Transducers and Hull Thicknesses

[Paul007]

Anyone put a in hull transducer in a Rinker Captiva? I have a 2010 226 model and wanted to upgrade the stock depth finder to a Hummingbird Helix 5. I could not access the stock transducer so tried an in hull mount. Apparently, hull is too thick.

Anybody know what the hull thickness is? Or of a sufficiently powerfully transducer to install in hull (that is compatible with Helix 5)?

 

[alldodge]

I doubt the hull is to thick, a sounder will not go thru air. Rinker uses the standard plywood hull and glass.

Place the transducer next to hull, then put enough water in the bilge to cover the bottom of it. Use a sand bag or something similar to hold it in place

https://humminbird.johnsonoutdoors....30509/HUM_productmanual_IG_puck_XD_530509.pdf

 

[dingbat]

There is no limitation on hull thickness per say but you must install the transducer in an area with nothing but solid fiberglas between the puck and the water. Even voids in the fiberglass will cause problems.

To test your proposed installation site:
Put transducer in a ziplock bag full of water.
With the depth finder in manual mode, hang ziploc and transducer overboard and adjust gain to you liking. Note gain setting.

Now put ziploc in the desired mounting location inside the hull. Adjust the gain to your liking and compare to reading from outside the boat.

The smaller the gain increase the better the mounting location. A good mounting location will require a 20-25% increase in gain.

 

[alldodge]

There is no limitation on hull thickness per say but you must install the transducer in an area with nothing but solid fiberglas between the puck and the water. Even voids in the fiberglass will cause problems.

To test your proposed installation site:
Put transducer in a ziplock bag full of water.
With the depth finder in manual mode, hang ziploc and transducer overboard and adjust gain to you liking. Note gain setting.

Now put ziploc in the desired mounting location inside the hull. Adjust the gain to your liking and compare to reading from outside the boat.

The smaller the gain increase the better the mounting location. A good mounting location will require a 20-25% increase in gain.

I like the ziplock bag trick

 

[QBhoy]

It will definitely work inside the hull. Just mount it temporarily in petroleum jelly first to get it in the position it works best at all speeds. Then once you’re happy, mount permanent in an air free blob of sealant or silicone. I’ve done this with every boat I’ve ever had. Including a sealine classic cruiser. About as thick as hulls get. No probs

 

[dingbat]

Then once you’re happy, mount permanent in an air free blob of sealant or silicone.

Assume your installing an advanced “rock on a string” depth finder.

Not getting by with the poor acoustic properties of silicons and sealants on a fish finder type setup. Too much signal lose and frequency shift.

Then there is the issue of compensating for deadrise. An uncompensated deadrise can introduce a considerable amount of error (deeper than you actually are) into your depth readings.