Transducers and Aluminum Boats

Dannie Zimmerman · 05-09-07, 05:19 PM

I have a 17' Fisher bass boat with the transducer mounted on the transom just as it should be. Trolling around stumps,I managed to break the transducer mount 3 times in the last 2 years. During the 4th break, I managed to lose the transducer and mount. ($60.00). I asked the manager at the Fisher dealer if I could mount the new transducer on the inside of the boat. He said no. You can only do that with fiber glass boats. I didn,t give up yet. I talked to a friend of mine who has had several boats, and he said you could, but it had to be covered with water to work. I removed the acess panel at the back of the boat. Down inside is a well where the bilge pump and 2 live well pumps are located. I went to the lake, poured in about 1/2 gal of water into the well, and laid the transducer in there. It worked perfect. Later I used some marine epoxy and mounted the transducer, ran the wire and that was it. It works better now than it ever did! Don't let some one convince you that transducers
cannot transmit through aluminum. Dannie

bassbooger · 05-13-07, 12:09 PM

This has been discussed on here in the past. It does work, but I have never that they have to be covered with water to work correctly. Do you think the pros that have them mounted on the inside has water covering theirs? I don't think so. Try it without pouring water over it. I think you would be surprised.

zooker · 05-13-07, 06:41 PM

booger
i have had glass boats that it would not read right unless they were wet..

zooker

bassbooger · 05-14-07, 10:23 AM

That is odd. Thanks for the info Zook!!!

Captmikestarrett · 05-15-07, 10:32 AM

On big glass boats they glue the transducer to the hull. Two part epoxy..Then glue the top of a quart soda bottle over the top of the transducer and run the cable out the cap and fill with minieral oil. Seal tight and it works very well.

No holes in the hull.

Capt Mike

1FASTLASER · 05-25-07, 07:30 AM

They will work to a degree but the problems with a in the hull trans. on a can boat are many. I DO NOT RECOMMEND this procedure. A can boat has many imperfections on the bottom of the boat that sets up turbulence causing air bubbles. When the bubbles go under the transducer the show up as screen clutter and maybe even loose the signal. Thats the reason you can only go SLOW and get a good reading.

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05-09-07, 05:19 PM	#1
Dannie Zimmerman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Leesville, Louisiana Posts: 45	Transducers and Aluminum Boats I have a 17' Fisher bass boat with the transducer mounted on the transom just as it should be. Trolling around stumps,I managed to break the transducer mount 3 times in the last 2 years. During the 4th break, I managed to lose the transducer and mount. ($60.00). I asked the manager at the Fisher dealer if I could mount the new transducer on the inside of the boat. He said no. You can only do that with fiber glass boats. I didn,t give up yet. I talked to a friend of mine who has had several boats, and he said you could, but it had to be covered with water to work. I removed the acess panel at the back of the boat. Down inside is a well where the bilge pump and 2 live well pumps are located. I went to the lake, poured in about 1/2 gal of water into the well, and laid the transducer in there. It worked perfect. Later I used some marine epoxy and mounted the transducer, ran the wire and that was it. It works better now than it ever did! Don't let some one convince you that transducers cannot transmit through aluminum. Dannie

05-13-07, 12:09 PM	#2
bassbooger BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dallas, NC Posts: 316	This has been discussed on here in the past. It does work, but I have never that they have to be covered with water to work correctly. Do you think the pros that have them mounted on the inside has water covering theirs? I don't think so. Try it without pouring water over it. I think you would be surprised. __________________ cast, reel, cast!!! Repeat if necessary!! Dallas, NC Last edited by bassbooger; 05-14-07 at 10:23 AM.

05-13-07, 06:41 PM	#3
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	booger i have had glass boats that it would not read right unless they were wet.. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

05-14-07, 10:23 AM	#4
bassbooger BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dallas, NC Posts: 316	That is odd. Thanks for the info Zook!!! __________________ cast, reel, cast!!! Repeat if necessary!! Dallas, NC

05-15-07, 10:32 AM	#5
Captmikestarrett BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accokeek MD Posts: 3,315	On big glass boats they glue the transducer to the hull. Two part epoxy..Then glue the top of a quart soda bottle over the top of the transducer and run the cable out the cap and fill with minieral oil. Seal tight and it works very well. No holes in the hull. Capt Mike __________________ Capt Mike Starrett light tackle guide Potomac River http://www.indianheadcharters.com

05-25-07, 07:30 AM	#6
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	They will work to a degree but the problems with a in the hull trans. on a can boat are many. I DO NOT RECOMMEND this procedure. A can boat has many imperfections on the bottom of the boat that sets up turbulence causing air bubbles. When the bubbles go under the transducer the show up as screen clutter and maybe even loose the signal. Thats the reason you can only go SLOW and get a good reading. __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

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