In Hull vs Transom Mnt Transducer

[ken52]

Just wondering how much loss there is in a in hull design transducer over a transom mounted one? According to an article I read on Airmans' site there is a loss but they don't indicate how much. It appears that most boats I see have a transom installed transducer. Would like to keep my transom clean but at what price (how much loss really is there).

 

[JB]

Re: In Hull vs Transom Mnt Transducer

My objection to an in-hull transducer is that the SONAR will die or become obsolete and I would have to butcher my hull to get the ratzakratza thing out.

 

[dingbat]

Re: In Hull vs Transom Mnt Transducer

Airmar published a chart showing the sensitivity drops in response to hull thickness. Most losses where in the 5-10% range due to the frequency shift of the signal passing thru the hull. A bad installation can easily double those numbers. How bad that is depends on your units capabilities and your expectations.

I installed a tank mount on my last boat. It cleaned up all the noise from the transom mount, but I had to increase my gain roughly 20% and I could never really did get back ti the sensitivity levels I had with the transom mount.

I went to the thru hull on the new boat. The best of worlds. Great sensitivity with none of the noise usually associated with a transom mount. Never go with anything again.

 

[ken52]

Re: In Hull vs Transom Mnt Transducer

Thanks JB & Dingbat for replies. Scares me to put a hole in the bottom of my boat, I guess I'll stick with the transom mt.

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: In Hull vs Transom Mnt Transducer

A "shoot-though" transducer installation, should it work at all, can be much like shouting into a pillow.