Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

[mlcatlopez]

Does anybody recommend dilling a 5/8 hole through the hull to accommondate the transducer cable for a 200DX humminbird ?

 

[DJ]

Re: Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

mlcatlopez,<br /><br />I wouldn't do it. Most cables are routed up over the transom.

 

[Beaux]

Re: Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

cat-<br />Is there a reason you have to use a thru-hull transducer? have you tried the transom mount type? Much less destructive to your boat......

 

[DJ]

Re: Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

Beaux,<br /><br />I think that is what he has. He's asking about the cable routing.<br /><br />Another thought, I have run them through the splashwell drain holes before.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

i was gonna say to run it thru the splash well drain hole but DJ beat me to it...<br /><br />if'n you don't have a splash well with a drain hole,, sure drill one in the transome at that height or higher.. <br /><br />bore a 1 inch hole & epoxy in a transome brass drain tube .. available at any boat center.. cut to lenght with a hacksaw..<br /><br />i've done this before .. it works well.. <br /><br />keeps 'ugly' cable from an abupt right angle ,up over transome an back down...<br /><br />mount transducer on a separate piece of somethin'.. be it wood , 'starboard', or a piece of white kitchen cuttin' board.. then epoxy it to the boat... <br /><br />so N O HOLES are made in the hull to go ROT....

 

[Beaux]

Re: Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

OOOOOHHHHHHHHH!!!! you are right Djohns. I just reread some of the his past posts. Heck, I even gave advice on one of them. The 5/8 " hole sounded awful big to me. Figured he bought a thru hull <br /> <br />Cat- <br />As djohns stated, run it thru splashwell drains (that is how mine are run on a 15' boat) or simply buy some cable tie down clamps that will allow the cable to run up and over the transom. You can get a tight adaptation if you take you time and use several clamps. To me, drilling a 5/8" hole for a depth sounder cable on a 17' boat is overkill. Especially when you will only have a small transducer cable running thru it and would still have to drill three more holes for the screws that mount the actual transducer to the transom. (will look bad with all that silicone filler around the 5/8" hole). Good luck

 

[Beaux]

Re: Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

crabbie is a very experienced boat repairer. If you go that route, do some research and remeasure three times before drilling! As a novice in this kind of thing, I would think real hard whether I would go and drill a 1" hole w/o someone to help that has experience, expecially in a new boat. But, if you really want a custom (done the right way) rig, then go for it. I always admired the courage of the guys who could break out the drill/ recip. saw and go for it and get it right!! I am sure these guys could help you get the right materials needed and inform you how to do it right. Good luck Cat

 

[BassMan283]

Re: Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

Beaux, if you enjoy hearing about people attacking new rigs with implements of destruction, you'll really get a kick out of jeepsunlimited.com. These guys will take a sawzall to a brand new Jeep just to put bigger tires on it.

 

[azboatman]

Re: Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

dude! before you go drilling holes in your boat, find out if your transducer is the type that will read right through your hull. if it is, and your hull is not metal and has no air gaps between the inside and outside surfaces, it can be mounted in the bilge with sea-going putty. mix it well and apply it without any air bubbles. i mount all of my depth finder transducers that way and have rigged for both advantage and nordic boats. but you must find out if the fish finder's transducer will still retain its accuracy. the depth finders do.

 

[mlcatlopez]

Re: Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

Thank you for all the information you have provided. I have decided to return my Humminbird 200DX and upgradeto a better type called fishfinder blue 160. I hear this is a better quaility fishfinder and if I mount it near the bilge pump,I won't have to drill holes in my boat and I will get an accurate reading. What are your thoughts?

 

[Boatist]

Re: Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

Mlcatlopez<br />Are you talking about a shoot thru hull transducer??? Can work well but for anyone to know need to know your type boat. Is your boat Fiberglass, Aluminum, or wood. If fiberglass does it have a place made for transducer??

 

[Valv]

Re: Drilling hole through hull for fishfinder installation

Don't go through the hull.<br />The fishfinder you are buying is a Garmin 160 Blue, very nice unit, it should come with transom high speed transducer, so you cannot put it inside boat, has to be on the transom (remember if you epoxy it....it's there forever). Install transducer on transom, it should have also a speed and temperature sensor, you won't be able to use them if you go through hull.<br />Transom mount are easier, more dependable (readings), and nicer to remove.<br />You can drill a hole through transom to route cable, but be sure to do it way above water line and when you are done fill it up with silicone.