depth finder inside hull of aluminum boat

[stylesabu]

Anybody ever try to mount fishfinder inside hull of aluminum boat? I was thinking about cutting small hole in hull an mount the transmitter to a piece of thick plastic an securing it to the hull. I fish in a lake that is full of rocks, it would be nice to know where they were. Just an Idea

 

[dan t.]

Re: depth finder inside hull of aluminum boat

probably would work,if you want to cut a hole in yourboat ,I wouldnt do it myself

 

[fishrdan]

Re: depth finder inside hull of aluminum boat

Check this out

http://www.vexilar.com/pages/accessories/accy_transducers_au.html

 

[JB]

Re: depth finder inside hull of aluminum boat

I have a problem with any sort of permanent mount of temporary gear on a boat.

All electronics are temporary. Very rarely does any SONAR, GPS, VHF, etc. last more than about 10 years before it is obsolete or broke. A permanently mounted transducer then becomes a wart on the nose of the boat.

 

[John_S]

Re: depth finder inside hull of aluminum boat

Anybody ever try to mount fishfinder inside hull of aluminum boat? I was thinking about cutting small hole in hull an mount the transmitter to a piece of thick plastic an securing it to the hull. I fish in a lake that is full of rocks, it would be nice to know where they were. Just an Idea

I agree with the others, and would never mount a transducer in this fashion on any of my boats. Along with what the others have said, this can make for complications when trailer loading/unloading, with go over bunks or wheels. While it can be mounted out of the way of these items, sometimes the boat dosn't always go on as straight as planned. Being on the underside will always have the potential of hitting something and possibly cause a leak.

As far as rocks, if you are using it to find potential fishing spots - OK. If you wanted it to prevent from hitting them, maybe not. Anything over a couple of MPH you would not be able to react in time to prevent from hitting.

 

[stylesabu]

Re: depth finder inside hull of aluminum boat

Thanks for the responces, The fact that i wouldn't be able to react fast enough is good enough for me. Thanks for the link, fisherdan. it would still help on un charted waters

 

[old boat 54]

Re: depth finder inside hull of aluminum boat

Try this : small coffee can or similar, and fill 3/4" full water. set in flat part of boat hull, and put transducer inside can, with some small weight to hold it in place at bottom of can. I did it with a small old portable flasher type unit and it worked. With the modern units, dont know how accurate, but it wont cost you anything to try it.

 

[dingbat]

Re: depth finder inside hull of aluminum boat

I agree with the others, and would never mount a transducer in this fashion on any of my boats. Along with what the others have said, this can make for complications when trailer loading/unloading, with go over bunks or wheels. While it can be mounted out of the way of these items, sometimes the boat dosn't always go on as straight as planned. Being on the underside will always have the potential of hitting something and possibly cause a leak.

You guys need to move up to the 21st Century.

Some of the hottest transducers on the market are flush mount thru hulls. They protrude off the bottom less than 1/4" and have not problems sitting on a roller or a bunk. I?ve had one installed on my boat for over 2 years now and could not be happier

A little over kill for the OP but these things do exist and they work very very well.

 

[John_S]

Re: depth finder inside hull of aluminum boat

You guys need to move up to the 21st Century.

Some of the hottest transducers on the market are flush mount thru hulls. They protrude off the bottom less than 1/4" and have not problems sitting on a roller or a bunk. I?ve had one installed on my boat for over 2 years now and could not be happier

A little over kill for the OP but these things do exist and they work very very well.

Maybe you can answer some 20th century questions:

- Are they available for ALL standard consumer grade FF, ie less than $1000 units?

- Given aluminum hull, do you use backer board with that transducer? Starboard epozied to the aluminum?

- Is a low-cost plug available so you don't have to sell it with the boat?

- For a V or mod-V bottom, how do you correct for the angle?

- What is the average cost? ie is it reasonable for consumer level?

- I think it will be a while before we see flush mount Side Imaging.

 

[dingbat]

Re: depth finder inside hull of aluminum boat

Maybe you can answer some 20th century questions:

- Are they available for ALL standard consumer grade FF, ie less than $1000 units?

There is nothing special or proprietary about a transducer. Airmar makes the transducers for most of the major players.

- - Given aluminum hull, do you use backer board with that transducer? Starboard epozied to the aluminum?

No backers required. You can get the units is SS, Bronze or Plastic housings

- - Is a low-cost plug available so you don't have to sell it with the boat??

No plugs. Why do you want to keep an old transducer? Good excuse for getting a better one for the new boat.

- - For a V or mod-V bottom, how do you correct for the angle?

They make ?tilted element? versions where the sensing element is mounted inside the housing at an angle. You buy the transducer that fits the deadrise of your boat

- - What is the average cost? ie is it reasonable for consumer level??

Depends on what you call consumer level. They start @ $200 and go up to a little over $1200 for the dual beam 1KW units.

- - I think it will be a while before we see flush mount Side Imaging.

Do a search on Furuno CH250 Searchlight Sonar