Transducer questions...sorry

[Surffx]

Ok, got my FF last night (eagle cuda) and wired it up for power and now I am ready to do some testing for the transducer mounting. 2005 Bayliner 175.<br /><br />I really have my heart set on leaving it inside the boat, as opposed to the transom mount. That being said I have a few questions for the experts.<br /><br />I found this post and it says that this guy “just placed” the transducer in the bilge with a little water and it works great (same brand boat).<br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=27;t=000356#000000 <br /><br />1) How is it mounted? Is it free floating, moving around, doesn’t that effect the reading? Doesn’t the water slosh around and make it lose contact sometimes or is this just for trolling? <br /><br />2) Do you purposely add water to the bilge to make it work? Sounds like a pain to do that every time out.<br /><br />3) If I was to do the epoxy type setup do I put the transducer all the way down in the “V” of the hull?<br /><br />4) Does anyone have any brand names of epoxy to use? Where can you buy it?<br /><br /> Thanks in advance guys!!

 

[cuzner]

Re: Transducer questions...sorry

I can help you a bit... but I ain't a pro.You must use an epoxy, don,nt know the type, if I can dig my matrix manual it did have suggestions.It must be mounted close to the bottom, but not over the v in the bottom, transducer must have a solid connection to the hull, with no space or air bubbles. Also must be mounted in area of your hull that has continous contact with the water, usual as far aft as posible I mounted my last 2 on the transom, but helped a freind mount his in the bilge, and it works great. Hopefully someone with a little more experience will chime in, in case I missed something..the bilge mounted one on my freinds works alot better when on a plane than my transome mount!!<br /><br /> Jim

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Transducer questions...sorry

Read this:<br /><br /> http://www.eaglegps.com/Support/Tutorials/Transducer/default.htm <br /><br /><br />The email them for specific recommendations

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: Transducer questions...sorry

Remember, it must be facing straight down to be accurate, & once it is set in the epoxy, it's there to stay. if it has a temp. sensor, that must be in the water to work. Good luck, Joe

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Transducer questions...sorry

The concept of mounting the transducer in the bilge and adding water will work BUT the transducer would have to be mounted perpendicular to and just off the bottom of the hull. The water would act as a transmission medium for the ultrasound to travel thru. Wouldn't work too well in my opinion. Too many losses of signal between the transducer and hull and water. Each time the ultrasond passes thru a different interface (hull-water as an example) some signal is defracted and some signal is attenuated or lost. The more interfaces you have the more signal will be lost. Where and however you mount the transducer, there must NEVER be any air (bubbles included) between the face of the transducer and the water. Ultrasound does not travel thru air and you will suffer from poor performance and sensitivity.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Transducer questions...sorry

The concept of mounting the transducer in the bilge and adding water will work BUT the transducer would have to be mounted perpendicular to and just off the bottom of the hull. The water would act as a transmission medium for the ultrasound to travel thru. Wouldn't work too well in my opinion. Too many losses of signal between the transducer and hull and water. Each time the ultrasond passes thru a different interface (hull-water as an example) some signal is defracted and some signal is attenuated or lost. The more interfaces you have the more signal will be lost. Where and however you mount the transducer, there must NEVER be any air (bubbles included) between the face of the transducer and the water. Ultrasound does not travel thru air and you will suffer from poor performance and sensitivity.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Transducer questions...sorry

OOOOP's, how did I do that ?

 

[Boatist]

Re: Transducer questions...sorry

Surffx<br />Type of hull you have is the key. The Eagle link provided is correct. Some boats mostly bass boats have a place for a transducer to be mounted. Most boats do not. If the hull has a foam core it will not work unless you cut down thru the inside then thru the foam core to the outer hull. Hand layup fiberglass may work if when built they soaked the fiberglass mats with resin and got all the air out. If not then again you must cut down to the outer hull. <br /><br />The water idea ahould not be used except for testing. The idea of a wet bilge and stringer = a boat with roten stringers and not worth anything. However to test you can clean a location of all oil then fasten your transducer down to hull. Use tape or a block of wood or something to hold it down to the hull. At this point will still have air between the transducer and the hull, so use some kids model clay and build a little dam around the transducer. Fill the transducer area with water and go for a test run. If you find a location that works to your satifsaction then clean the location of all oils and make sure it is dry. Glue the transducer down solid to the hull with SLOW SLOW SLOW cure epoxy. It must cure slow enough to allow all the air to get out for it to work Right. You will still need something to hold the transducer down until epoxy is set and something to poor epoxy into so will have no air under. Also when mix the epoxy try not to get any air into the resin. Even with the perfect job you will still have signal loss on transmitt and recieve. <br />Good luck I hope it works for you.

 

[Surffx]

Re: Transducer questions...sorry

Thanks for the info guys. I went out for a test run on Satuday and used the "water in bilge test" and got some pretty good results (4 fish in 45 minutes...haha). So I did find out that it will shoot though my hull with minimal loss. I decited to glue it down right with epoxy. Hopefully I did a good enough job, but I won't know till next Saturday.<br /><br />Thanks again.