Depth finder question, 2007 185 Sport

[mrdell4150]

Hello everyone,

Does anyone have experience with an in-hull (puck) transducer for the 2007 185 Sport? Previous owner had installed a Garmin 160C, mounted the transom transducer, but didn't drill a hole to run the wire correctly and just ran it under the sunpad. The 160C with transom transducer rarely reads properly.

I would like to buy a Garmin 421/31/41 before the summer and am trying to figure out if it would be better to buy a Garmin GPS with sounder and connect it to the current transducer or buy a Garmin GPS and a Humminbird depth gauge with the puck.

Thank you for your help. I know the pros and cons of both but am looking for someone with some knowledge of one or the other to help me decide.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Using an in-hull, or "shoot thru the hull" is sketchy because of the hull design of the newer Sea Rays. It's best to use a thru-hull. Some have had luck - but honestly, it's not worth the time of experimenting with placement when you can just very quickly drill a hole and be done with it. If memory serves, there's already a mounting location built in to the hull for this purpose.

Transom mount ducers can work fine (thru-hull is always better). If it's not working, it's likely due to it being installed improperly (wrong location) or it is malfunctioning. Considering the wire going under the sunpad, I would lean towards the former.

If the current transducer will work with a newer GPS/Sounder unit, I'd probably just keep it and mount it correctly. If it doesn't work with the new unit, and if you don't need the fishfinding capabilities (only want depth), then I might consider doing the thru-hull.

 

[mrdell4150]

Lazy Daze,

Thank you very much for the information. According to Garmin (called them) the old transom transducer should work with the four hundred “s” lineup of plotters/sounders.
I’m a little worried about remounting the transducer because of the extra holes but I guess they are pretty small. Some 3M 5200 should patch those right up.

 

[CarreraDan]

I have used a "in-hull" humminbird since my 04 185 was new, I placed it under the motor near the starter, used silicone caulk to adhere it to the gell coat in the bilge and it has never missed a beat. I installed it per the factory directions as I didn't want to drill a hole through the transom to externally mount it. My only complaint is the guage doesn't match the factory ones, I was not willing to spend an extra $100 at the time for the Lowrance that did. I don't remember the specific model but I could look it up next time I am at the boat as it is in my parent's garage for the winter.

 

[mrdell4150]

I have used a "in-hull" humminbird since my 04 185 was new, I placed it under the motor near the starter, used silicone caulk to adhere it to the gell coat in the bilge and it has never missed a beat. I installed it per the factory directions as I didn't want to drill a hole through the transom to externally mount it. My only complaint is the guage doesn't match the factory ones, I was not willing to spend an extra $100 at the time for the Lowrance that did. I don't remember the specific model but I could look it up next time I am at the boat as it is in my parent's garage for the winter.

Thanks Carrera Dan. I'm sure it's the Humminbird 610 or similar. Glad to hear it has worked well for you, I'd like to do the same, keep the hole drilling to a minimum but want quality depth readings. I wonder if the hull on the 2007 is the same as your 2004.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I wonder if the hull on the 2007 is the same as your 2004.

They are different. Very generally speaking, same construction. But it is an entirely different hull. It may work in the same place, it may not. Don't worry about drilling a hole - there's no wood in the bottom of your hull. Seal the glass well and it'll be just fine. Obviously, it's your call - but I wouldn't hesitate to drill a hole - especially knowing that the depth reading will be the best.

 

[quailrunner]

We have the 2006 model of your boat, with a thru-hull transponder. LazyD is correct - no wood, only fiberglas (a lot of it). Whoever drilled the hole for ours (bought the boat from original owner) did it in exactly the wrong place; there's a pad mount for the bilge float switch in the bottom of the bilge, and they drilled the hole half on and half off the pad, so the unit will not sit flush to the outside of the hull. It has leaked, so I will be fixing it by extending the mount pad this spring. Lesson; it matters where you drill the hole, but clearly, the signal is good.