Transducer mount glue?

[guy48065]

My pontoon does not have a bracket to mount my fish finder transducer. The ends of my floats are slightly rounded and I bought a plastic glue-on block for mounting the transducer. The included adhesive looks too runny to attach a flat lock to a convex surface so I'm looking for a thicker, more paste-like adhesive.

Suggestions?

 

[Scott Danforth]

not sure what plastic you have, most dont like to be glued. have you tried 3M 5200

 

[Grub54891]

Scott is correct, most plastic does not like to stay put. I have had limited success by roughing up the plastic with 60 grit sand paper, and 5200. By limited I mean 50/50 chance of it staying put. Make sure the room is clean and scuffed with maby 150 grit.

 

[guy48065]

It's a "Stern Saver" polyethylene block.
What got me thinking about it was seeing an infomercial for "Flexseal" adhesive that is the consistency of caulk, "bonds instantly--even under water". So they say. Not sure I'd trust it but then I thought about that PC-7 2-part epoxy paste that's been holding golfballs to glass pop bottles for decades in hardware stores.

 

[dingbat]

Method recommended by the starboard manufacturer

http://www.kingplastic.com/using-adhesive-with-king-starboard-2/

 

[dingbat]

It's a "Stern Saver" polyethylene block.
What got me thinking about it was seeing an infomercial for "Flexseal" adhesive that is the consistency of caulk, "bonds instantly--even under water". So they say. Not sure I'd trust it but then I thought about that PC-7 2-part epoxy paste that's been holding golfballs to glass pop bottles for decades in hardware stores.

golf balls and pop bottles are not made of polyethylene.....

the

 

[guy48065]

I should also mention the Stern Saver blocks have 4 grooved sockets on the back that give the adhesive something to grab onto. But in my particular case only the center would be tight to the aluminum.

And before anyone brings it up--yes I know welding on a bracket would be best. I'm on a small inland lake in the middle of nowhere. No marinas for a hundred miles or more. Nobody that welds thin aluminum anywhere around. And I only have a scissor-lift trailer. DIY is my best option.

 

[Scott Danforth]

for what its worth, many mobile welders out there that weld aluminum on boats (its all they do). we had a welder come and weld my buddies bracket without even removing the boat from the water, we just jumped in and lifted the toon log high enough to get cribbing under it at the dock with two people standing on the front of the other log. also used the PTT to help. $40 later there was a small 1/8 sheet metal bracket at the back of the port log.

 

[QBhoy]

Not sure if you get it over there yet...but CT-1 is what you’re after.

 

[fishrdan]

But in my particular case only the center would be tight to the aluminum.

You can heat up the plastic part and bend it to fit the end of the toon log. Pop the part in the oven to heat it through (wives love this) and then hold it onto the toon to bend it, and let it cool. You may have to over-bend the part, to get it to the correct curve when it cools. Use heavy gloves to hold the part until it cools, I used welding gloves.

The deep sockets in the back of the stern saver will make curing 3M 5200 take a long time. Use epoxy since the block isn't really going to be chemically bonded well, more mechanically bonded. The epoxy in the kit is probably sufficient as you're not looking for something to "bond" well to the plastic, but bond well to the boat. Personally, I'd use JB Weld or PC-7.

If you don't bend the block, I bet PC-7 would be thick enough to work.

 

[guy48065]

Not sure if you get it over there yet...but CT-1 is what you’re after.

Google is confused...and so am I. Is it the denture adhesive?

 

[redneckgearhead]

3m vhb tape, I have yet to find something that it doesn't stick to and I mean stick really really good.

 

[guy48065]

I've emailed their support team to ask whether the tape will stick to HDPE, and work submerged.
Product literature didn't mention either detail.

I'm leaning towards the CT-1 denture adhesive. LOL

 

[briangcc]

I think, and I could be wrong, this is the stuff:

http://www.ct1ltd.com/our-products/ct1/


Kinda looks Liquid Nails (esque). Doesn't look like its available here. The link provided above (for Kingstarboard) recommends a couple products - 3M and Lord Fusor. I'd personally lean towards the Lord Fusor product as I've contacted their tech support before for different projects and they're very responsive.

 

[NYBo]

How about mechanically attaching a piece of aluminum to the back of the plastic (e.g. binding posts), then glue aluminum to aluminum?

 

[QBhoy]

Google is confused...and so am I. Is it the denture adhesive?

No it’s a sealant like silicone, but it can set underwater and stick things too. Amazing stuff. This amongst other uses. I actually repaired an inflatable dinghy tube with it. Amazing stuff.