Sea Ray 175 Hull construction / transducers

works

works

New Member
Aug 12, 2008
3
Anyone knows what is the real story with the hull construction in the bilge area (under the engine) for Sea Ray 175 Sport new models (2008/2009).

I wanted to install an in-hull transducer. I contacted Sea Ray and they told me that there is no place in the bilge that the transducer will work, due to the foam insterts and that the entire area in the bilge is reinforcement for the inserts and not the actual hull.

I placed the transducer under the engine in the trial (water in the bilge) and it was able to detect bottom. I don't know how reliable that would be and don't want to install permanently.

Anyone can confirm that there is no access to hull in the bilge area?

Thanks....
 
Are you talking about an "in-hull" or "shoot-thru" transducer? If it's a shoot-thru, you can check the mounting location by placing the transducer in a small zip-lock bag filled with water. Put the bag in the bilge, and secure it in place. (Another bag filled with sand will do the trick.) Check the depth readings while at idle, no wake speed, and WOT. If you get accurate readings, you’ve found a good spot. If not, then the folks at Sea Ray gave you some good advice. For what it’s worth, I installed a shoot-thru in my 2003 176 without issue.
 
I am thinking about shoot-through (i.e. one that is glued to the bottom of the bilge.
Do you have any pictures of the location of your transducer in your boat?
 
I no longer have the boat and don’t have a picture, but I can describe the location for you. My transducer was located a couple inches to the starboard side of the centerline, about 5 or 6 inches forward from the bilge pump. If you look under the engine, you’ll see the area I’m referencing. Lots of room. Very easy to reach. I did have to fine tune the mounting location a bit, but I found one. Please keep in mind that the manufacturing process could be different in the newer models. If Sea Ray told you a shoot-thru won’t work properly, there’s at least a fair chance they’re right.
 
Thanks, Appreciate your reply....

I will be trying with the water bag, or bilge filled with water to try to find a sweet spot.

BTW, Did you like your previous boat? What did you use it most for?
 
I have an 08 205 Sport. I tried a shoot thru in the bilge area. It would not work. I contacted my local MM store and they told me that there was no place in the bilge area that the transducer would work. I ended up doing a transom mount.
 
I have the 07 175 Sport, and spent quite some time trying to get a "thru hull" transducer to work in the bilge using the method described above. I finally gave up and purchased a transom mount transducer.....works great now.
 
Hi, works. I really enjoyed my 176. She was my first boat. (You never forget your first!) I used her primarily as a runabout; exploring the coves, islands, and rivers where I live. Eventually, the deep water began to call so I went with something a bit more suited for near-shore use. My boys also recently discovered fishing and really like to make a mess. Simply not permitted on the Sea Ray.
 
I recently installed a "shoot-thru" transducer on my 05 180 Sport and it works great. I had contacted Sea Ray but they would not advise on a location since it was not available as an original equipment option.
I located the transducer on the port side, middle of the bilge, about 10 inches from center line....no problems.
 
jhild said:
I no longer have the boat and don’t have a picture, but I can describe the location for you. My transducer was located a couple inches to the starboard side of the centerline, about 5 or 6 inches forward from the bilge pump. If you look under the engine, you’ll see the area I’m referencing. Lots of room. Very easy to reach. I did have to fine tune the mounting location a bit, but I found one. Please keep in mind that the manufacturing process could be different in the newer models. If Sea Ray told you a shoot-thru won’t work properly, there’s at least a fair chance they’re right.
Click to expand...

Great thanks! Im going to mount my 176 up this weekend and see what I can get, Ill start with that spot.
 
sea ray's have hull liners in them with a foam or "gunk" in between the two pieces. the foam has air pockets in it thus not allowing a "shoot thru" transducer to read correctly. why not use a thru hull transducer like they do from the factory???? i am not a fan of transom mount transducers as they look like aftermartket and are easily broken off by hitting the trailer while loading. my 2 cents
 
I found a place today that seemed to work. Loaded up the transducer with ky jelly and slid it around it until it started reading....just a bit down and forward of the fuel pump.
 
Your boat has a liner in the bilge with foam in between the hull and the liner. but you should be able to put a transducer in it the thrads just need to be long enough to go through the hull and foam.........
 
I'm a first timer and I'm quite confused here. LOL!

What's the difference between a "shoot-thru" an "in-hull" and a "thru-hull"?

I too would prefer to have a transducer that's mounted inside the boat rather than on the transom, but am confused by the terminology here. Sorry, I'm a newbie.

I'm looking at getting the Humminbird 610 or 610P depending on what works for my boat, an 08 175 Sport. Anyone have any thoughts with this unit, good, bad or indifferent? If I'm not mistaken the gauge will also fit right into the available hole in my dash also? I don't need anything fancy. Just something to give me a reliable depth reading and that fits in the available opening with little modification.

Any advice would be great!

Thanks!
 
Sluggo:

A “shoot-thru” transducer is glued to the inside of the bilge using epoxy. The sonar beam passes through the hull. The unit never touches the water.

An “in-hull” or “thru-hull” unit is installed by drilling a hole in the hull and mounting the transducer in the hole.

You didn’t ask, but a “transom mount” transducer is just that: Mounted on the exterior of the hull on the transom.

I used a Humminbird 610 (with the shoot-thru puck transducer) on my 176BR with good results. I have the same unit (only with a transom mount transducer) on my current boat. No problems whatsoever.

There are several posts regarding depth finders and 175/176/180 bow riders. You should use the search feature to get some additional info before you purchase.
 
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I have installed a shoot through on my 2005 205 sport and it works great. I just haven't glued it down yet. For testing i just set it in the bottom of the boat and it worked.
 
I too wanted to mount a shoot-thru but due to the bilge liner was unable to do so. My next option was a thru-hull but due to concerns with the bilge liner, I contacted sea ray and they strongly opposed installing a thru-hull due to the liner. Not to say that it can't be done, but I just chose to do a transom mount to be on the safe side. As for "aftermarket look", you can't see it when it's in the water, heck, you can't even see the cable since everything is under the swim step.
 
Can anyone post a picture of where the you mounted the shoot-thru transducer. I have an 06 Sea Ray 185 Sport, bought a Garmin 440s with a shoot-thru tranducer but can find the right place to mount it. A million thanks in advance.
 
I have a 2008 185 sport and I installed the HDR610 with through hull transducer and it works great. Here is the pic of the transducer location

Jeff
 

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