tranducer mounting

[hankster]

first I need to say I have an old boat....90 angler...and shes been good to me.... however the electronics have been needin an upgrade.....so I went out and bought the New Lowrance HDS GEN2 Touch....with the two diffrent transducers. reg/2D/3D. Basicly I went all out!!! just nervous about drilling in the hull!!!!! any tips i should know about. I'm a metal guy not so much fiberglass..... with metal you just weld it back up!!! so with glass how do i remove the old one without it leaking?(into the hull) and tips for installing the new ones please.

thanks

[chromer]

I just went through same. Well not really, I paid a installer to do it. Placement of your transducers is important, esp the LSS-2 unit. It shoots 3 beams - left, right, and down. The consideration is the angled side beams being ubstructrd by something like motor shaft. Thtaway or Sunbeam will likely answer your fiberglass question. So far, I am really enjoying the HDS - 9 setup

[rogerbum]

The best thing you can do to mount the transducers is to mount pieces of starboard (or other plastic "wood") to the transom and then mount the transducers to those. The starboard will allow you to adjust the transducers or put a new one on in the future without drilling new (additional) holes in the transom.

As for how to mount the starboard, there's a number of threads on that but in brief, cut the starboard to size and drill mounting holes in it. Do a test mount of the starboard and mark where the mounting holes meet the transom. Slightly over drill the holes into the transom. You only need to go through the outer layer of glass and part way into the core. If your transom is in good shape, the core should be clean and dry. If it's not or if water runs out when you drill that first hole, re-post here.

Assuming the core is good, use a dremel tool to under cut the core - e.g. you want to remove the core between the two layers of fiberglass. You can do this with a small grinding stone or even a bent nail mounted in a dremel or drill. I've usually drilled about a 1/2" hole and then I use a half in diameter grinding bit in a dremel tool. That lets me remove almost 1/4" of core under the glass. Make sure the holes are deep enough to accomodate the screw you plan on using. Clean everything up with a little alcohol or other solven and fill the holes with thickened epoxy. Then put the board up and re-drill holes that are appropriate for the screws you will use. I also like to undercut the starboard on the back side where the screws go through. Then when I attach the board, I can fill that undercut void with 3M4200 or silkaflex and it creates a little o-ring around the screw. This probably isn't necessary with the thickened epoxy behind it, but it doesn't hurt anything.

[rogerbum]

Here's a previous thread where Thataway Bob described the process in detail.

[thataway]

Excellent descriptions above--and congratulations on buying a great instrument! I am jealous!

In this case, I would first remove the old transducer. Take a piece of light cardboard or heavy paper, and mark where these old holes are, and also the bottom of the transom. If possible I would like to use the old holes to help to hold the Starboard in place. After you make the Template, then do the drill out and under cut--of these old holes. Get any wet core out in this area of the transom (if present).

With the two transducers and as Chromer notes the possible obstruction by motor, trim tabs etc, you may even have to put on a very wide piece of Starboard or even two pieces. The advantage of the external mounting board is that you can move the transducers easily to get the perfect picture.

[thataway]

This is a photo taken by Fishton and posted on THT.




And some images from the LSS1 & LSS2 Again by Fishton and posted on THT. There is also some discussion about the mounts an scans.

[dread]

I used a SternSaver (available at West Marine, I think -- I ordered mine directly -- and glued it to the transom where the transducer had previously -- and improperly -- been installed. It worked fine, although the pin that holds the Stern
Saver while the glue is curing didn't stay stuck to the boat, so I had to rig a solution. I screwed the transducer mount into the SternSaver. It worked fine - Raymarine transducer on a 25' Cruiser.

[hankster]

so what made or prompted you to install the lss 2 closest to the center? how close is it to the motor? are you able to get the ful picture?

[thataway]

Hankster, as I noted below the photos these were posted by Fishton on The Hull Truth. I would suggest that you to the THT, and ask Fishton about his installation. I put these up so people who were not familiar with the transducer's size and complexity of installation could view this issue.

[24Salty]

Check out a product called Stern Savers, they are designed to be epoxyed to the stern and the transducers mounted to them rather than having to tap into the transom.

[Sunbeam]

[hankster]

just wondering if you get any interference with the structure scan being that clost to the motor? or vice versa

[thataway]

There are some of the fishing forums, including THT where you can get some good answers. My understanding is that you want to be 15" outside of the motor. To the Starboard side, because of the right hand prop, you have less turbulance on the right side. You may have to raise the enngine when trolling and looking at structure. Remember that these are limited depths for the side scan elements.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/422004-lss-2-mounting-location.html

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/494855-help-transducer-placement-tideline-19-cat.html

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-q-boe-marine/414462-help-mounting-multiple-transducers-lss1-83-200-existing-garmin-transducer.html


These are three links--but if go to THT and do a search for "Lowrance Structure scan transducer location".

[hankster]

I plant to mount the Starboard to the transom with four Weld Mount studs, then screw the transducer into the Starboard. That way I don't have to worry about the adhesive/Starboard issue. I haven't done it yet, so can't report on how it will work (although I have used Weld Mounts elsewhere on the boat).

Sunbeam


what are weld mounts?

[Sunbeam]