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Light Winds Today & Temp Hook-up Of New Matrix 17

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/16/2006 : 19:29:40

I finally decided to go with the Humminbird Matrix 17 as a replacement for my SR Instruments Mariner Depthfinder. I had a $15 award coupon from Boat US and a newbie $20 coupon from Boat US (I guess they are now West Marine but have not changed their name) and applied them both to the $179 fishfinder. This store is at Boat US Headquarters in Alexandria, VA. They have 3 buildings - Handles the Insurance, Association and Boat Graphics business as well as the boat store being there. They were having a clearance sale on some stuff and so I also bought a pair of Sperry Topsider Fugawi sneakers for $28. The sneakers are great ! Got to use them today. Like them better than the loafers which are fine for level ground/cockpit but the sneaks are better for climbing about the boat.

I temporarily hooked up the fishfinder today. I strapped the transducer to a piece of wood moulding I had around the garage and tied it to the supports for the ladder off the transom. The transducer measures depth and water temperature. Depth at the dock was 6 ft and Potomac River Water temp today was 39-40F. Light winds today and was able to sail but then motored back. I am happy with the Matrix 17. I like being able to see the contour of the river besides clearly reading the depth.

My next step will be to mount the fishfinder permanently and then I will get to figuring out what to do about the transducer - probably an in-hull mounting but it's nice reading the water temperature off the transom. As far as mounting the fishfinder, I had a better idea of what to do after having it on the boat and scoping out the options. I'm leaning toward removing the old 4 1/2 - 5" dial depthfinder and replacing it on the outside with a 5" round piece of Starboard/polymer that I picked up awhile ago at the Boat US store. Then I will build up the 5" cavity in the bulkhead with addl pieces of the polymer and then mount the fishfinder to a swing arm bracket to the polymer from the inside of the cabin. I am looking over the Tech Tips & responses to an earlier posting for this mounting arrangement. But I may just get one of the RAM Mounts that I saw in the Boat US catalog and is in a West Marine store also in my area.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2006 : 10:46:52

Larry,
Another nice thing about the Humminbird Matrix line of fish finders is that they have an optional GPS unit which not only displays the GPS information to the fishfinder screen but includes a drift alarm for use when anchoring. The added piece of mind provided by the drift alarm made the $100 investment for the GPS option an easy decision for me.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2006 : 13:39:55

Okay - You would have to go and post another benefit to GPS !

I was all set to save myself a $100 ! I have an ETrex portable left over from the PO. But I have a friend that just bought a new motorboat that will have a mounted GPS unit he indicated he would give me his portable Magellan Marine which comes with charts built into it.

The anchor drift alarm sounds like a great thing for peace of mind. I guess there is no end to nice things to have. Now another thing to ponder....thanks a lot ! LOL

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2006 : 14:52:50

Larry,
Humminbird sells cables to allow you to use other GPS's with the Matrix unit. I believe the drift alarm function is built into the Matrix, not the GPS, and you would be able to use the drift alarm function with any gps. The cable for my eTrex was $50 and the Humminbird GPS was $100 so I opted for the new GPS and will use the eTrex as a backup.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2006 : 23:33:01

One advantage of the Matrix line is that the GPS is an option for it and I guess that a portable can also be hooked up as well. I have time to make that decision, but thanks for the info about the drift alarm. That I did not know. Right now, I am considering the mounting for the main unit and the transducer. I believe I read a posting (or the tech tips) where someone epoxied a PVC fitting to the hull in the V Berth area and then used mineral oil in it. Then placed the transducer in that. I guess I could just do what the mfr suggests and epoxy the transducer to the hull. But...if that area does not work out, then I'm down one transducer. Another person indicated they used a toilet wax seal to provide a bubble free connection to the hull. Both the mineral oil bath or the wax seal are more forgiving. If they do not work that way...no big deal. Can try again since transducer is not permanently attached.
How did you install your transducer ?

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2006 : 01:04:25

Larry, I bought the Matrix17 also. I just mounted it below the drawers below the sink as close to centerline as I could. I then just used a spatula to goop some Vasiline onto the hull and lowered, then tightened the mounting bracket right into the Vasiline. Works great and I can always add more. I will use the toilet seating wax sometime soon as a replacement but so far it works very well.
The 17 measures water temp through the hull and since the hull is always in contact with the water, I reasoned the water temp equals the hull temp anyway, or very close...which is close enough for me.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2006 : 06:45:02

Gary,

Vaseline - Great idea ! That sounds pretty easy to check out. When you say you tightened the mounting bracket...you mean you used the transom mount that comes in the box to attach to the drawers/wood in that area ?

I was wondering about the temperature readings for an in-hull mounting. The fact that the unit measures water temperature and it shows up on the screen, it would be nice to have that functioning and not just reading some inbetween atmosphere air/water inbetween temperature.

By the way, nice area - Mission Bay. I have not been there in many years but have been around that whole area in the past and above at Point Loma.

Edited by - on

Brian King
1st Mate

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USA
73 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2006 : 07:49:01

Gary, how and where did you mount the actual display portion? Does this unit have the option of adding a speed transducer? Thanks.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2006 : 10:43:42

I plan on using Jim Baumgart's navcenter idea for mounting my display.
I plan on using Frank Hopper's GPS installation location and I plan on using Gary Norgan's wax toilet ring idea for mounting the transducer.
<i>I don't think I have had an original idea in years!</i>

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2006 : 12:36:08

Your hull is solid, it is one hell of a heat sink, your transducer location will read very close to the right water temp, mine does.

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gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2006 : 00:42:43

Yes, I used the transom mounting bracket. Pulled out the entire double drawer unit under the sink, then mounted it as far down on the fiberglass bulkhead so that when you swing the mount down, the transducer is sitting on the hull. I took a picture of it. If needed I might find time to locate it and post it. It's probably in the archives somewhere. I did this last year.
The display is mounted on a swing-out bracket above the quarterberth. It swings out into the hatch area so I can watch in the cockpit, then swings back out of the way when not in use.
Brian, I think a speed transducer can be added but I don't have the book here at home to look. Check out the Matrix17 specs online....I'm sure this info can be found at the Matrix website.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2006 : 07:17:06

Gary,

I am planning on using a swing mount as well. I probably will remove the 5" depthfinder presently installed on the port side of the cabin and replace it with some starboard material cut into circles to overlap the hole (~4 1/8") when the depthfinder is removed. Then screw or bolt it to a starboard covering the hole inside the cabin. I will then mount a swing arm to the Starboard inside the cabin. I could make my own swing arm but I am considering a RAM mount that has a vertical mount bracket and two twist knobs to pivot and lock the swing arm and the also the mounting pad for the fishfinder.

I may try experimenting with a toilet wax ring for the transducer tomorrow. Weather will be in mid-50s today. Going to go out for a sail after leaving work around 3-330pm today (boat is not more than 10 minutes from work). I think I have an extra wax ring at home and if i bring it with me tomorrow, I will try it with the transducer. Then need to put the canvas cover back on the boat in case of snow. I am on a business trip all next week up at Groton, Conn.

thanks for your comments.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2006 : 21:23:22

I used a baggie filled with water and held the transducer on it to test my location, worked fine. All you are doing is avoiding air.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2006 : 17:45:22

"I don't think I have had an original idea in years! "

Joe - I like your comment ! Keep working on it ! Meanwhile, you have catalogued a lot of good ideas and that is of great benefit !

Went out sailing again yesterday but first fooled around with the transducer and then ...motor was cranky and held me in the slip for a good hour before it finally decided it would allow me out of the marina - It's days are numbered !

Transducer : I had an old unused wax ring in the garage and so with wax ring in hand, undid the temporary transducer mounted on a stick off the transom, dried it off, took a hunk of wax and slapped it down just in front of the old depthfinder's thru hull mount, that area accessible thru the small door at the beginning of the V-Berth area. Then just pushed the new transducer into the wax and....I guess that's about it ! Turned the Matrix 17 on and it was reading depth accurately just as it did off the transom - about 5' in the dock space.

I checked the transducer again before I left the dock and it seemed to be pretty well stuck into the wax...so left it alone and went out sailing. Seemed to work fine !

I put my winter cover back on the boat after the night-time sail. Did not want to take a chance on snow while I am on my business trip starting tomorrow. I still have to run the transducer wire behind/under the cabin seats to the Matrix 17. For right now, I have it just laying in the cabin area and tucked under the seat cushion to keep it out of the way. I have an electrical wire snake that I already put into my car and so I will use that to help route the wire when I get back.

Also ordered a RAM Swing Mount w/vertical bracket - that will be delivered while I am away. As far as cutting the circles out of the Starboard material to cover up the old depthfinder hole as well as provide a mounting surface inside the cabin for the Marix 17 on the swing-arm, I just bought a Sears Scroll saw that was on sale.

Havin lot's of fun. Yep, all this costs money but there is plenty of enjoyment sailing and working on these projects. Can't wait till the Spring and Summer to take some overnighters ! Have not done that on a boat for over 20 years !

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pmcarman
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2006 : 18:29:32

I bought both a Matrix 17 and a Garmin GPSMap76, and they plug together and work exceedingly well.

The Garmin has marine options (including the anchor drift alarm and marker displays), and with the connecting cable, it provides the ability to display speed and position on the bigger-screen of the matrix.

Since I do GeoCaching (and with the anchor drift being a concern on overnights), I was able to convince the admiral that it was a great way to go. She agrees completely!

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