Attaching transducer to a tinny

[bspeth]

What product would you guys use for this,I am not putting holes in a welded tinny.Thanks-B

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would epoxy a puck inside and shoot thru the hull.

 

[robert graham]

Mine is a welded aluminum Jon boat and the transducer is attached to the lower transom with 2 small metal screws with silicone inside and outside with OD paint on the silicone....it's a 1999 boat and it came with this screw mounted transducer and never any problems or issues with leakage or other....these screws are maybe 1/8 inch each so the holes are small....and I believe they are self-tapping metal screws so holes are minimum....I'm like you as I hate the idea of drilling any holes in a hull or transom but these seem fine, so far 17 years!...

 

[GA_Boater]

I would epoxy a puck inside and shoot thru the hull.

Unfortunately this doesn't work on a tin boat, unless you use a thru-hull, which means a bigger hole.

A transducer mounting plate like this minimizes holes - Only 2. Also, the plate allows changes later on without new holes.

Sometime you just have to bite the bullet and drill a couple of holes. It isn't the end of the world as long as you seal it correctly.

 

[airshot]

Yep....gotta bite the bullit and go for it! Been a tinnie owner for more than 50 yrs and yep I have drilled a few holes, painfull as they are it needs to be done. With good sealant you will have no problems. As suggested use a mounting board so only one pair of holes need to be drill thru then you can add or change all you want without adding extra holes. Unfortunately their are no epoxies that will stick to aluminum over time as it has a natural oxidation process that will cause the "glue" to release over time. Now if you want to "reglue" your transducer every year or two then that could be an option but you won't know how long the glue will hold from time to time.

 

[82rude]

I made a small mounting bracket with 2 suction cups ,worked great for years.Now I just did what everybody else does and used the supplied self tappers and goop adhesive sealer.

 

[Texasmark]

I would epoxy a puck inside and shoot thru the hull.

+1. That's the way I have been mounting ducers for 30 years. My last boat was a tinny and it got it too. In case you're interested, I had dissenters on here claim that the temp reading is affected by doing that. My last boat had Eagle 135s at the helm, ducer on deck (floor) immediately in front of the transom and bow mount with the ducer mounted to the bottom of the trolling motor. Unless I ran up to a spot, shut her down and while the boat was settling in the water threw the ? over the side to get a reading, readings never deviated by more than 2 degrees.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Bass tracker aluminum bass boats from the late 70's on came with the puck epoxied to the inside of the hull. Works just fine

 

[ricohman]

No need to drill. I used a Sternmate mount on my brand new tinny Islander 221. Totally recommended it.
I could not drill holes in my brand new boat. And it turned out I didn't need too.
And the mount is very adjustable.

 

[bspeth]

thanks for all of the suggestions,I will try to update this when I get er going.

 

[bspeth]

I love the stern mate system,but I am cheap. You can ask the admiral. I would probably use the rig right,but I really don't want holes. I think for now and until I get the set up dialed in I will clamp a 1x4 to the transom and mount the ducer to it. Thanks again-B

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I have used 2 part epoxy that holds a piece of white cutting board to a clean section of the transom. Screwed and used 5200 inside the predrilled holes in the board to hold the transducer. After it dried I asked my pal "Big Show" 6.5 400 lbs to pull it off, no way. 7 years and holding.

RIP big Kevin.

 

[Texasmark]

Unfortunately this doesn't work on a tin boat, unless you use a thru-hull..........

Scuse me Sir?

The transducer is a piezoelectric crystal that converts electrical signals to sound waves or sound waves to electrical signals. Sound travels much easier through solid materials such as aluminum vs something like fiberglass. This is not electromagnetic wave propagation like in a RADAR system. This is SONAR....sound tx-rx system.

Epoxy for mounting is best and no bubble epoxy is even better as it sets up hard and supports the sound transmission theme.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Here's mine. Piece of 1/8" 5052 aluminum with SS bolts, secured with JB Weld, to serve as mounting studs. Secured the assembly to the transom (after buffing/cleaning) with 3M 4000 UV. After the 3M dried, mounted my transducer. Holding strong since 2012.

 

[GA_Boater]

Scuse me Sir?

The transducer is a piezoelectric crystal that converts electrical signals to sound waves or sound waves to electrical signals. Sound travels much easier through solid materials such as aluminum vs something like fiberglass. This is not electromagnetic wave propagation like in a RADAR system. This is SONAR....sound tx-rx system.

Epoxy for mounting is best and no bubble epoxy is even better as it sets up hard and supports the sound transmission theme.

I'll amend my original statement from "Unfortunately this doesn't work on a tin boat" to "Unfortunately this doesn't work well on a tin boat and is not recommended by fish finder manufacturers"

Happy now? I've expressed my opinion and you expressed your opinion.

 

[Texasmark]

I'll amend my original statement from "Unfortunately this doesn't work on a tin boat" to "Unfortunately this doesn't work well on a tin boat and is not recommended by fish finder manufacturers"

Happy now? I've expressed my opinion and you expressed your opinion.

Never read any objections from mfgrs., not that they aren't out there, and have used FFs including Hummingbird and Lowrance since they first came out as a Kit you had to assemble yourself. First one as I recall was a Heath Kit, Neon bulb rotary, who usually designed, mfgr'd and sold electronic test equipment and entertainment kits. Been mounting inboard for as long as I can remember in glass and metal. If I was missing performance then I guess I just missed it.

 

[82rude]

Texasmark I'm pretty sure myself that in one of my installs they mentioned getting a thru hull transducer if you planned on doing so.Just don't hold my feet to the fire on that just yet.

 

[82rude]

Garmin sells many thru hull transducers right from 150 to 2000 bucks.My manual states mine is a transom mount trans.Maybe some performance is missing if you use as a thruhull.

 

[WIMUSKY]

I have a welded hull..... Drill baby drill!

 

[82rude]

Man I'm having big troubles putting a link on today.Any who garmin says under faq ,transducer types, that the plastic transducers can be used as transom or thruhull on glass and tinnys.Wood is a different story.So Texasmark your correct my friend.