Venting about transducer cable...

[BeaufortTJustice]

Just installed a Garmin 160c fishfinder on my sig. boat. Why is it that Garmin chooses to put a 1/2" connector plug on the 3/16" cable? If it wasn't for that huge plug, I would only have to drill a 3/16" - 1/4" hole through the transom, but now I have to do a huge hole if I want it routed through transom. For now I just ran it up and out to the side and over my swim platform and under the edge of the sundeck. The black cable contrasts with the white hull and platform and it detracts from the sleek look, but I just can't bring myself to drill such a large hole completely through the transom in order to clean up the look.

Anybody else have this issue? Do other FF manufacturers use a huge plug?

I feel a bit better now that I've vented...

 

[dingbat]

Re: Venting about transducer cable...

Anybody else have this issue? Do other FF manufacturers use a huge plug?

I feel a bit better now that I've vented...

Because that is what is commercially available to them for the number of pins they need to terminate at the head unit.

If you don?t like the big hole just cut the cable and splice the wires back together. Numerous companies, Garmin included, make junction boxes just for the occasion.

Having said that, I can't see how one could complain about the color of the cable not matching the boat then proceed to mount that ugly transom mount transduer off the back of their boat. Yuk....

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Venting about transducer cable...

If you don?t like the big hole just cut the cable and splice the wires back together. Numerous companies, Garmin included, make junction boxes just for the occasion.

I had thoughts of doing so, but in the manual it states that any cutting or modifying of the cable could interfere with or hinder performance and voids the warranty. Is the company just being overly protective of their stuff, or is there a legitimate reason for not cutting the cable? Can you provide a link or other reference to the junction box you mentioned? I have searched in the Garmin accessories and have found extension cables, but have not seen anything resembling a junction box. Thank you.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Venting about transducer cable...

If your boat is fiberglass (looks like it in the pic), mount the transducer in the bilge as a shoot-thru hull installation. The transducer gets mounted inside the boat and shoots through the fiberglass. No drilling holes in your boat for this type of installation as the ducer gets epoxied to the hull.

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Venting about transducer cable...

If your boat is fiberglass (looks like it in the pic), mount the transducer in the bilge as a shoot-thru hull installation. The transducer gets mounted inside the boat and shoots through the fiberglass. No drilling holes in your boat for this type of installation as the ducer gets epoxied to the hull.

I considered that approach, but I have heard that it is tricky to do it right, e.g. finding the right spot and making sure there are no air bubbles between hull and transducer, etc. I was also under the impression that it requires a special type of transducer (could be wrong).

I'll just have to suck it up and drill a hole all the way through for the cable...the fact that it will be above the waterline will let me sleep at night. The worst part is already done...the two holes for the "starboard" mounting plate, which I mounted the transducer on. Those didn't bother me as much because they are relatively small and well sealed with 3M 4200.

Thanks for the input, though. Happy boating.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Venting about transducer cable...

I have heard that it is tricky to do it right, e.g. finding the right spot and making sure there are no air bubbles between hull and transducer, etc. I was also under the impression that it requires a special type of transducer (could be wrong).

Shoot-thru doesn't require a special type of transducer, thru-hull yes, but not shoot-thru. To do it 100% buy the book you need to have the boat it the water to make sure the placement is not being obscured by something in the hull. But,,, my previous boat (I bought from my friend) the ducer was just expoxied into the bilge blindly, he just choose a good spot and epoxied it down, worked fine without clutter or high speed loss of signal (lucky?). When I installed another sonar/ducer I just epoxied the ducer in the hull and never had a problem. I figured if it didn't work I'd pop the ducer off, fill the bilge a bit and find a good spot while I was at the lake, instead of waiting to get to the lake to find a location for the ducer.

It sounds like you are committed to the transom mount since the holes are all ready drilled. If you don't want the big hole cut/splice the wires, I'm not condoning this as the cable has been compromised, though I've heard it works fine.

If you decide to drill the big hole, fill the hole with 4200 (after inserting cable), fill a clam shell cover with 4200 and screw it down, looks better than a big hole filled with sealer and a cable.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Venting about transducer cable...

The manufacture is covering their butt with the loose of performance statement. You would have to do a pretty bad job of slicing them back to together to have any affect whatsoever on the system?s performance. I?ve always just solder the wires back together but they do have real nice boxes you could use w/o the need to solder


Here is the Airmar junction box

http://www.blueheronmarine.com/Airmar-Transducer-Cable-Junction-Box-6630