Location for transducer

mawyatt

New Member
Dec 13, 2007
1,001
Clearwater, Fl
Boat Info
2008 Sundancer 38DA
Engines
8.1L Mercruisers
Hi celepop,

Thanks for helping us loyal SeaRay owners and giving your time and expertise. We have a new 2008 38DA that I want to add a Sat TV, Radar and Sounder. I want to start with the sounder install. I have decided to go with the "in hull" (Airmar P79) rather than "thru hull" transducer and Raymarine DSM30 sounder module. My question: is the starboard area just forward of the V-Drive near the stringer a good location for the P79 in hull transducer? This area seems like a direct hull contact area without any platforms or mounting fixtures to deal with. I am sure I will have additional questions as I progress through these installations I am going to attempt myself.

Thanks for your help and welcome aboard!!!
 
Hi celepop,

Thanks for helping us loyal SeaRay owners and giving your time and expertise. We have a new 2008 38DA that I want to add a Sat TV, Radar and Sounder. I want to start with the sounder install. I have decided to go with the "in hull" (Airmar P79) rather than "thru hull" transducer and Raymarine DSM30 sounder module. My question: is the starboard area just forward of the V-Drive near the stringer a good location for the P79 in hull transducer? This area seems like a direct hull contact area without any platforms or mounting fixtures to deal with. I am sure I will have additional questions as I progress through these installations I am going to attempt myself.

Thanks for your help and welcome aboard!!!

As my knowledge of the bilge is limited, I can wait until we return to work the week of the 23rd and ask the QC inspectors on that line (hopefully we will still have a boat or two of the 38's still in the building to refer to as both the 38&40 are returning to FL) Ill see where we actually mount the transducer and the Raymarine. No promises on the transducer as we only install them as thru hulls.

But I'll do my best to find out if we still have the boats there to refer to.
 
Mike -

Drop me a line when you give this a try if you want a hand. I have been thinking about some electronics upgrades myself but don't know my way around them very well.

Kevin
 
Hi celepop,

Thanks for helping us loyal SeaRay owners and giving your time and expertise. We have a new 2008 38DA that I want to add a Sat TV, Radar and Sounder. I want to start with the sounder install. I have decided to go with the "in hull" (Airmar P79) rather than "thru hull" transducer and Raymarine DSM30 sounder module. My question: is the starboard area just forward of the V-Drive near the stringer a good location for the P79 in hull transducer? This area seems like a direct hull contact area without any platforms or mounting fixtures to deal with. I am sure I will have additional questions as I progress through these installations I am going to attempt myself.

Thanks for your help and welcome aboard!!!

Any particular reason your going to an in hull transducer? I'm not an expert but I've installed transducers in three of my boats so far all externals , one in my 1978 26ft Weekender and 2 others in boats that have straight inboards, the most recent in my 1988 Express Cruiser. I did not lose bottom at any speed with either of my installation on the boats with inboards. I believe you just get a better response with these installs. Don't get me wrong, I don't like drilling holes either in the transom, but in the end I've always found the performance of the unit itself was worth it. After having said that, I've never had any experience with in hull transducers either. My .02 worth.
 
Turbulence under the boat is a factor too. Tru hulls are also are alot more reliable. Just because u have a clear hull location doenst meant the water passing beneath is clean!

Rob
 
Turbulence under the boat is a factor too. Tru hulls are also are alot more reliable. Just because u have a clear hull location doenst meant the water passing beneath is clean!

Rob

Won't argue with you there that turbulance can be a big problem if you install the ducer behind anything that will put it in a "wash" situation. I was always carefull when it came to the installs that the ducer was not behind anything that could cause that type of result. Good to know the thru hulls are reliable, would'nt have went that route before but would consider it next time. Good to know.
 
Mike -

Drop me a line when you give this a try if you want a hand. I have been thinking about some electronics upgrades myself but don't know my way around them very well.

Kevin

Kevin,

Thanks will do. I'm in Home Port. I am an Electrical Engineer so know my way around the electrical & electronics, now the mechnical stuff is where I need to learn more.
 
Any particular reason your going to an in hull transducer? I'm not an expert but I've installed transducers in three of my boats so far all externals , one in my 1978 26ft Weekender and 2 others in boats that have straight inboards, the most recent in my 1988 Express Cruiser. I did not lose bottom at any speed with either of my installation on the boats with inboards. I believe you just get a better response with these installs. Don't get me wrong, I don't like drilling holes either in the transom, but in the end I've always found the performance of the unit itself was worth it. After having said that, I've never had any experience with in hull transducers either. My .02 worth.

Yes, I didn't want to poke another hole in the hull, which would be directly thru the hull just aft of midship (the standard SR depth transducer is located is this area). Note this is not a transom mount because of the water turbulance from the props, rudders and shafts. From what I have gathered the in hull works fine if located above clean water flow and has a good direct contact with the hull. The drawback is the signal loss thru the hull which reduces depth capability. Since we boat in the gulf and rarely see more than 50', the in hull seemed like the best solution.
 
Turbulence under the boat is a factor too. Tru hulls are also are alot more reliable. Just because u have a clear hull location doenst meant the water passing beneath is clean!

Rob

True, but you have the same issue with a thru hull regarding turbulence. This is why I am looking just in front of the V-Drive transmission.
 
True, but you have the same issue with a thru hull regarding turbulence. This is why I am looking just in front of the V-Drive transmission.

Mike, from what I've heard so far the thru hull should do the trick. The only thing I can add is to make sure, where ever the ducer will be installed be sure there is nothing located ahead of it such as a rib, another ducer, anything that will cause even a small amount of water flow to be directed into the path of the transducer. I'm sure your probably aware of this, but threw it in anyways. I've had good luck so far with my installs but that had a lot to do with being under the boat where I could see any possible issues regarding water flow off any sort of obstruction which would cause turbulance. I use a Lowrance depthfinder/fishfinder and the quality of my sonar is excellant and happy with the fact I don't lose bottom at any speed. Good luck with the install and would really like to hear back regarding the performance of your sonar as that type of install would be easier than the way I do it and would consider it in the future.
 
Mike, from what I've heard so far the thru hull should do the trick. The only thing I can add is to make sure, where ever the ducer will be installed be sure there is nothing located ahead of it such as a rib, another ducer, anything that will cause even a small amount of water flow to be directed into the path of the transducer. I'm sure your probably aware of this, but threw it in anyways. I've had good luck so far with my installs but that had a lot to do with being under the boat where I could see any possible issues regarding water flow off any sort of obstruction which would cause turbulance. I use a Lowrance depthfinder/fishfinder and the quality of my sonar is excellant and happy with the fact I don't lose bottom at any speed. Good luck with the install and would really like to hear back regarding the performance of your sonar as that type of install would be easier than the way I do it and would consider it in the future.

This is why I was asking SR about the location since my boat is in the water and I can't get under to see. The SR depth transducer is located true center just forward of the V Drives, so my thought was to move to starboard for the P79 location. If I mess up and pick a bad location I can always move to another location easier than with a thru hull :>)
 
This is why I was asking SR about the location since my boat is in the water and I can't get under to see. The SR depth transducer is located true center just forward of the V Drives, so my thought was to move to starboard for the P79 location. If I mess up and pick a bad location I can always move to another location easier than with a thru hull :>)

Agree with that.
 
This is why I was asking SR about the location since my boat is in the water and I can't get under to see. The SR depth transducer is located true center just forward of the V Drives, so my thought was to move to starboard for the P79 location. If I mess up and pick a bad location I can always move to another location easier than with a thru hull :>)


I just had a shoot through hull transducer installed. It is in front of the starboard transmission on the other side of the stringer, basically located just to the right of the A/C Strainer mount, perhaps a bit more forward, so far it seems to work very well. Of course I do not know how deep of water you will be using yours in and if it would make any difference, the depth on how well the shoot through works.
 
I,ve posted this before but the thru hull works great with a stern drive! I installed a Lowrance combo in my 260 DA without any problems. Location is the key and follow install directions. A clear shot is important.
 
I just had a shoot through hull transducer installed. It is in front of the starboard transmission on the other side of the stringer, basically located just to the right of the A/C Strainer mount, perhaps a bit more forward, so far it seems to work very well. Of course I do not know how deep of water you will be using yours in and if it would make any difference, the depth on how well the shoot through works.


This is exactly where I was planning. We boat in the Gulf and rarely see more than 50'.

Thanks for the info,
 
Go with an Airmar tilted element transducer. I just installed one on my 340DA V-drives. You will not like the results of an in hull. Just doesn't make any sense.
George

George,

Please check the responses above, seems to work Ok for Pseudomind. We boat in the Gulf and 50' is more than enough. Plan on using the Airmar P79 in hull.
 
I just installed the p79 on my 290. It works great. As I understand it, the in hull (shoot thru hull) work better when on plane than the thru hull, but give a less accurate reading at rest.

The instructions direct you to get a base reading before picking an install site by holding the unit in the water in 100 feet of water. Then put the unit in a plastic bag with some rv anti freeze (the pink stuff) and move it around the possible install areas.

My dock neighbor has a thru hull and we get the same readings while traveling or at rest.

The install was very simple. The most difficult part was fishing the wire up to the helm from the bilge.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,865
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top