Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.
I purchased a Hawkeye digital depth sounder for my 25 TR-SK. I'm thinking of installing the in hull transducer forward of my keel. Soliciting any opinions, experiences, and suggestions? Thanks.
Installing using a glob of a toilet bowl wax ring is an easy in-hull install method. If it turns out you do not get a signal, you can easily relocate a few inches or more away and try again. While it would seem to be a temporary install, this method can actually work for years and years , flawlessly. I installed mine over 10 years ago and have never had to rebed it, etc.
...Soliciting any opinions, experiences, and suggestions? Thanks.
I put in a Raymarine i40 BiData which came with two through hull sensors. I installed them exactly where Larry has the two abandoned white sensors in his photo above.
I did some research and sought advice as you are doing and many cautioned against putting holes in when there are other options. The toilet ring wax method is widely used and I hear you have to try to eliminate air pockets in the wax but it definitely works.
In the end I went through the hull because I wanted to. It's worked well so far and the readings are accurate and responsive. I did pause for a bit with the 2" hole saw in my hands but I took my time and used quality sealant.
I like the sensors ahead of the keel though some will tell you aft of the keel is fine. Our lake is a flooded reservoir with submerged cliffs, canyons and rapid depth changes so it helps at low speeds anyway to have a better idea of what's coming up ahead.
If you put in a depth sensor only, I would put it on starboard of the hull centerline, aft of the seacock. This reserves the port side for a future speed sensor and ensures a smooth, uninterrupted hull surface ahead of the paddle wheel sensor.
Also, check your sensor cable length. The Raymarine kit had ample cable to get back to the companionway bulkhead.
Tim Keating 1985 C-25 TR/FK #4940 Midsummer Lake Don Pedro, CA
Installing using a glob of a toilet bowl wax ring is an easy in-hull install method. If it turns out you do not get a signal, you can easily relocate a few inches or more away and try again. While it would seem to be a temporary install, this method can actually work for years and years , flawlessly. I installed mine over 10 years ago and have never had to rebed it, etc.
Larry in your photo, is this the area forward of the head toward the bow?
Yes, it's just inside the door under the V-berth. I have mine in the same spot using the wax ring method and it works great.
You don't want to get air mixed into the wax so the best way is to break off a piece bigger than you need and shove the sending unit straight down into the wax. Might need to twist it back and forth just a little bit. If you get a reading you're golden. If not try gently repositioning the sending unit.
Gary and I have same year boat and so we have identical location of transducer. I mean it makes sense - That is where the other transducers are located. By the way, I forget which one but one of the existing transducers is the old depth finder transducer and so I just snipped off it's wires (which you cannot see from above photo). (The other existing transducer is for my knotmeter - That transducer is still working. I had the meter overhauled and transducer replaced awhile ago.)
Here is another photo of the area under the VBerth w/transducers, one with wires snipped - I had built a clear plastic enclosure/shelf in that area, so one can throw life preservers, etc into that area without concern regarding the transducers, etc since they would be protected by the shelf/contained area. The view is looking down thru the VBerth covers.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. 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.