long as the transducer is fully or almost fully submerged, you are fine
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Now, position the pipe section on your hull, and make a relativly watertight seal all around it (on the outside) with good acrylic or silicone caulk. Mix a bucket' o poxy, and pour about 1/4 inch into the pipe (already positioned and sealed so epoxy wont leak from the bottom.) Gently place the transducer into the pipe, and epoxy, using a slight twisting motion until transduce head almost touches the hull. Use slight twisting motion to work out any bubbles. Once positioned, pour the rest of the poxy into the tube, very slowly, avoiding bubble formation. (NO BUBBLES= THE KEY TO SUCCESS). Do not layer it, pour it non stop until the head of the transducer is either almost or completely covered. Secure it all with a couple of small sand bags or whatever other material may be handy. Let it cure. Do No Take the boat out for 24 hours or you will have a wasted transducer.
Works like a charm up to 35 knots if properly done. Unless transducer uses low power or of poor quality in general.
Good luck
P.S. Fit the pipe to whatever size you feel won;t interfere with stuff in your engine compartment. As long as the transducer is fully or almost fully submerged, you are fine
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