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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

C-250WK In-Hull Transducer Install?

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Doug Robison
Deckhand

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13 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/01/2001 : 23:46:12

I want to install an in-hull transducer for a depth sounder and need to know if the 2000 C-250WK has a cored or a solid laminate hull. The installation procedure is different for the two types of hull construction. Also, where is the best spot to install an in-hull transducer? It appears that the hull below the rear berth is ideal as the deadrise angle there is minimal and it is well behind the wing keel. The transducer instructions, however, suggest installation in front of the keel. Any recommendations are welcomed.

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n/a
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125 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2001 : 01:18:25

Hi Doug, I have a C250 WB ( that's my credentials), and I have done this. Number one you really want to install the transducer in front of the keel. If you install it at the rear of the keel , the depth gauge will tell you the depth of where you have BEEN, not where you are going. In that case you may spend most of your time pushing off sand bars, instead of sailing! On the C250 WB ( it should be the same in the wing keel) lift and remove the mattresses from the vee berth....underneath you will find a storage area for the cabin table to be stored...remove the wooden hatch, and you will then see the inside of the hull ahead of the keel. Right in the middle you should see a square indent about 8-10 inches deep and about 14-15 inches square.... here is the place that Catalina designed for you to place transducers for speed, and depth guages. I believe there are pictures and instructions in the Catalina 25/250 technical section that show what to do. I used the appropriate size hole saw on my portable Makita and drilled 2 holes through the hull. The hull here is SOLID resin and glass, and it is about 1 1/2 inches this. I did the whole process on the trailer, so you remain dry. Look in the tech section for details, as well as the transducer should have detailrd instructions as to caulking and installation

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2001 : 10:47:16

I agree with the previous post that forward of the keel is the best choice...primarily because of possible water eddies messing soundings up. Likely your wing is differant than the water ballast and may not have the recessed area defined.

Another consideration about aft.... don't follow temptation to put it directly under the bilge access. This area should be kept free for a seacock to provide intake water for a marine head and/or blaster pump someday should you ever use the boat for any extended cruising.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224

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mmodine
1st Mate

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26 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2001 : 22:42:19

We installed speed and forward scanning sonar transducers in our 2001 WK. As previously described, access is under the cushions in the v-berth, where (on our boat) you will find the water tank. The holes were sawn through a solid hull side by side about 3 inches apart on the center line just forward of the tank.

Works well.

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Doug Robison
Deckhand

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13 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2001 : 22:37:27

Thanks for the responses. When I posted my question, I was referring to an "in-hull" transducer as opposed to a "through-hull" transducer. The in-hull transducer does not require a through-hull mount. Rather, it sits in a cylindrical mount that is glued to the inside of the hull bottom. The mount is filled with mineral oil to provide a consistent medium through which the sound waves are transmitted. The obvious benefit is that you don't have to saw a hole through the bottom of the boat. The tradeoff is that some of the sound energy is lost going through the hull material. This is not a problem is shallow water, however.

Arlyn, you are correct in that the lower hull in the WB is quite different than that in the WK. In the WK, the water tank is located below the V-berth so there is not alot of room to mount a transducer there. I mounted my in-hull transducer below the aft berth. The hull shape is flatter there (minimal deadrise angle), and routing the transducer cable to the depth sounder is very simple (you don't have to go through the galley). It works very well in this location. Although the keel does produce small eddies, turbulent flow under the hull does not adversely affect transducer performance. Rather, air bubbles and excessive heel angles will cause the depth sounder to blank out and read nonsense numbers. Because the deadrise angle of the hull is much greater ahead of the keel, the preferred mounting location of an in-hull transducer in the WK is below that aft berth, rather than below the V-berth.

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coldducks
Captain

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USA
342 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2002 : 12:05:46

doug, we have a 99 250wk and we are installing an in hull transducer. we noticed that you installed yours under the aft berth. did you have to take into consideration the deadrise angle in that location? we are a little confused about that. i know the hull is flatter there. did you attach it dead center under the aft berth or off to one side or the other? thanks for your help. coldducks!

COLDDUCKS
FANTASY #409 C250WK

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Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 21:44:34

Coldducks: I am attempting this type of installation as well. Which display are you using? ST40 or 60?

Ray Seitz C 250WB #628

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coldducks
Captain

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USA
342 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2002 : 08:15:44

we are installing a uniden QT-206 (airmar P79) digital depth sounder in hull type. we did not want to drill any holes in the hull, that is why we decided on this unit. we are having shore power insalled next monday and the installer is going to do this for us at the same time. hope it works!!

COLDDUCKS
FANTASY #409 C250WK

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Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2002 : 07:10:12

Coldducks: Was wondering if you could give an update on the in-hull transducer and how well you think it is working. I got in touch withh Doug Robinson via e-mail and got a Standard Horizon like the one he installed with the "in-hull puck" transducer from West Marine. I am waiting for the backordered transducer but would like to hear how your installiation went and how its working for you. Where did you install the transducer?

Ray Seitz C 250WB #628

Edited by - RAY SEITZ on 04/30/2002 07:12:11

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coldducks
Captain

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USA
342 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2002 : 09:24:36

hi ray, i can not tell you how well it is working yet, because we are still waiting for our marina to launch us. we were supposed to be launched last tuesday, but they ran into some problems!!!!!(of course!!) we are being launched today. we had shore power installed two weeks ago and had the installer also run the wires for the transducer at the same time. he installed the receptical for the tansducer under the aft berth. he said he has installed in both under the vberth and the aft berth with the same success. we had the digital readout installed in the cockpit beside the motor for easy reading. because it has to be in the water when the you actually install the transducer into the holder, we have had to wait for launch. but will get back to you soon to let you know how it works.

COLDDUCKS
FANTASY #409 C250WK

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Rob Poirier
Deckhand

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Canada
23 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2002 : 12:16:01

Just before splashing my 250 wb last week, I installed a Raymarine L265 fishfinder(flush mount kit) with a through hull transducer under the V berth. We use the boat for SCUBA and the unit easily found a wreck we like to dive. It also helps identify bottom composition for anchoring. Same money as the depth sounder with more features.
Rob Poirier WB#44

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mday
Navigator

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197 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2002 : 17:33:23

Doug,

Just for further information, my most recent issue of Sail magazine had an article about installing an in-hull transducer you might want to check. Thier method was to attach a piece of PVC pipe to the inside of the hull filled with mineral oil and capped. The oil is supposed to provide a dense medium to conduct the signals from the tranducer through the hull. Not sure if this is overkill for you ... but it's another method to consider.

Max

Max Day
C250 WB 380
Lake Pleasant, AZ

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coldducks
Captain

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USA
342 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2002 : 18:00:50

i saw that article in my sail magazine too. i couldnt figure out why you would use pvc pipe because the in hull transducer kit comes complete with a bracket that is attached to the hull that you fill with mineral oil.

COLDDUCKS
FANTASY #409 C250WK

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Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2002 : 07:10:25

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> i couldnt figure out why you would use pvc pipe<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I think, in the article, they were using a regular thru-hull transducer and adding components to acheive the same thing as in-hull transducer kits. The sales people at sailnet were trying to talk me into buying one of there packages (thru-hull transducer + display) and modifying or installing the transducer in a similar fashion. Sailnet did not have any packages with the in-hull transducer in fact in-hull transducers were special order through them.

I do not mean to sound negative toward Sailnet I usually buy a lot through them, but it does pay to shop around and discuss the options. I really am quite thankful this association has such an active, helpful and knowlegeable group of people.<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ray Seitz C 250WB #628

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coldducks
Captain

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USA
342 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2002 : 07:13:00

ray, launched this week. the depth sounder seems to be working perfectly. we were a little concerned about the location in the aft berth, but it does not seem to be a problem. the shore power works too!! 2 for 2!!

COLDDUCKS
FANTASY #409 C250WK

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Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2002 : 12:39:23

Thanks for the update still waiting for my transducer. Display looks great. I got the boat in this past weekend too YEAH.

Ray Seitz C 250WB #628

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singaporesam
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2002 : 17:05:10

Friend told me last night he installed a dual transducer in front of keel, up by the bow. Also, he turned it sideways so one head was above the other rather than being on either side of the centerline.
Reason he did this was so it acted like a early warning device when getting close to shore. Didn't want to cut anything in huill, either. Bought it at West marine and he loves it! Stuck the heads in a glop of silocone goo and held it until it solidified. Works great, especially shore cruising off Baja last summer.

Singaporesam

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