wet mount question for malibu guys.
 

hey guys, anyone w/ malibu yak done the wet mount yet and has pics? i have been trying to find a spot to do the mount but cant find a real good spot in the front for the 3" tube.. any pics would help..

I have a 4 inch pvc threaded cap and end that I'm making for a wet mount. I just tested my transducer off the back of my x-factor and did not like the overhang. The thing was getting abused during loading and launching of the yak. I just siliconed the transducer to the inside hull to see the difference. I have a humminbird 385ci. If I don't like the way it functions I'm going to install the wet mount. I was going to talk to the guys at Ridout plastics in San Diego to see the best way to bond the pvc to the hull.

Sandydiego,

If you know the guys at Ridout Plastic see if you can score a piece of clear pipe that your cap will fit on. I know they sell it. That will be better than the ABS because you will always be able to see if there is water in the well.

As for attaching the plastic, (any kind) to your hull, marine goop works great. Just sand the area a bit and wipe with alcohol before putting the goop on the pipe.

Be careful not to use too much goop, especially on the inside of the well. Mine ended up flowing all over the hull inside the well. After everything set up, I had to carve the excess goop away as it had a bunch of bubbles.

I believe that the best way to install the pipe to make your well is to shape the bottom of the pipe so that it fits the contour of your hull as closely as possible. Put a bead of goop on the edge of pipe and set it in place. Put something on the top of the well, (like a book), which will apply a little downward pressure and let everything set up.

When the goop has cured, caulk the outside edge with a little more goop just to make sure that all gaps are filled. When that has cured, fill the well with water to check for leaks and you are done.

Bob

thanks for the tip bob..:)

Dsafety convinced me on the wet mount, but alas it was problematic geting a big enough pipe for a Lorance transponder and shaping it for the Malibu stealth hull.

Then I stumbled on a cheap easy solution. For $2.57 I bought a 1 1/4 inch terminal box. I made a paper template of the keel and trnsferred it to the ends of the terminal box. Holding the terminal box against a belt sander (coarse) at the angle I sanded, checked, sanded checked until thebox fit perfectly in the keel channel.

Next I mounted the transducer where the the bottom of sides terminal and the bottom of the trans duce are the same. Which makes the 60 degree transducer shoot thru the keel. Mounting was done by drilling a hole side to side in the terminal box and using a stainless steel thread bolt and nuts. A little marine goop it's water tight.

I' didn't take many pictures when creating this thing, but I'll take some more and explain what I did in more detail if any malibu people are interested. Unfortunately I didn't think to take pictues while building.

A 1 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch reduce was cut in half for the top and rear opening to keep a low profile. in the rear a rubber cork had a hol drilled the diameter of the wire, split fro the side with a razor to get the wire in, gooped and pressed int the reducer. I added silcone around to ensure it was watertight (overkill). The front O addea a 3/4 inch to threated 1/2 inch reduce and screwed in a 1/2 plug. I add water and check the water here, so far no lost water. This works great and the sanding is easy with a belt sander as long as you keep checking as you go. All the pvc parts were glued together with pvc cement, but I added silcone around them (overkill).

I like the terminal box setup. I may go with that instead. Thanks Walrus.

Terrific new ideas are showing up every day. This is great.

Bob

3m 5200 is great stuff too.

I'm very interested in your find. I need to figure out how to mount a new Humminbird trans in the front of my Stealth 14. It's a down-imaging unit so it seems even more important to mount it in the far front of the the boat pointing straight down.
Where did you get the terminal box? I don't recognize it as something in the electrical department at Home Depot.
Please share the details.

Thanks

I just took off the wet mount to change the transducer for a new ff.

I have attached some pictures to help you identify the parts at the hardware store and a set of instructions I drew up.


Attachment 3806

Attachment 3808

Attachment 3807

Attachment 3805


Attachment 3810Attachment 3809Attachment 3811

I hope this helps. I never had any trouble with this mount and it was real tough to get off. It will be back on in a day or so with the new transducer and ready for spring.

WOW Walrus!
Awesome detail..you must be a photoshop whiz. With these instructions and illustrations I don't think a 10 year old could screw this up. Okay..so what do I owe you?...haha
My only question: Is that terminal something I can find at Home Depot or Lowes? How would I refer to it...What is it called? If I know what is called..'technically' I should be able to call around and locate one before taking to the road.

Again...THANK YOU!

It a terminal box and it goes on galvanize conduit pipe. the boxes are next to the pipe.

Print the picture take it, with you and you should have no problem with the clerk finding it for you. In one store I go to it's above the pipe, the other below th pipe it kind of depanss on how the store is set up.

I just went to my local Home Depot with the image printed out. I went over to the electrical dept. I couldn't find it so I asked the HD employee working the elec dept. and he looked at me like I was crazy. "We don't have those; is it made of plastic or fiberglass?" he says.
I'll go try another store and or a Lowes later.

Final question for you Walrus.
Is it made of plastic or fiberglass?
In the image it definitely looks like fiberglass.

Thanks

Plastic, abs I believe, what area are you in?

Maybe I'm calling them by the wrong name, but these are used everywhere in construction projects.

I'm in Corona

Try the electrical section... http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical-...atalogId=10053

perfect!
That's definitely it. Now I can call stores with a sku number to see if they have them in stock.
Now I just hope the Humminbird Di transducer will fit in the terminal.

Much appreciated guys!

nice read. i can relate to brokeloser regards to HD guys. everytime i seem to have a technical question they have one of those deer in the headlights look.

redsledteam, thanks for finding that conduit enclosure. it will be real helpful for lots of us who would want to do this project.

and thanks to walrus for taking the time to think outside of the box. i love reading about these type of "new" uses. :notworthy:

Walrus's posts #5 and #10 belong in the "Share your innovations" thread...don't they?

bump