Is Epoxy better than Goop for transducer mount?

[Billy V]

Does one offer a better picture on the fish finder ?

I'm about to glue one down, and need some expert info.:)

[Holy Mackerel]

To be honest, I am sure some people will say the properties of "type of adhesive" works best... but I just use regular marine goop, dries overnight, and gives me a good picture...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g287/cmfierro/Avatars/P1010173.jpg

[peguinpower]

regular epoxy has a problem sticking to polyethylene kayaks. A little oil canning of the kayak, out pops your transducer.

/bing

[tylerdurden]

Don't use anything. Just set the transducer in the hull. Splash some water around it so there is no air underneath.

All glue, epoxy, and goop methods come undone too soon.

[Holy Mackerel]

I dont like to have water in my hull... But I did see someone made a reservoir out of foam, or pool noodle, for the puck, where you add water to it... I am lazy, I just like to get going, so I use goop.

Mine has not popped off, in my previous yellow kayak, it just took a puddy knife to pop it off. In my current green kayak, I cannot get the puck off, I was gonna move it... I am sure with more patience, it can pop off. I only mention color, because I am not sure if it makes a difference in relation to heat. I know that my green kayak gets HOT sitting on my racks in the sun, maybe the puck fused to the kayak... :eek: :D

[Siebler]

Epoxy isnt as flexible as goop, and your kayak WILL flex. Goop seems to work well for all the units we install at AYS and the OEX stores.

[tylerdurden]

... But I did see someone made a reservoir out of foam, or pool noodle, for the puck, where you add water to it...


That is what I would consider the best way. Just an alternative to goop and glue.

[Handymansd]

I mounted mine with Goop when I got my new yak from Cobra and it hasn't budged yet, I'm pretty happy with the picture too. So far so good.

[Billy V]

Then Goop it is.

Thanks for the help.

[ace8619]

I second goop. Try using Plumbers putty to build a reservoir around the transducer location.

I just left the plumbers putty after the goop cured.

I used the Plumbers Goop you can pick at any Lowes or Home Depot. Works great. You will need 48 hours for it to cure.

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa283/kyotee8619/Transponder_setup/813a3a9e.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa283/kyotee8619/Transponder_setup/4df360c4.jpg

[Donfish]

I always have to be differant.....3M 5200 fast set think flexibilty is as important as adhesion when it comes to fastening to a flexible surface.

[Billy V]

Heres a couple of pics of the transducer Gooped down. I located it between the sailing mast, and the drive well (Hobie Adventure). I figure this area would be fairly stiff. I roughened up the surface with 80 grit aluminum oxide paper, then cleaned it with alcohol.

I was careful to flow the Goop so as not to create any bubbles. Then I placed the puck down in one motion from left to right. I leveled the boat with a pool noodle wedge, and it has stayed put for 3 hours so far.

*Note the "drive well strengthening kit" to the rear of the puck. Its a Hobie thing.

I'll know more next week.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd23b3127cceb580e32129e800000026100AbMmzFizcN2 Ng
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd23b3127cceb580e32b29e200000026100AbMmzFizcN2 Ng

[nmbrinkman]

Is that "marine goop" or regular "goop"?

[dos ballenas]

I always have to be differant.....3M 5200 fast set think flexibilty is as important as adhesion when it comes to fastening to a flexible surface.


you want 3m 4200 FC ... 5200 is like cement, it has no flex, 4200 is for joints, and places that will flex

owyn

[Billy V]

Is that "marine goop" or regular "goop"?

Marine Goop.

[aguachico]

Marine goop has UV inhibitors.

DOn't use GOOP.


3M 4200 is the the way to go other than mounting outside the yak.

After using goop, 4200, water bags and everyother method I can think of, the transducer should be mounted outside a yak for optimal clarity.

[bluesquids]

[quote=aguachico;21494]Marine goop has UV inhibitors.

quote]
Is UV inhibitor a bad thing?
I thought 5200 was standard for thru hull applications.
It seems very flexible. Have not tried 4200 yet because it says
it's less adherent than 5200.
Heard that the kaya tank installs are using Goop now.
I think prep is most important anyway you decide to go.

[dgax65]

[quote=aguachico;21494]Marine goop has UV inhibitors.

quote]
Is UV inhibitor a bad thing?
I thought 5200 was standard for thru hull applications.
It seems very flexible. Have not tried 4200 yet because it says
it's less adherent than 5200.
Heard that the kaya tank installs are using Goop now.
I think prep is most important anyway you decide to go.

I'll agree with that. I've used 3M 5200 (regular and quick cure), Marine Goop and Sikaflex. While I have had mixed results with the sonar performance, all have adhered well to the hull. The key is to rough up the hull first. I really had to struggle to get a couple of the transducers off.

Marine Goop works well but you have to take precautions to prevent bubbles from forming under the transducer. Have everything ready to go before you apply the Goop. Level the hull so the transducer won't move. The key is to put the transducer down in one smooth motion. You don't want to disturb it once it is in place. Every movement seems to create more bubbles.

I've found that a thin layer works best. I just put down enough Goop to seat the entire transducer surface. After it cures for a while I go back and put a little more Goop down. When I apply the second layer I put Goop on the top edge of the transducer and let it run down the sides to contact the first layer. I think this holds the transducer in place better. Some people rough the surface of the transducer for better adhesion. I would rather cover the top than rough the transducer face.

[aguachico]

[quote=aguachico;21494]Marine goop has UV inhibitors.

quote]
Is UV inhibitor a bad thing?
I thought 5200 was standard for thru hull applications.
It seems very flexible. Have not tried 4200 yet because it says
it's less adherent than 5200.
Heard that the kaya tank installs are using Goop now.
I think prep is most important anyway you decide to go.

UV not sure if good or bad - can't hurt I guess.
5200 is the standard for thru hull, this isn't thru hull.

4200 is a personal preference for tranducers. I still use goop around rod holders and my old kayaktank.

[Siebler]

[quote=aguachico;21494]Marine goop has UV inhibitors.

quote]

Heard that the kaya tank installs are using Goop now.



If you have your tank installed it will be done with Goop. This is the same at any OEX or AYS as I do all the installs. If you order a tank and install yourself it will come with 5200 unless you specifically tell me you want the goop.

[bluesquids]

[quote=bluesquids;21527]

this isn't thru hull.


I was just thinking about general adhesion properties.
I just finished some reinforcements to the inside of a hull.
After the plastic weld to a crack I used goop on some strap webbing like a band aide. Gonna glue another plastic stint over that.
I went with goop mostly because it's seems not as messy when poking around inside the hull.
Tip- if you need to do a small reinforcement like a rivet or something, in a hard to reach area. Put a glob of goop on a square of sandwich baggie plastic and stick it where you want. It wont run all over the place and you just slap it up...no mess.

[Habu]

Tried goop but while curing in 75 deg temp filled with bubbles signal quality was lousy. went with ace's 2-part epoxy been happy ever since (4 yrs) Have also heard of instead of water too use vaseline to temp mount transducer.

[bajadog]

How about RTV?

Mine is still on after almost 14 months.

[Grego]

I heard if you mix 4200, 5200, 5200 fast cure, epoxy, marine goop, plumbers goop, vaseline, RTV silicone, and add a little water with a sprinkle of foam you get the bestest reading and bond.:luxhello:

[One Rev]

Hot glue works great for me.

Mike

[bajadog]

I heard if you mix 4200, 5200, 5200 fast cure, epoxy, marine goop, plumbers goop, vaseline, RTV silicone, and add a little water with a sprinkle of foam you get the bestest reading and bond.:luxhello:

You forgot mucus.:rolleyes:

[Kevin]

I've used both marine goop and two part epoxy. By far two part epoxy gives you a better picture. Its not even close. The key is how you install it. Marine goop is just too soft and dampens the sonar quite a bit.

Get some adhesive putty and create a well for the epoxy. The epoxy will cure thinner and get brittle if it is allowed to spread out. Creating the well gives you a thicker section. I'm sure there are a lot of other brands but I've used ACE two part epoxy for plastic and it works perfectly. No oil canning and I've never had the transducer pop off. And I've taken some long road trips (including off road) up to the sierra's with my kayak on top. Never had a problem.

Kevin

[Montesdad]

I'm just getting ready to mount a humminbird transducer (one of the quad beam units) in my revo and this is a great post however -

now I'm totally confused - :confused: - these things are too big to hang over the side so internal 'tween the masthead and the drive well seems the best option.

i only want to have to do this once - will having the Goop warmed help eliminate bubbles? When i put some weights in my pedals to keep them upright, it seemed to flow pretty well and was not too thick.

i'd heard one only gets one shot at this with the transducer itself, after that, you have to end up using the water bath to get a clear picture thru the hull or hang it over the side cause you cant get all the goop off the unit and then you'll be dealing with the bubbles thing when reattaching.

My backup thought was to just build a reservoir, surrounding the area with foam - say 1 1/2" high and Goop the foam into place, C-clamp the transducer with it's mounting bracket to the mast post and set it against the bottom of the hull, fill the reservoir with Perrier and use that way - might work well with minimal maintainence and the transducer is easily removable and reusable - then drink the remainder of the Perrier.

I usually transport the Revo top up so I'm not worried about water in the internals - I figure if I ever got in the position that the water came out of the reservoir while out in the ocean, using my fish finder wouldn't necessarily be at the top of my list of things to be worrying about - - - -

[deeberdave]

I went for the foam block shaped for the transducer,gooped to the inside of the hull press in transducer just add two tablespoons of water and your in business,no fuss no muss! This works great so far and is clean and easy to remove if necessary.

[Handymansd]

I heard if you mix 4200, 5200, 5200 fast cure, epoxy, marine goop, plumbers goop, vaseline, RTV silicone, and add a little water with a sprinkle of foam you get the bestest reading and bond.:luxhello:

This is why Grego catches so many fish!!:D


Seriously though, everybody has an opinion. Don't be confused by all the different methods. I have used all of the mentioned ways at one time or another. I even mounted a transducer like a rudder to get a good reading once (I don't recommend that one though :o ).. In the end, they can all work. some methods may give a little better picture due to densities and other considerations. However, more importantly, is that you get a good "clean" mount (no bubbles). Make sure the kayak is level when applying any adhesives, and be sure that it does not move until it is set. Epoxies will be difficult to remove from your transducer, but goop can be easily removed for another shot if you mess it up. Roughing the surface of the kayak and transducer slightly with sandpaper is helpful to maintain good adhesion with goop and some epoxies. If one method does not work for you, then try the next!

Good luck!

[rotten]

I just use clear silicone caulking, seems to work good enough

[sbsyncro]

I've been using a blob of vaseline for about a year now with no problems. I had to re-do it once because something got loose in the hull and knocked my transducer loose.

I wedged a section of pool noodle above the xducer to hold it in place. Not perfect, but I can't make up my mind where to mount it permanently. I have the slow-cure epoxy all ready to go and everything... :-)