gooping a transducer
 

I gooped down the ducer inside my hull. Haven't water tested it yet but the excess goop around the ducer has a million bubbles in it. I pushed the ducer down as flush with the hull asi could. It was a very hot day when I did the job which could be the cause of the bubbles. Is that normal? Do you think the goop between the ducer and hull is tainted too? I hate this means of mounting but after the last 2 spills I wanted something a little more sturdy so my ducer didn't get banged around

Did you rock it from side to side to get the bubbles out?

Yes but the bubblesappeared during the drying process

Next time try using electrical (or plumbers) putty. Extremely easy to use, no bubbles to worry about. If you don't like the location or want to move your transducer, removal takes about 10 seconds. Just flatten out, insert transducer, and squish excess around the ducer to hold it in place. Have never had it come loose.

What he said.

Putty

Try it on the water before you rip it out. A few tiny bubbles might not be noticeable.

I used this stuff on my outback. Easy one, easy off



http://www.homedepot.com/s/duct%2520putty?NCNI-5




http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pro...c67199_300.jpg

You used a layer of putty under the transducer correct?

Just to let you guys know, I had it mounted with duct seal before. Appreciate the responded suggestions but it's already mounted now with goop. Just needed an answer to the original question about the bubbles appearing AFTER the drying process , and if you guys think bubbles also developed under the ducer, due to doing the job on an extremely hot day.

There's only one way to find out.

Yeah. I'm field testing it in the morning

I gooped the ducer on my old T13 last year on a hot day. It worked great for about 4 months, then it started having random issues that I attributed to the air bubbles that showed up while drying. The success rate for goop doesn't seem to be extremely high for long term use IMO.

If you are going to Goop, it is best to rough up the area on the yak with some course grit sandpaper so the adhesive has something to grab. Apply the goop and let it sit for about 5 min to let the solvent flash off. After 5 min, push the ducer in and wiggle side to side to get any big bubbles out. You don't need a lot of Goop in between the ducer and the yak. More goop = more chance for big bubbles. Just a thin layer of it between the kayak and the transducer is sufficient.

Tape it down, let it sit for at least 24 - 48 hours, and you should be good.

IMO guys overthink this, and the tiny bubbles don't affect the reading much. Prior to the through-hull, I Gooped all my transducers down using the method above. They were all a B*&% to remove when I wanted them off, they all had very tiny bubbles, and they all worked very well, even when compared to a spare transducer mounted directly int the water. Even on an old cheapo Eagle fish finder I could track small swim baits to the bottom in 100' of water.

I like the duct putty idea too, but don't like the idea that it can move when transporting the yak upside-down like I do. I can't access where I have my transducer mounted OTW, and I don't wan't to take the chance it won't work once I launch. Keep it simple stupid has always worked...

I guess there are many ways to fillet a WSB :wsb:

DSI thoughts ....
 

I am curious to see how this works with DSI. I read the manual that came with my Elite-4 and it states that internal hull mounting may produce less than optimal performance.

Lowrance makes a special epoxy for mounting thru hull transducers.

I bought some back in 2005 or 2006. Back then it had a silver metallic quality to it.

See: http://store.navico.com/products/000-0106-98

I am still using this kayak and the original transducer install is working without any issues.

Why put them in water boxes or create complicated mounts when this special transducer epoxy made by Lowrance specifically to mount their transducers works? I can't imagine they would recommend a product in their installation instructions that would degrade their unit's signal. Maybe I am missing something.

Since you have to purchase 6, I ended up sharing 4 with other brethren. All reported the same success.

I saw that on their site too, do you have the DSI model?

I came across this page as an FYI.

http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/...mystified.html

i am using the putty method and seems to work great for me. I transport upside down and never came loose.

I've gooped my transducer before and it worked fine. Downside- the goop will disintegrate after about 4-6 months, if it is exposed to salt water....