Transducers

windrose · Post by **windrose** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 6:09 pm

What about these transducers that shoot thru the hull? I've sealed both of the old holes and started shopping for a new depth finder when I ran across a Hawkeye by Norcross Marine that would sit inside the wet locker and shoot thru the hull where the old hole was.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:48 pm

Just installed that very sounder on my San Juan. It works intermitently, I think because I epoxied it in with a coloidal silica-thickened mix. The instructions said to use clear epoxy.I've pried it off and will re-fasten it tomorrow.

Comments on the unit (when it reads properly)
Reads to a max depth of 200 feet, so is not as handy as a navigational aid.
Has a keel offset setting which is very handy.

On startup emits three LOUD beeps which can be a bit annoying.

The depth alarm works well, but has no mute button. I sail out of a very "flat" bay and often have only a foot or two of water under the keel for the first mile, so I turn the alarm to zero.

You can also get good fishfinder-type sounders that work from a glued-in sending unit. I had a Humminbird in my previous boat.

The key is to have a solid hull where the transducer attaches. To find a good spot put the transducer in a baggie of water, closed with a twist tie. Then move the bag around on the hull to test locations. It helps if the surface of the hull is wet. The Norcross comes with good instructions and a phone support number.

I mounted the gauge on the cabin bulkhead next to the knotmeter. I was advised that sunlight will eventually destroy the LED disply, so I made a cover for it using a 2"PVC pipe cap turned out to the right size for a friction fit.

Would I buy the same unit again? As all I want is a depth reading for safety, and when anchoring, the answer is yes, provided I can get the thing to work 100% of the time when I re-attach the transducer!

Hope this helps.

windrose · Post by **windrose** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:18 am

Peter, I would love to hear your follow up. West Marine has it on sale for $89. I am seriously considering it.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 11:55 am

I re-glued the transducer, using unthickened clear epoxy. There still seem to be periods with no depth reading, so I'm going to call the manufacturer today and see if they can shed some light on the problem.

All in all it seems to be on more than off ... still not very satisfactory.
Will keep you posted.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 5:09 pm

Well, I just talked to NorCross tech support without really resolving the problem. They gave me the options of
1: a lot larger more powerful transducer for an exchange value of $80
2: a thru-hull transducer for an exchange value of $28.95

Option 1 is about the same as I paid for the whole works ($85) and option 2 means another hole in the hull ... not acceptable. I guess the Clark Boat Co. didn't use quite enough resin in that area to make it a 100% solid hull bottom :(

If I hang the thing over the side it works great, so maybe I should mount it on the transom ... except the transom is above the water line ... YYWW

Anyway, apart from prying the thing off again and trying it all over the boat, my only reasonable choice seems to be to live with it the way it is.
It's NBG (no big deal), but I would not go this route again.

windrose · Post by **windrose** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 7:43 am

Thanks for the input Peter.

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:48 am

I hesitated to chime in on this one since I have no direct experience, but I like the idea of one less hole in the boat so much that I thought I'd relate some second-hand information.

Years ago, I had a Montgomery (trailerable) sailboat. They have a solid fiberglass hull - reasonably thick layup. I'm still on the mailing list, so I know that many owners have had good luck with the Humminbird depthfinders that have the transducer mounted inside the boat in a bed of epoxy, so it is possible. Some have used silicone to mount it, but I know no-one on this board would be interested in that ;-)

I haven't heard anyone mention the Norcross specifically though; is it a straight depth-finder, as opposed to the fishfinder type? Does that make it "more difficult" for the puck-type installation to work?

FWIW
R.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:07 pm

Rachel: The Norcross is a 2" gauge with digital display that displays current depth. You can see it at
http://www.norcrossmarine.com/HEDF1000D.htm

I had a Humminbird on my M17 as well. It was glued to the inside of the hull just forward and off centre of the keel. It worked 100% of the time ... that's why I'm not too pleased with the Norcross.

windrose · Post by **windrose** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:15 pm

Peter, after your input I decided on the thru hull Uniden. It was a little more expensive ($135). I ordered it and plan to install it tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for your help on the decision.

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:21 pm

Peter,

Great looking Monty! Thanks for the reply; good to know that it's probably a Norcross thing, and the through-the-hull-with-no-hole option is still viable.

Now I just need a hull ;-)

--- R.