Shoot Through Hull Transducer Install

[Gerry Zagorski]

Going through installing one of these on our new boat and thought I'd share some suggestions.

A shoot through hull transducer is a good choice for a variety of reasons.
- You don't have to put a whole in your boat
- There is nothing hanging out or off your hull to get fouled by marine growth or for something else in the water/bottom to hit.

Only down side is you do loose some sensitivity but from what I've read with a good install on a solid fiberglass (not cored hull) the loss is minimal. If your hull is cored, shoot through ducers are not reccomended since the coring absorbs the pulses sent out by the ducer.;

First thing you need to do is find an area inside the hull of you boat that is flat as possible and in clean water. You want it flat as possible so that the transducer is perpendicular and shooting straight down to the bottom, not on an angle, so you get accurate depth readings. What I mean by clean water is an area of the hull that has little to no air bubbles passing by it when the boat is underway. Air bubbles are the enemy here so make sure there are no items like running gear or water pick ups in line ahead of the ducer that can cuase bubbles or turbulance or you will lose the bottom while underway. Best place is usually closest to the center line of the boat and as close to the transom as possible.

One way to test for the best location is to either fill your bilge with enough water to keep the ducer submerged while underway or get a 1 gallon zip lock bag and fill it with water and place the ducer on top of it. While underway you can move it around until you get the most consistent bottom readings while underway.

Once you find a good location, the rest is easy.... Simply get some 3M 4200 or 5200 sealer/adhesive.... Apply a thin say 1/8 inch coat on the ducer and do the same to the hull. Place the ducer in the bed of 5200 in the hull and wiggle the ducer back and forth to remove all air from the 5200. Set some sort of heavy object on the ducer like a brick to keep it in place and allow ample time for drying/curing.

Only difference between 4200 and 5200 is 4200 is a bit more pliable and this will make it easier to remove or relocate the ducer if you need to.