Charlie Morgan wrote:
On Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:49:33 GMT, "Mike" wrote:

The only way to do it is on water. This is what you need to do:

Get a sand bag or something similar to weigh down the transducer where you
think you want it, and flood the bilge so it covers the transducer. Now
motor around and look at the readings. If they seem spotty, or inacurrate,
then move the puck to a different spot. Keep doing this until you're happy
with the readings, and mark the spot. Now you can work in your driveway. :-)

Remember to use SLOW setting epoxy (4hrs or more) when you glue the puck in
place, and use a lot of it. The slow set allows most air to escape while
curing. Air is bad when between the transducer and water.

Good luck.

--Mike

"LarryT" wrote in message
.. .
I plan on installing a depth sounder with a in hull puck transducer. Has
anyone installed one of these and if so can it be tested out of water? I'm
going to install it on my boat in my driveway and want to test the position
before I epoxy it down.

Thanks

I have done this install many times. I put the transducer into a gallon size
ziploc baggie filled with water to try it in various locations.

When I find a good spot, I figure out a way to mechanically mount the transducer
using a bracket so it will be perpendicular to the water. I then make a large
puddle of clear silicone, being carefull not to have any bubbles, and gently
push the transducer into the puddle. I then screw it to whatever I had figured
out for a bracket and let the whole thing sit for 24 hours undisturbed.

I have had no failures doing it this way. It does "slightly" reduce the
sensitivity of fish finders as far as size of fish, but not enough to worry
about if you are using it as a depth sounder. You will still get a nice display
of the bottom, and accurate depth readings.

CWM


Charlie the Ziploc bag worked like a charm. We took the boat out
yesterday and hooked up the depth finder. I placed the transducer off
the back of the boat and took a reading. I then place the transducer in
the bilge and checked the reading. The reading inside was 3 inches
different than the reading I got when just placed it in the water. I
then drove the boat while watching the readings and it seems to be fine.
The depth finder comes with epoxy to mount so when it stops raining this
week I'll epoxy it down.
Thanks for the tip!

Larry T.