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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Depth Gauge Transducer Mounting

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Jim-Jill_Austin_TX
Deckhand

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11 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/26/2006 : 12:55:21

Hello All....oh make that Ya'll, forgot i'm in Texas.

We are the new proud owners of a 1996 C250 WB, no name yet. There are so many questions we have in trying to sort out everything. I want to mount a depth transducer without cutting...I read the posts from earlier and got a little confused...oil? Wax seals?...Can I mount the inside transducer in the V-Berth storage cutout? or is there another place? I want to have depth info to prevent running aground...It's nice to have so much experience from others who have lessons learned information.

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2006 : 13:15:56

Here's how I did it, not wanting any holes drilled or wires run. This is the Pirana MAX 15 Fishfinder/Depthfinder. The transducer is at the end of a rod inserted down through a length of PVC attached to the port catbird stantion. I keep the unit in the port coaming cubby, the power wire leads down to the battery through a small hole in the aft of the cubby. Only possible negative: it gives readings at the aft of the boat, not the bow.

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2006 : 18:30:55

I installed a fish finder, depth sounder on my 95 WB last month. I put the transducer in the traditional wax toilet bowl seal. I installed the transducer in the cavity below the "V" berth. Will not know until next weekend how sucssful that installation is. The self test feature powers up OK.

Edited by - on

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1314 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2006 : 18:50:04

Just finished installing of the transducer in the V berth cut-out without cutting holes. I glued a tupper ware container with the bottom cut out, using easy to remove floral glue, to the bottom. Then, I used a standard plastic self sealing bag, filled it somewhat with tap water and placed the bag in the container making sure that the bottom lays flat without wrinkles on the bottom. The the top of the container was then sealed back on the tupper ware container. The conducting wire, sealed with tape around the bag, was led back to the actual depth sounder unit installed on the companion way swing arm, with power taken from the head's light which is on the cabin fuse. Hope this helps.

I had the same double plastic bag set-up last year, without the tupper ware container and worked fine

PS I tried to work with the toilet bowl goep but hated the idea of getting the stuff all over.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2006 : 20:02:36

Henk,
The key to the toilet bowl wax ring, is to use a new one not a used one!

Welcome aboard! Jim and Jill.
I used the wax ring (new) to install my transducer in the V-berth 2 years ago, no problems.

Others have used epoxy as well.

Edited by - on

bill bosworth
Navigator

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USA
172 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2006 : 22:31:40

Jim;
Wishing to keep things simple and inexpensive, I installed a Hawkeye Digital depth sounder DF1000D from West Marine $129.00 I had to cut a 2 1/8" hole in the cabin bulkhead, I did it on the starboard side, so wiring would be easy. The transducer is glued to the hull in the cutout under the "V" Berth. I used Epoxy to glue in the transducer. The everything works great. One thing I noticed, the transducer will not work until the epoxy has time to completely cure.
Bill C250wb #134 Serendipity

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Jim-Jill_Austin_TX
Deckhand

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11 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2006 : 22:43:36

Thanks for all the valuable input, I think now I have the information and confidence to install..I believe we're going with a simple Hawkeye.

Edited by - Jim-Jill_Austin_TX on 04/26/2006 22:44:57

Stabenau
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2006 : 07:57:17

Just so I'm clear - can you use the wax ring technique to secure 'any' transducer inside the hull or does it have to be a transducer designed to ping through the hull?

I'm asking as a recent graduate into the Catlina 250 class (WK, #534, purchase just a couple months ago) who is about to go buy a depth sounder or depth sounder/GPS combo.

-Erik

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2006 : 08:20:41

Frank,
looking at your pic
<center>

</center>
What is that vertical white rod thing that the tiller is behind?

Is it your backstay?

Paul

Edited by - britinusa on 05/21/2006 08:20:58

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2006 : 09:29:22

Eric, I bought and installed a Garminn 140 fish finder/depth finder in my C250 WB and with the help and Pics from John MD installed the transducer in the cavity below the "V" berth, it was not a special transducer, installed it in a glob of toilet bowl wax and it works fine. It will also give probably a close indication of water temperature also, being so close to the water. My transducer registered 51 degrees last week and I had heard the water temp was in the low 50s.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2006 : 09:38:36

Most all types fishfinders that you buy today have transducers that mount on the transom or trolling motors. Most all can read through a solid fiberglass hull. If you have a choice when buying look for the "Puck" type transducer (trolling motor mount). They are the smallest in size. That being said I don't have the puck, I have the kind that would mount to a bracket on the transom, it still works fine in the wax. The key is making sure where you mount it is solid fiberglass. You will want to keep from having any air bubbles in the wax. The good thing about the wax is, if you stick it somewhere and your reading is not very good you can pull it all up and move it to another location.

I have the Lowrance 68C depth/gps combo.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 05/21/2006 09:40:30

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2006 : 20:59:40

Rather than wax, I used black epoxy on the advice of the most senior and knowledgeable guy at my local West Marine store. Gooped the epoxy thoroughly (to avoid air pockets) on the bottom of the transducer, placed the transducer at a 90 degree angle on the inside of the hull under the v-berth (after cleaning the hull at that spot with acetone first), and then pushed down and twisted the transducer 90 degrees into place. Works great.

Steve

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2006 : 00:09:17

Yes, Paul, the tiller is behind the port backstay which is covered with a white plastic shroud protector, available at WM.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2006 : 20:16:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by FARMHAND
 Yes, Paul, the tiller is behind the port backstay which is covered with a white plastic shroud protector, available at WM.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The back stays run through my bimini. When folded up in the stored position the bimini rocks back and forth with the boat, even when at dock the gentle rocking causes the bimini to rub up against the stays. After a while I noticed a hole was forming in the bimini where it made contact with the stays. I had my sail loft put some wear patches in the spots that make contact with the stays when folded. I also put the white plastic tubes over the stays and its quit wearing on the sunbrella.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 05/23/2006 20:17:48

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.