installing Fish finder chart plotter
 

i just purchased a HDS-5 Garmin combo fish finder/ Gps...and wanted to know if anyone has mounted the Transducer that comes with the unit to the interior of the hull...so as to shoot thru the hull but not be a thru hull type transducer? the Transducer that comes with it is a skimmer type that gets mounted on the Transom...

Martin

Re: installing Fish finder chart plotter
 

hmmm.. i really dont know if you can take a transom mount transducer and install it as a shoot thru the hull type transducer. I mean physically it can be done but i'm questionning the affect on performance. I believe your transom mount unit has speed & temperature sensors which means you will lose the temp sensor if mounted inside the hull.

Maybe someone here has tried to do that conversion and can chime in.

Re: installing Fish finder chart plotter
 

The two are a complete different design. Go to Lowrances website and there is lots of info on the different types. From what I can gather , the shoot thru hull ducer has a narrower "cone angle" than the transom mount ducer. Plus the shoot thru hull unit is not as definitive as the transom mount transducer. Another thing to consider is how are you going to mount the ducer so it is pointing straight down? If there is any void at all between the ducer and the hull it won't read right , if at all.

Stick with the transom mount transducer.

Just my opinion :)

Larry

Re: installing Fish finder chart plotter
 

i guess i have trouble drilling holes into my boat for something other than necessary repairs or performance equipment. but i think i am just going to have to bite the bullet and drill away. thanks:(

Re: installing Fish finder chart plotter
 

When you attach the transducer to the transom, make sure and put 3M 5200 Adhesive Sealant in the drill holes before you insert the screws, and put some on the screws before you screw them in. You'll have no worries whatsoever with that stuff.....

'course you'll never be able to get them out or remove the transducer either. :)

Re: installing Fish finder chart plotter
 

Just Duck Tape it!

Re: installing Fish finder chart plotter
 

will hundred mile an hour tape work...DCB?

Re: installing Fish finder chart plotter
 

I was really worried when I drilled into my boat for the transom mount transducer. I laid down some blue painters tape then the first 1/8 inch i set the drill to go backward so I didn't chip the gel coat. Then set the drill for forward and drill about 1 inch and that was it. The really nerve wracking part was drilling the 1 inch hole for the transducer cable to go through the transom. With the hole drill bit you definitely have to drill backwards the first 1/8-1/4 inch because of gel coat chipping. Just make sure you do as ShabahZ250 said and use the 3M 5200, make sure you put a lot in the 1 inch hole and spread it all around making sure all the exposed wood is covered.

Re: installing Fish finder chart plotter
 

a friend of mine gave me the advice of not drilling a hole at all. he said "are u going to be fishing everytime you go out?" so he mentioned just install the transom mount for the transducer and any cable hold down system i want, but just keep it disconnected until needed. makes sense to me because i can run the cable to the engine area and leave the transducer laying inside till needed. and the best part is that i dont have drill a hole thru the hull....may not be the sexiest way to do this but when fishing its not a fashion show...:yes_grin:

Re: installing Fish finder chart plotter
 

Hi martin182

Just a thought here, my transducer and depth finder are used much more for navigating in unknown waters than they are for fish finding, I would hate being without it at any time. If you only boat in familiar waters you may be comfortable without it but I think in most cases, fishing finding is secondary to it being a navigational aid.

Just my 0.02 cents worth