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 Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull
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jr225ho
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1394 posts
Muscatine Iowa
 Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull12:54 PM 6/4/2007 Reply  Edit

Had a few email about Shooting a transducer thru the hull so here is what I did:


I put mine on the bottom step on one side of the center weld.
First you need to make a flat area where you are going to mount the transducer. Sand all the paint, weld splatter, etc… down so you have a nice clean flat surface. Finish with a sanding of 400 or 600 grit paper. Wash the area and vacuum out. Degreaser the area a couple of times. Wipe the area down with some acetone and finally wipe it down with some alcohol. The area has to be as clean as you can get it if you haven’t already got the picture with the above instructions.

Now you need to make a ring around where the transducer is going to go the keep the epoxy in place while it sets up. Plumbers putty works well for this. Just place the transducer in the cleaned area and make a ring with the putty that’s about ½” away from the entire perimeter of the transducer so when you pour the epoxy in it doesn’t run all over the place.

Now for the epoxy which is the tricky part. You need a 2 part epoxy that has a long cure time “working time”. Get the longest working time you can find, I think mine was a half hour but if I could of found two hour I would of used it. When you mix the epoxy you can’t get any air bubbles in it. I squirt the epoxy in the bottom corner of a zip lock or sandwich bag then twist the bag so there is just a ball of epoxy in on corner. Then squeeze and roll the ball to mix the epoxy.

Once it is all mixed cut a little corner of the bag off and squeeze the epoxy into the ring you made out of the putty. Then push the transducer into the puddle of epoxy and put a weight on top of the transducer to keep it in place while the epoxy cures. Clear as mud?

Oh a puck transducer works the best. I haven't tried any other style.

2006 21' Xpress X-21 LE - Evinrude 225HO - 12" Hydraulic

http://www.machlink.com/~jr225ho/


FedXpress
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Old Hickory Tn
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (jr225ho) »5:29 PM 6/5/2007 Reply  Edit

I have used the Aluaducer that is made to shoot though up to .120 Aluminum and it works Great.
Fedxpress
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Kent



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Shreveport LA
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (FedXpress) »10:15 AM 6/6/2007 Reply  Edit

I followed JR's instructions to the letter and epoxied the transducer that came with my Zercon flasher and it works great. It is not a puck type, but it worked fine.
Bama Stripes
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Southside Al
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (FedXpress) »8:42 PM 1/3/2008 Reply  Edit

Has anyone else had success with the Alumaducer ? I am having problems with my Lowrance X125 losing the bottom after my HD18CC planes off.
Maxpress
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Bainbridge Georgia
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (Bama Stripes) »10:04 PM 1/3/2008 Reply  Edit

I've had an Alumiducer in two Xpress's and they worked great in both. The most important thing is installation and having no bubbles in the epoxy. Place it as near the drain plug as possible without being in the way of anything else and a hair to one side or the other of the center weld on the pad.

I can usually get a pretty good picture of the bottom up to 50 or 55 mph...I don't really have a need to be able to see any detail at speeds faster than that because you are covering so much distance by the time you see something you've already gone a couple hundred feet and I've got lots more stuff going on to worry about and I'm not looking at the depth finder at 75+ mph...



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Bama Stripes
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Southside Al
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (Maxpress) »4:06 PM 1/4/2008 Reply  Edit

Thanks for the information ! Do you feel the detail you see while idleing is as good as a transom mounted unit ? I fish for stripe and need to find schools of bait.
Maxpress
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Bainbridge Georgia
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (Bama Stripes) »10:14 PM 1/4/2008 Reply  Edit

Yes, no doubt it works as good or better than a transom mount transducer for me




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Brettl
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Pittsburgh PA
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (Maxpress) »12:12 AM 1/30/2008 Reply  Edit

Has anyone ever taken a picture of the finish product that they can post?
Bama Stripes
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Southside Al
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (Brettl) »8:37 PM 2/19/2008 Reply  Edit

I installed the Alumaducer on my new HD18CC and it works great (my dealer, Lowrance, & Xpress could not get the X125 to read once boat was on plane).

I get positive bottom readings as fast as she will go (45 mph). Detail is clear, I can now follow schools of shad chasing stipers.

I highly recommend this product !!!!!!!

Modified by Bama Stripes at 10:26 AM 2/20/2008
ILUV2FISH
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CORDOVA TN
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (jr225ho) »4:54 PM 2/21/2008 Reply  Edit

The best way to make a transducer shoot thru a alum. hull is to use a pvc pipe coupling. The dia. of pipe is based on the size of u're transducer. For instance
if get a 6" dia x 8" lg. pipe. Make sure the boat surface is clean. Put silicone around one side of the pipe end, maybe 1/4" thick. Place to bottom of boat with a slight turn to make sure the spread is even. Let cure and place transducer in pipe and fill with water. It will read at any speed you go. If u have a double hull alum. floor bottom boat, it won't work...only on single floor bottom...
Optimax200
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Livingston Texas
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (ILUV2FISH) »9:51 PM 5/28/2008 Reply  Edit

well finally broke off my transducer for the second time, so I followed jr's instructions to the letter and epoxied my transducer on the inside right next to the drain plug, which was the only open space on the bottom. that was a job in itself, and I really hope it works. my only question was how much epoxy to use, my transducer is about half submerged. will let you know if it works or not, and thanks for the instructions.Xpress 21 - 200 Optimax
Optimax200
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Livingston Texas
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (Optimax200) »11:48 PM 6/1/2008 Reply  Edit

man that works great, I was very surprised. Xpress 21 - 200 Optimax
Rincon650
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Lafayette LA
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (Optimax200) »10:15 PM 5/3/2009 Reply  Edit

I contacted humminbird and was told that they don't make a transducer that will shoot through an aluminum hull. My transome mounted transducer got knocked off the other day and I'm reluctant to put another one on the transom. I'm currently using a humminbird 363 graph/gps. Will the normal "arrowhead" shaped transducer work or do I need a special transducer to shoot through the hull? Thanks,

Silver 2008 X19, 150hp Yamaha four stroke
jr225ho
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1394 posts
Muscatine Iowa
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (Rincon650) »8:30 AM 5/4/2009 Reply  Edit

If yours is broke anyway try it. I think it will still work but I have only tried the puck style.

2006 21' Xpress X-21 LE - Evinrude 225HO - 12" Hydraulic

http://www.machlink.com/~jr225ho/
Rincon650
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Lafayette LA
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (jr225ho) »10:20 AM 5/4/2009 Reply  Edit

Well, the problem is I actually lost the transducer. All I have left hanging off the back of the transom is a wire and half of the bracket. Does anyone know if humminbird makes a puck style transducer? If I get another transducer and place it on the bottom of the hull and submerge it in expoxy, if it doesn't work, how do you remove it?

Silver 2008 X19, 150hp Yamaha four stroke
jr225ho
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1394 posts
Muscatine Iowa
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (Rincon650) »1:07 PM 5/4/2009 Reply  Edit

Acetone will soften up the epoxy enough for removal.

2006 21' Xpress X-21 LE - Evinrude 225HO - 12" Hydraulic

http://www.machlink.com/~jr225ho/
Bama Stripes
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Southside Al
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (jr225ho) »2:30 PM 5/5/2009 Reply  Edit

Go with an Alumaducer, it solves the problem of shooting thru an aluminum hull.
RipX21
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Paris TX
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (Bama Stripes) »1:08 AM 5/7/2009 Reply  Edit

I beat up the pad on mine a few years back. Had another pad bent out of .125 alum, about six feet long, and welded it on top of beat up pad. A transducer probably wouldn't work on this would it?
jr225ho
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1394 posts
Muscatine Iowa
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (RipX21) »7:18 AM 5/7/2009 Reply  Edit

No, not on a double hull. Did you do it on all the steps or just the bottom?

2006 21' Xpress X-21 LE - Evinrude 225HO - 12" Hydraulic

http://www.machlink.com/~jr225ho/
Rincon650
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91 posts
Lafayette LA
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (jr225ho) »7:52 PM 5/8/2009 Reply  Edit

I looked at the alumaducer on their website. I think this is the product that I'm going with.

Silver 2008 X19, 150hp Yamaha four stroke
Rincon650
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Lafayette LA
 Re: Shooting Transducer thru an aluminum hull (Rincon650) »10:37 PM 8/28/2009 Reply  Edit

I had completely forgotten about this post. If anyone's interested in putting an alumaducer in their Xpress, you need to do it. I've had mine installed for about 2-3 months and it works great. My transon looks much better without a wire hanging off the back of it.

Silver 2008 X19, 150hp Yamaha four stroke
 


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