Installing a new depth finder advice?

[Russ]

In the past, I have always mounted my depth transducer INSIDE the hull in a bed of silicone caulk. Just squeeze out a giant blob of caulk (ensuring no bubbles) and then smashing the transducer into the blob. Has worked great and can be removed with a sharp knife.

Then I found the duct putty method and used it on my Mac last year. Easier to do and easier to remove if desired.

I used this "duct putty".
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Ben ... /100212441

Here's the video I found that showed how. It's a kayak but the principles are the same. Again, I mounted it aft outside the ballast tank so it would work while the boat under power.

The SideView features of the chartplotter do not work. I don't need those fancy fish finder side view features anyway.
Overeasy is designing a "box" to mount his so the sideview transducer so the sideview feature of the transducer will work. I can't wait to see his results.

[Jimmyt]

Just wanted to throw my vote in for mounting the transducer somewhere beside the transom. I'm on my second setup on the transom, and still not happy with it. Next step is moving it to the hull as everyone is suggesting here.

[AmandaRuth]

Russ - I don't know - it's just plastic, so I presumed under that is the ballast tank. I use that entire area for storage. I put in an elevated dog bed to provide a layer of shelving, as well. Dog bed was just the right height and width...

[Be Free]

Bill - uh oh, I thought I was following but now I think I'm more confused. So does it have to go inside of the ballast tank? If so, how do you get it in there? Water temp isn't important to my needs - not a fisher. I was hoping I could just adhere it somewhere that was easy to access.

My batteries are in the small seat aft of the galley - but likely what I wrote previously was confusing...and now that I ponder it further, the second battery may be under the built in cooler area. It's been a while since I've fiddled with them thankfully.

No! I was not suggesting you put in in the ballast tank, just that you not mount it on top of the tank.

I had no idea you could get two batteries in there. I have a group 31 start/marine battery in there and I thought that was pushing it. My house batteries are 4 6V golf cart batteries on the other side under the aft dinette seat. Do you still have the cooler there? I did not know any of them were still functional.

[Be Free]

Russ,

She has an "X". Where is "aft storage compartment under the aft berth" (other than "under the aft berth" ). I'm not sure we have that one.

Bill

Interesting. What is under your aft berth? Under those cushions?

It appears to be ballast tank and stiffeners or maybe some crossover passages connecting the parts of the tank. There is some area between the tank and the port and starboard sides of the hull but I would not want to put anything in there I needed to get to. It could slide pretty much the whole length of the aft berth forward and aft.

There is a small area between the back of the berth and the transom that I've used to store spare life jackets and boxes with spare batteries and electrical components (in watertight boxes).

[AmandaRuth]

Bill - just confirmed and took pics - my second battery is neatly tucked between the cooler and the lip near the head. I took the cooler out just to take the pic.





I unplugged all 3 of the golden rods while I was over there thanks to you all for that info.

[Spector]

Hawkeye recommends testing any location by putting the transducer in a ziploc bag of water and putting that against the hull to ensure it will shoot thru the spot before doing anything permanent.
Sorry no pics of my install