New GPS/chartplotter install

[iceman3500]

We have a 1987 3207 and I want to put a Humminbird 1158 up on the flybridge. I don't really want to mount the transducer on the transom and was thinking of using one the two locations mid-ships that there are old thru hull transducers mounted now. Has anyone else done something like this? Humminbird makes an angled thru hull transducer. Would this work better? Is the post next to the helm station the chase for getting wiring, etc up to the bridge? Thanks.

[AaHubb]

Hello Icman3500.
The best location for a transducer is ahead of the props in 'clean' water. Your plan to replace an unused thru hull should work very well. If available a bronze 'ducer is a safer choice than plastic as it won't crack if struck.

[iceman3500]

Thanks Aahub. The plan is to epoxy the transducer inside the hull which would be basically just below the inside helm. I know I will lose the temperature capability but that is not a bad trade off in my opinion. In Lake of the Woods you are either driving on it for 6 months in the winter or braving swimming the other six. There is a hatch in the galley very close to the centre of the boat in both directions. Easy to put the transducer there. The chase to the fly bridge is right above there as well. Any opinions on what to secure the transducer with or if it worth swapping out the standard transom mount one for an angled thru hull one? Thanks.

[Seif911]

Hi Iceman,
I just did what you are trying to do. In the 77' Mariner, Carver actually made a box in the hull that is filled with antifreeze and they mounted a thru-hull transducer inside the box. I removed their non working transducer and out in mine for my Eagle 480 DF. The problem came because my transducer would not fit. I had to cut the fiberglass hole bigger and make a new custom cover. It was actually petty easy. Routing the wire was pretty simple using a fish tape and just following the route they took before.

If you don't have a box premade, just build one on the bottom. It should be ~6"x6". I mounted the transducer to the cover and it just hangs in the antifreeze. It shoots through the hull nicely because Carver has the spot in mid hull thin (they removed the balsa core in this one spot), just for the transducer.

[iceman3500]

Where was your access hatch to get at the transducer box?

[waybomb]

I am going to bet your newer Carver does not have the box. I would figure out which transducer you can use to fit exactly the same as one of your existing units. It'll be a workout to get it out, but it is much better than drilling yet another hole in the bottom of your boat!

[Seif911]

Awe...the new ones don't have the box? What a bummer! My box is mid boat by the tanks and mid bilge pump.

[waybomb]

I've had an 87, and and two 88's. None had the box.