Broken Transducer

[YoMoma]

I noticed a day or 2 after riding home in very choppy water that my transducer mount was broken. This transducer is mounted off the transom.
Let me say first that when I bought my boat used 2 years ago, the transducer had glue/epoxy on the mount. I chalked it up as the old owner wanted to keep the transducer facing down rather than having it pivit up while running the boat. So he glued it facing down.
Well after inspecting the damage it now appears that the transducer mount may have already been broken before I owned the boat and the glue was there to keep the transducer attached to the mount.
Either way I need to repair the damage. I may just reglue the mount. Wont last forever, but I cant afford a new fishfinder and this one works fine the way it is.
I have a hot melt glue gun with glue sticks. Will this work sufficient? Or do I need to buy something more powerful? The boat will only be run in fresh water.

[red314]

Try contacting the manufacture and see if you can get a new transducer like that one or even a threw hull one than it is out of the water and in the bottom of the boat. I know Gander mountain sells transducers so you can price them their.

My opinion it is broke good and needs to be replaced unless you want to keep fixing it every time you use it

[Fish Taco]

If you want to try to repair it, then use JB Weld underwater. Its a good strong product and should last a while.

The best bet is to replace the 'ducer. Not a hard thing to do IF you can find one. Age and make will dictate how successful you might be.

[Olddawg]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Fish Taco &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you want to try to repair it, then use JB Weld underwater. Its a good strong product and should last a while.

The best bet is to replace the 'ducer. Not a hard thing to do IF you can find one. Age and make will dictate how successful you might be.</TD></TR></TABLE>

JB weld...

[AmesHusker]

JB weld or something similar should work. BUT, if I were you, I'd take that old transducer and mount it inside the bilge where you won't ever have to worry about it again.

[YoMoma]

J B Weld Underwater. Would they sell this at Wal-Mart? It would be a temporary fix till I found another transducer.
Speaking about transducers... Do I need to get one made specifically for my fishfinder or will most any transducers work? And are they hard to wire up?

[red314]

For a new transducer you need the model number of the unit and match it up. You can not mix brands so make sure you are looking are the rite brand. If you are going to replace it use a threw hull one the directions you get with it will tell you what to do. Hummingbird has a good site for info. It is simple to wire hard part is fishing the wire to the back of the unit than just plug it in.

randy

[AmesHusker]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by red314 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> ...You can not mix brands so make sure you are looking are the rite brand....
randy </TD></TR></TABLE>

This is why I think you should re-route the one you have to the bilge, if possible, and epoxy it in. It's easy, works better and is free. It's so easy, even a Hawkeye fan can do it!!

[YoMoma]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AmesHusker &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

This is why I think you should re-route the one you have to the bilge, if possible, and epoxy it in. It's easy, works better and is free. It's so easy, even a Hawkeye fan can do it!! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Low blow AmesHusker, dont know how to take that answer from a Cy/Husker fan.
But seriously, stick it in the bilge hole then epoxy it in? I may be a new boater, but I`m not getting this concept.

[red314]

You take the transducer off the back of the boat and glue it inside in the bilge area rite to the inside of the hull. I am not sure yours will read good but it is a option. Look at one of the major fish finder brand sites and they will have directions on the install. humminbird has directions on the install

[Olddawg]

I think Lowrance has directions on their site...

[YoMoma]

Mine is a Garmin fishfinder 160 I believe. I`ll have to check over their site.

[Olddawg]

The basic procedure is the same for all brands, just make sure to get the air bubbles out and make sure its sitting flat...

[Petereric]

hot glue won't work if your constantly bouncing over waves. I'd recommend buyina a new one or better yet, get on that's a "thru hull". it won't break again.
What make is it? Hummingbird might send you another if you tell them it wasn't the first time it happened.

[YoMoma]

Garmin is the brand. Fishfinder 160. But the temp display wont work if I mount it in the hull.

[AmesHusker]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by YoMoma &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Garmin is the brand. Fishfinder 160. But the temp display wont work if I mount it in the hull.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Correct. So here are your options as I see them:

1- buy a new transducer/mount and mount it just like your old one.
2 - mount your old transducer in the bilge, and buy a separate temp sensor for your Humminbird unit (if they make one).
3 - This is what I did.....mount the transducer in the bilge area, so I wouldn't ever have to worry about it again, and then mount one of these temp sensors in the cockpit area:
http://www.cabelas.com/p-0036368018444a.shtml

[blake05]

You may have fixed the xducer already but I see a good repair possible. Glue sticks wont work and JB weld is only as strong as how much you put on. Any repair is only as good as how much contact area you provide. So to maximize contact area, cut two flat (1/8-1/4") plastic triangles out of acrylic or sytyrene, or plastic box that will fit on each side of the xducer.Glue these surfaces with JB weld or marine goop, it will hold.

[Joker_114th]

take a peice of aluminum angle stock drill the holes to mount where the original screws were,and zip tie,or jb weld it to it

[blackxpress]

I've been holding mine on with a heater hose clamp for about 8 yrs. If it ever quits working I guess I'll replace it.

[Rollo331]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AmesHusker &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">JB weld or something similar should work. BUT, if I were you, I'd take that old transducer and mount it inside the bilge where you won't ever have to worry about it again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

agree, does the transducer have a metal dot exposed on the bottom(temp probe) or is the temp probe mounted separate? i would move the transducer inside and glue it down i bet the temp probe is mounted outside most on the transom has a split temp bulb splits and mounts outside not built in to the transducer....even if it is it will still read the temp fairly accurate mounted on the inside.....once the hull has been in the water a little bit...if you glue it use a methyl methaculate(spelling) adhesive.like IPS,jb weld ect