Sealing a hole for transducer wire?

[edsmax]

I am going to install my transom mounted transducer for my Garmin 545s (finally). Any special instructions for drilling the hole in the transom and then making a watertight seal??

 

[Bucit]

I installed 4 underwater lights this last weekend and had to drill 4 holes in the transom. Make sure the drill bit is the same size as the wire. You don't want a big gap. After drilling use plenty of 5200 in the hole and around the hole. If the transduces is covering the hole put the 500 around the transduces and mount it. You will be fine.

 

[beason]

i installed a depth finder on mine last weekend. There was already a hole from a previous owner so i just poped the patch out of it, sanded the extra off, and reused the hole. It was up high and above the water line. I ran the wire, then put some duct tape inside the hull over the wire to make a back wall in the hole. filled the hole with marine caulke, put some caulke on the back of the wire cover plate, and mounted that over all of it. let it dry overnight before hitting the water. I didnt have any leaks.

 

[edsmax]

Thanks! 3m 5200 sealant seems to be the choice of most.

Ed

 

[Nehalennia]

Ed,
I'll post this here too for the benefit of others

Remove your cup holder under your throttle. Look in there and you will see the wiring that comes from the engine bay.

I installed the transducer on the starboard side of the transom.

use a 3/4" forstner bit for a clean hole.

I should have taped the bottom of the hole to retain some of the 3M 5200 sealant

I ran the cable up and zip tied it back and clean along the other wiring path.

Then once through the hole at the engine bay bulkhead, use some silicone to reseal the hole(you may have to pull out the gob of sealant).
Now you have the wire there behind your catch all/cupholder

you can easily see how it can go behind the helm and attach to your GPS. I would again recommend to wire tie it all back to be a clean installation and make sure it's not interferring with anything.

 

[Bt Doctur]

All well and good BUT the correct way when drilling through wood is:
drill the hole 2 drill sizes larger than the wire
1)Drill the hole and seal 1 side and try to fill the hole with resin and seal with tape and let cure. The reason is to let the raw wood absord the resin to waterproof it.
2) drill another hole slightly larger than the wire , your now drilling through resin ,not dry wood.
3) install wire and push flush and mark, pull wire back the thickness of the transom, apply 5200 and slide wire back in,
put 5200 on cover/clamshell, and install with screws, add more 5200 inside if necessary to fill inside hole.