In-Hull Depth Transponder Installation - 1989 160 Sea Ray BROB

Northern Bear

New Member
Jan 6, 2019
3
Huntsville Ontario Canada
Boat Info
1989 Sea Ray 160 BROB, Most instrumentation is original. Boat and motor in excellent condition.
Engines
Original Mercury (Sea Ray) 100HP 2 Stroke Motor.
My boat is a 1989 Sea Ray 160 BROB. Looking for advice on better installation of the existing inboard depth transponder.

It is currently just siliconed to the bottom of the hull near the bilge pump at the transom. Depth gauge is not giving me any true readings.

Not certain if the bottom of the hull is pure fiberglass or if a wood core exists below (causing the poor readings).

Anyone have any experience with this type of transponder installation on a similar Sea Ray?

Please advise.

Bear
 
Bear, sorry I can't help with your question, but welcome to CSR. Nice to have another boating brother from north of the border.

Got any pics of your boat? We all like to see boat pics.
 
I do know that if you have any kind of air bubble in the silicone or in your hull fiberglass that you'll get bad readings. What you need to do is get some electrical putty the kind you use to seal the wire on the top of your electrical meter at house and use that between you sender and hull. You can the move it around inside any where you want to till you get a good reading, the either leave it stuck with that or they make a plastic piece that glues to bilge floor then you fill it up with mineral oil and the transponder fits onto of that piece with a trim piece to seal the oil in. Had mine stuck to bilge floor with that putty for two years and hasn't come unstuck yet even when its been under water and nice part you can pop it off anytime its in the way and reapply it.
 
Bear, sorry I can't help with your question, but welcome to CSR. Nice to have another boating brother from north of the border.

Got any pics of your boat? We all like to see boat pics.

Always like to post a pic of our boat...
I do know that if you have any kind of air bubble in the silicone or in your hull fiberglass that you'll get bad readings. What you need to do is get some electrical putty the kind you use to seal the wire on the top of your electrical meter at house and use that between you sender and hull. You can the move it around inside any where you want to till you get a good reading, the either leave it stuck with that or they make a plastic piece that glues to bilge floor then you fill it up with mineral oil and the transponder fits onto of that piece with a trim piece to seal the oil in. Had mine stuck to bilge floor with that putty for two years and hasn't come unstuck yet even when its been under water and nice part you can pop it off anytime its in the way and reapply it.

Thanks for your thoughts on the transponder issue. I agree that having a clear, bubble free contact between the transponder and hull bottom is essential. I'm likely to try sanding the hull bottom at the transponder location first then making is thoroughly clean. Eventually, I could use a clear epoxy on the transponder. Will try your suggestion for trying to test the location.
 

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I do know that if you have any kind of air bubble in the silicone or in your hull fiberglass that you'll get bad readings. What you need to do is get some electrical putty the kind you use to seal the wire on the top of your electrical meter at house and use that between you sender and hull. You can the move it around inside any where you want to till you get a good reading, the either leave it stuck with that or they make a plastic piece that glues to bilge floor then you fill it up with mineral oil and the transponder fits onto of that piece with a trim piece to seal the oil in. Had mine stuck to bilge floor with that putty for two years and hasn't come unstuck yet even when its been under water and nice part you can pop it off anytime its in the way and reapply it.
 

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