Installing a Transducer

[GoFish101]

I am about to fit my new fish finder to my boat this weekend and im a little unsure about fitting the tranducer. It says in the instruction to drill into the fibreglass and mount it on the transom. IS there any thing i need to take care doing? Is fibreglass easy to crack while drilling etc. Also it says that i need marine sealant but is silicon sealent just as good?

Thanks
Joe

[duncan]

Joe

Couple of tips

1. start with an oversize drill the full diameter of the screws. Drill just 2 mm throught the gel coat. this will stop the gel gracking around the hole when you screw
2. then the right size hole - ie a clean straight hole just undersize not one you are going to have to force the screws into! If in doubt drill some hard wood and trial it.
3. fill hole with marine caulk or sikaflex - worth having a small tube for use when drilling any holes!
4. screw on the fitting

the caulk/sikaflex will ensure that no water gets along the screw into the glass or even ply in the transom.

[nimue]

joe,
It's really easy, duncan got it spot on. Only takes a few minutes but when marking for drilling holes remember to take the full steering travel of main and backup outboards into account. Don't want to knock it off!!!

Tommy and I are trying to sort some dates out and we'll let you know....hope you don't mind early starts!!!

Stay safe , Jules.

[nimue]

So how did it go Joe? All sorted?
I haven't had time to get nimue sea ready yet so am coming down weds and going out on Tommy's boat, you gonna join us?

stay safe jules.

[GoFish101]

Hi Jules, I have not got round to fitting it yet, I'll probably get it done in between revising for my exams some time this week. Afraid i can't make it wednesday too busy getting prepared for my exams over the next few weeks. Once my exams are over after the 3rd July i will have plenty of spare time so can meet up with you anytime after that.

Cheers
Joe