charlieannear Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 Can anyone offer me some assistance in fitting the above to my boat, please? The drilling of holes etc isn't the problem- what I need is some advice as to where to locate the transducer so that it works properly. If it makes any difference, it's a Navman transducer, and I'm wanting to fit it to a Shetland Family Four. Thanks (Hopefully!) C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 Charlie You will obviously have to fit the transducer off centre and away from the engine. The transducer needs clean water and by that I mean no air bubbles in the water or other turbulence. Look under the boat and see if any bits stick out of the hull that could cause turbulence. The cleanest area forward of your proposed transducer location will give the best trouble free picture If you would like me to pop up just shout Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 Echo Martin And happy to pop over if it will help. Typically, looking at the transom from behind the boat the transducer will be fitted a foot to 2 feet away from the centre line (well clear of the swing of the prop) and as Martin say's, clear of anything that may cause an obstruction in water flow such as a chine, skin fitting etc. The transducer is fitted marginally lower (just the flat bottom of the transducer) than the hull and normally faces forward by about 5 degrees. This should all be in the installation guide for the transducer. Happy to help by taking a peak if it will be handy. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 Echo all of the above PARTICULARLY the 5deg forward inclination. this ensures that there are no little air bubbles caught up in the vortex of a wrongly inclined transducer. Secondly remember that the transducer needs to be fixed horizontaly to the WATERLINE and not follow the angle of the slight V at the rear of your boat. If you follow the hull line the transducer will 'look' at that angle and in say 60ft of water what you see on the sounder screen will be about 10ft to one side of you. Help here too if you want it and I also have plenty of teak offcuts and a home workshop to cut a 5deg wedge for you in about 2 minutes or 3 min' if you want it varnished as well Oh and t'other thing use a silicone sealant to bed it down on. Mad Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieannear Posted July 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 Thanks guys. The installation manual is pretty specific about depth below the waterline and angles of dangle etc... I've got a tube of sikaflex ready to go and drill all charged up... My problem is that not having had the boat in the water I'm not sure where the waterline is! Also because the Shetland hull is a bit 'gul-wing' I'm not sure how far away from the motor I can go before the transducer would effectively be mounted too high. Conversely, not being terribly well versed in this lark yet, I'm not sure how close I can get away with having it to the motor. If anyone fancies popping in for a cup of tea/cold squash and suggestions as to where I should drill my holes, I'll be in all day Thursday! Perhaps you could all visit, I'll mark where each of you suggest and we'll see to what extent you agree? I have comfy patio chairs and parasol for those waiting their turn at pinning the 'ducer on the Shetland. Choccy biccy for the winner! C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 Hi Charlie Don't fit it just below the waterline, it needs to be under the water about .5cm beneath the transom itself. Add at least a foot to the widest swing of the outboard propeller and that will avoid aeration from that. When on the plane, the transducer needs to be underwater still and in "freewater" (ie not full of bubbles from the prop or tucked up behind the transom). Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieannear Posted July 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 Thanks again Tom Does this mean you're dropping out of the pin the 'ducer on the Shetland game? Has Mike frightened you off? Glass of cold squash still on offer if you fancy it! C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Thanks again Tom Does this mean you're dropping out of the pin the 'ducer on the Shetland game? Has Mike frightened you off? Glass of cold squash still on offer if you fancy it! C. Not frightened of Mike Well not about transducers anyway! He scares the sh1t out of me normally . To be honest, I could fit a transducer with my eyes closed...oh yeah that is the same as "Pin the 'ducer on a Shetland"! If I get the chance I'll pop round, I need to pop out some time today for a baseball bat, a tough bucket and some balloons , the thought of a cold squash doesn't quite do it for me, but I may come and say Hi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 for a baseball bat Tom if you need I could lend you one, an origional one as used by The New York Yankees back in the 80's Mad Mike PS re: To be honest, I could fit a transducer with my eyes closed...oh yeah that is the same as "Pin the 'ducer on a Shetland"! Having seen the way some transducers are fitted I would guess that you've fitted a few with your eyes closed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Paul D, any chance you can check the position on my transducer at some point? the position is wrong. Thanks Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Dan, More than happy to take a look, however, I don't recall claiming to have been an "expert" in this thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Charlie, I have twice fixed a transducer internally, mounted on a moulded block of plasticine. Perfect reception/display, accuracy checked with plumb line etc. The last one was for a fish finder in my previous boat, despite the manufacturer recommending drilling through. It lasted the 4 years between installation and selling the boat. If the device is portable, and can be easily connected to a battery - might you be able to test it out before drilling, even if you have to "borrow" a boat to see? I would offer, but am away on business this week. Mind, it was never subjected to the speeds you'll be experiencing! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Quote....mounted on a moulded block of plasticine Really? I knever knew that, but thinking about it there is no reason that it shouldn't work and work well. A good tip Mad Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieannear Posted July 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Thanks again Tom Does this mean you're dropping out of the pin the 'ducer on the Shetland game? Has Mike frightened you off? Glass of cold squash still on offer if you fancy it! C. Not frightened of Mike Well not about transducers anyway! He scares the sh1t out of me normally . To be honest, I could fit a transducer with my eyes closed...oh yeah that is the same as "Pin the 'ducer on a Shetland"! If I get the chance I'll pop round, I need to pop out some time today for a baseball bat, a tough bucket and some balloons , the thought of a cold squash doesn't quite do it for me, but I may come and say Hi. Hope you didn't make a wasted trip today Tom, it's Thursday I'm at home all day. I've got cold cans of funny tasting squash with Stella on the label if you prefer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieannear Posted July 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Charlie, I have twice fixed a transducer internally, mounted on a moulded block of plasticine. Perfect reception/display, accuracy checked with plumb line etc. The last one was for a fish finder in my previous boat, despite the manufacturer recommending drilling through. It lasted the 4 years between installation and selling the boat. If the device is portable, and can be easily connected to a battery - might you be able to test it out before drilling, even if you have to "borrow" a boat to see? I would offer, but am away on business this week. Mind, it was never subjected to the speeds you'll be experiencing! Mike Hi Mike, the transducer I have needs to be transom mounted otherwise not sure how the paddle wheel on it will work through the hull... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 cheers paul, il give u a call 2moz nte and fix up when u are free to take a look. Dont need an expert, just someone who knows more than me....ok, thats the whole bloody forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 cheers paul, il give u a call 2moz nte and fix up when u are free to take a look. Dont need an expert, just someone who knows more than me....ok, thats the whole bloody forum So what's wrong with it Gernash? Mad Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 ooh, very clever......lol when i hit 8knots the screen will flash, and the depth reading will freeze. When I slow down again, the normal reading will resume. Im guessing bubbly water is the problem so I want someone with more of an idea about 'mounting' than me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieannear Posted July 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 Well the winner by default was Mike who turned up in a nifty red sports car and gave me the lowdown. Cheers Mike, I'm one more step closer to actually getting out on the water! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted July 21, 2006 Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 ooh, very clever......lol when i hit 8knots the screen will flash, and the depth reading will freeze. When I slow down again, the normal reading will resume. Im guessing bubbly water is the problem so I want someone with more of an idea about 'mounting' than me. The problem you describe sounds like the return signal to the transducer is not being recieved as the boat has traveled too far forward from the 'send' point to read it. This was a common problem of the very early depth sounders. The freezing of the depth signal will be the readouts default of the last known depth. You slow down and then the return signal does have time to get back to be 'heard' by receiving bit of the transducer and the diplay starts up again. If the unit is a modern one then something is very wrong and I don't think it will be transducer position. The signal sent out by the transducer is a wide angle beam not a tight one, therefore unless you are going super fast (50knts+) or in extremely deep water (600ft+) the boat should normaly be within the returns footprint. Now as I type this the thought occurs to me ....... Do you have the flat underneath part of the transducer angled forward a lot (more than 5 deg) ? If so that could cause the problem. WHere is the boat ? I could come and have a look ? Mad Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted July 21, 2006 Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 Dan is it too loose so it's kicking up at speed? PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieannear Posted August 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Thanks for your help with this little job everyone. It's now nicely fixed at the back of the boat- now to get it in the water! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaicemat Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 (edited) Oh dear! Looks much too close to the trim tab............................................................................................................................................Only joking! Terry. Edited August 21, 2006 by plaicemat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Don't you just love Terry's humour!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieannear Posted August 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Oh yeah, very droll ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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