Kayak Thru Hull Transducer

[peguinpower]

Test results:

The original gooped transom mount tx vs. the thru-hull tx, the thru-hull has about 100% better performance. The thru-hull tx versus my other kayak, with a purpose built shoot-thru-hull tx is better by about 30%.

That said, I would say that I may settle for a purpose built shoot-thru-hull installation with epoxy next time. Its a small sacrifice compared to drilling thru the hull Smile

I observed that I get arches on the screen as against having almost none before. I can track a 3/8 oz lead headed swimbait 100% of the time now. Previously, I could only see the heavier metal lures, and even those, intermittently. It was also interesting to see weaker signals, the most interesting of which was seeing an arch over the bottom reading. Halibut? Duhno. Nothing was biting today.

Secondly, the seal. I am not entirely sure if I have a leak. I used the 3M 5200 very sparingly. After 5 hours on the water, I drained the hull and came away with less than 1/4 cup water. On the water, I had a small puddle that you can slap with your hand, but that was all. Nothing a shamwow couldnt handle Smile Not enough to get a hand pump primed.

I am not sure if this was from the transducer or from constantly opening the center hatch to check for leaks. As any Hobie owner knows, opening the center hatch makes water on the hatch drip into the hull.

I will be doing more tests to check if I do have a leak.

Conclusion: I should do a static test in a pool or something, but sadly, I don't have that kind of time right now (the first sea trial lasted 5 hours).

If there is any conclusion to be had at this point, GOOPED transducers are short changing the user. There is more performance to be had with alternative installations.

Do I recommend a thru-the-hull TX installation. If I get a bone dry seal, I would say yes, but that remains to be seen.

[Iceman]

Bing, looking at the install, I'd be surprised if even one drop came through.

[yakrider]

I sure wish Lowrance would make one of those

[Jason]

Bing, thanks for the motivational post.



FWIW, the hull is almost 1/4" thick where I drilled the hole.

After a solid year of use, this area of the hull has almost no scratches.

Sea trial on Sunday.

[peguinpower]

Originally Posted by Jason

Sea trial on Sunday.

I would really be interested in your review. Good luck!

/bing

[Jason]

Originally Posted by peguinpower

I would really be interested in your review. Good luck!

/bing

I'll report back...

I know one thing is for sure, I'll never use Goop to install an in-hull again. Too many air bubbles, just like the ones previously posted in this thread.

[peguinpower]

Originally Posted by Jason

I'll report back...

I know one thing is for sure, I'll never use Goop to install an in-hull again. Too many air bubbles, just like the ones previously posted in this thread.

Can you also please confirm these two observations.

1) I can now tune down sensitivity. On my old gooped installation, it didnt matter whether I have it on 5 or maxed at 20. Now, by tweaking the FF between 12 and 20, I can control the amount of extra specks on the screen.

2) I can now induce a double bottom echo in the shallows, something I couldnt do before.

/bing

[wiseguy]

Is there a thru-hull ducer for the Lowrance x50ds?

[cjthomas]

I know Lowrance makes a shoot thru hull transducer that mounts on the inside.

http://www.lei-extras.com/store/sear...t&Unit=X-50+DS

I traded my transom mount in for an exchange of a shoot thru and they sent me quick drying epoxy for it. Has anybody used this before with success?

[ronbo613]

First of all; I would say it takes some good sized balls to drill a big hole in a perfectly good boat.

If there is any conclusion to be had at this point, GOOPED transducers are short changing the user. There is more performance to be had with alternative installations.

I don't know if that's true. I have a transducer in my kayak that shoots through the hull that saw to 3K'(that's as far out as I've ever gone in the ocean); no problems, perfect imaging on a cheap Eagle fishfinder. I also had a much more expensive finder on a 23' Skipjack with an external transducer.
The external transducer was not much more accurate than the one in my kayak; readings were affected by bubbles in the water. Looking at the photos of the transducers removed from the kayak hulls in this thread; there is no doubt the bubbles in the Goop; or whatever it is that was used to mount the transducer to the hull; affected your readings. The key is to apply the Goop; or whatever, slowly and bubble-free; then push the transducer down slowly so no bubbles are created. The end result should be a "thin as skin" layer of Goop between the transducer and the hull. Any air bubbles in the Goop should appear on the perimeter of the transducer as the bubbles are forced out from under the transducer body.
But hey; if an external mount works better; that's great. If you fish in a more remote area; where your kayak is dragged across rocks and logs and non-urban launch sites; anything sticking out of your kayak is not going to fare well.
Depends on what you do.