Fish finder compatibility question

[JB8742]

I recently purchased an older boston whaler. It has the transducer and wiring in it running to helm, but did not some with the actual unit. Are they universal, or is there anybody that can tell by this pic what brand fish finder I would need to purchase?

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard.

no, they are not universal. assume what you have is junk, buy a fish finder/depth sounder with a transducer

 

[dingbat]

With a 7 pin connector, odds are it was a Lowrance unit but unless it’s an expensive thru hull transducer, trash it and buy a complete new unit

 

[high&dry]

The issue the OP may be concerned with is that BW boats, being near completely full of foam from stem to stern and keel to gunwale cap, fishing a wire of any sort from anywhere to somewhere can be a challenge not to mention the possibility of compromising the hull integrity. So I can see it would be nice to use the existing install. However, most likely the OP will need to suck it up and enjoy some quality time with his Boston Whaler boat figuring how to get the old wire out and a new one in and making sure it is all good with the hull.

I had to pull the deck (over the fuel cell) up to run wiring in my BW. While in there I ran some extra and made provision for pulling future installs (including transducers). I have DriDek in my boat and for five yeaers the transducer cable just laid under the DriDeck and went out the engine well drain. What a PITA. I love my Whaler and Whalers in general, but geeezzz, what a PITA they can be.

H&D

 

[dingbat]

The issue the OP may be concerned with is that BW boats, being near completely full of foam from stem to stern and keel to gunwale cap, fishing a wire of any sort from anywhere to somewhere can be a challenge not to mention the possibility of compromising the hull integrity.

Then there is an obviously a design flaw.

I've never seen a boat that didn't have dedicated wire ways under the floor. I have 4" conduits from front to back on both side of the boat.

 

[Lightwin 3]

Depending on the model, most BW's have a rigging tunnel under the deck.

Where are your steering and engine control cables? Follow that path.

The others are right, start with a new set up.

 

[Silvertip]

Pull on the cable at the stern. If there is movement at the front, tie the new cable to the old and pull it through.

 

[high&dry]

Then there is an obviously a design flaw.

I've never seen a boat that didn't have dedicated wire ways under the floor. I have 4" conduits from front to back on both side of the boat.

Larger BW boats have a wire way and a pull cord. However, the under deck area, such as it is virtually non-existent, is fully occupied by a fuel cell resulting in the wire ways being very small and constricted. The smaller BW boats and those of similar design may not have an under deck area or a very small and difficult to access tunnel. There are little to no under decks or bilge or very small bilges. In the smaller Whalers the fuel cell is above the floor, the deck is fully foam filled from keel to gunwale cap. This design flaw has known to be handy as the boats are unsinkable as a result.

OP, I believe that is a Lowrance plug. It is possible it was a new install and the owner took the head unit with him and transferred it to his new boat. Ask them if you can? If not, then the suggestion to replace the unit with your preferred equipment is solid.

OP, exactly what Boston Whaler model do you have?

 

[dingbat]

This design flaw has known to be handy as the boats are unsinkable as a result.

I would venture to guess that a fiberglass clad, styrofoam hull would still "float" with a well designed rigging tube in place...

 

[high&dry]

I would venture to guess that a fiberglass clad, styrofoam hull would still "float" with a well designed rigging tube in place...

I think the subject has strayed from the OPs question. Nonetheless BW, in their smaller hulls, give up nothing for foam. You can say the lack of storage, wire ways, fish boxes or what have you are design flaws until one considers as they stand in water at their ankles 12 miles out, that in most (not all) other boats would have filled with water to the gunwale caps and turned turtle. Call it a design flaw or not, BW always has seemingly made no compromise, any space that can be filled with foam is filled with foam as a result of the Unibond construction. There are ways to run wiring in small Whalers but it is not always painless. I do not know about the OP but I will take the design flaws and deal with the rest. Some of the boats quite popular on this site and others are a DESIGN FLAW in their entirety. Some, for example, might say a stern drive is a design flaw, I know I do.

 

[JoLin]

I think the subject has strayed from the OPs question.

Yes, it has.

First choice would be to buy a new FF and transducer; and use the old cabling to pull the new through the boat. If that won't work, the OP will just have to find a way to run new cabling between the transducer and fishfinder. With a little thought he should be able to make it fairly unobtrusive. Maybe along the underside of the gunwale? Sometimes you just hafta get creative.

My .02