Depth Finder Doesn't Work- Now Working But...
 

I tried using the silicone adhesive again and this time got a good
bond. (Bonding the base of an in-hull Airmar transducer to the hull.)
Filled with mineral oil (calling this the "medium") as per
instructions.
Here is what is happening. At low speeds, readings are good,
no misses, but at high speed, I get quite a few false readings, both
too high and too low. Is this a problem with in-hull vs thru-hull (I
seemed to get fewer false readings at high speed with the old
Datamarine transducer) OR is it related to bubbles in the medium or
improper contact between the transducer and the medium? I see
a lot written here about good choices for the medium (marmalade?)
Some ideas here would be most appreciated as usual.
Thanks to all for your past help. Looks like we're coming to the
end.
Frank

Depth Finder Doesn't Work- Now Working But...
 

frank1492 wrote:
I tried using the silicone adhesive again and this time got a good
bond. (Bonding the base of an in-hull Airmar transducer to the hull.)
Filled with mineral oil (calling this the "medium") as per
instructions.
Here is what is happening. At low speeds, readings are good,
no misses, but at high speed, I get quite a few false readings, both
too high and too low. Is this a problem with in-hull vs thru-hull (I
seemed to get fewer false readings at high speed with the old
Datamarine transducer) OR is it related to bubbles in the medium or
improper contact between the transducer and the medium? I see
a lot written here about good choices for the medium (marmalade?)
Some ideas here would be most appreciated as usual.
Thanks to all for your past help. Looks like we're coming to the
end.
Frank


Probably not bubbles in the medium, but rather bubbles in the water
under the hull...

bob

Depth Finder Doesn't Work- Now Working But...
 

I have it mounted at least a foot off the centerline of the hull. The
hull has a deadrise of 20 degrees. While I thought there would be
plenty of good water there, at high speed there could be some
turbulence I suppose. I did it that way to avoid having the
base sit in the bilge as I was having some trouble with the
silicon adhesive the manufacturer suggested. I do always
have the option of moving it closer to the keel if I can't
live with it.
Frank



On Wed, 02 Aug 2006 08:02:16 -0700, RW Salnick
wrote:

frank1492 wrote:
I tried using the silicone adhesive again and this time got a good
bond. (Bonding the base of an in-hull Airmar transducer to the hull.)
Filled with mineral oil (calling this the "medium") as per
instructions.
Here is what is happening. At low speeds, readings are good,
no misses, but at high speed, I get quite a few false readings, both
too high and too low. Is this a problem with in-hull vs thru-hull (I
seemed to get fewer false readings at high speed with the old
Datamarine transducer) OR is it related to bubbles in the medium or
improper contact between the transducer and the medium? I see
a lot written here about good choices for the medium (marmalade?)
Some ideas here would be most appreciated as usual.
Thanks to all for your past help. Looks like we're coming to the
end.
Frank


Probably not bubbles in the medium, but rather bubbles in the water
under the hull...

bob

Depth Finder Doesn't Work- Now Working But...
 

frank1492 wrote:
I have it mounted at least a foot off the centerline of the hull. The
hull has a deadrise of 20 degrees. While I thought there would be
plenty of good water there, at high speed there could be some
turbulence I suppose. I did it that way to avoid having the
base sit in the bilge as I was having some trouble with the
silicon adhesive the manufacturer suggested. I do always
have the option of moving it closer to the keel if I can't
live with it.
Frank



On Wed, 02 Aug 2006 08:02:16 -0700, RW Salnick
wrote:

frank1492 wrote:
I tried using the silicone adhesive again and this time got a good
bond. (Bonding the base of an in-hull Airmar transducer to the
hull.) Filled with mineral oil (calling this the "medium") as per
instructions.
Here is what is happening. At low speeds, readings are good,
no misses, but at high speed, I get quite a few false readings, both
too high and too low. Is this a problem with in-hull vs thru-hull (I
seemed to get fewer false readings at high speed with the old
Datamarine transducer) OR is it related to bubbles in the medium or
improper contact between the transducer and the medium? I see
a lot written here about good choices for the medium (marmalade?)
Some ideas here would be most appreciated as usual.
Thanks to all for your past help. Looks like we're coming to the
end.
Frank


Probably not bubbles in the medium, but rather bubbles in the water
under the hull...

bob

The whole purpose of the marmalade is to find the ideal position in the hull
to mount the transducer, not to use it as a permanent medium once you find
that position. You can then have great fun going around the boat licking up
the marmalade, have epoxied your transducer housing in the perfect location.

Dennis.

Depth Finder Doesn't Work- Now Working But...
 

Frank,

The answer may be to go a little slower when the depth is important ;)

Regarding the medium, we always used Castor Oil. Use just 1/2 the bottle and
keep the other 1/2 in case this whole deal makes you sick. BTW, castor oil
has some special properties that make it useful for this type of
application:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castor_oil

But, the mineral oil should be OK, unless it is quite thin. Try shaking some
up in a bottle and see if you get bubbles.

GBM


frank1492 wrote:
I tried using the silicone adhesive again and this time got a good
bond. (Bonding the base of an in-hull Airmar transducer to the
hull.) Filled with mineral oil (calling this the "medium") as per
instructions.
Here is what is happening. At low speeds, readings are good,
no misses, but at high speed, I get quite a few false readings, both
too high and too low. Is this a problem with in-hull vs thru-hull (I
seemed to get fewer false readings at high speed with the old
Datamarine transducer) OR is it related to bubbles in the medium or
improper contact between the transducer and the medium? I see
a lot written here about good choices for the medium (marmalade?)
Some ideas here would be most appreciated as usual.
Thanks to all for your past help. Looks like we're coming to the
end.
Frank

Depth Finder Doesn't Work- Now Working But...
 

I think I would get bubbles, but I will check again. Mineral
oil is Airmar's recommendation, but they said they actually
like propylene glycol better! The trick these days is to find
some that isn't pre-mixed with water.
I can and will go slower. I did point out in another thread
that I have the base mounted about a foot off the midline. The
hull has a 20 degree deadrise. Maybe at high speed there is
more turbulence there than I thought. I can always move the\
base back closer to the centerline if necessary.
Thank you. Castor Oil will be my next try!
In general I am pleased with things. The in-hull TD sure beats
hauling the boat in order to insert the thru-hull, a $300 total for
me. I now do have a good bond with Silicon II.
Frank




On Thu, 3 Aug 2006 10:51:05 -0400, "GBM"
wrote:

Frank,

The answer may be to go a little slower when the depth is important ;)

Regarding the medium, we always used Castor Oil. Use just 1/2 the bottle and
keep the other 1/2 in case this whole deal makes you sick. BTW, castor oil
has some special properties that make it useful for this type of
application:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castor_oil

But, the mineral oil should be OK, unless it is quite thin. Try shaking some
up in a bottle and see if you get bubbles.

GBM


frank1492 wrote:
I tried using the silicone adhesive again and this time got a good
bond. (Bonding the base of an in-hull Airmar transducer to the
hull.) Filled with mineral oil (calling this the "medium") as per
instructions.
Here is what is happening. At low speeds, readings are good,
no misses, but at high speed, I get quite a few false readings, both
too high and too low. Is this a problem with in-hull vs thru-hull (I
seemed to get fewer false readings at high speed with the old
Datamarine transducer) OR is it related to bubbles in the medium or
improper contact between the transducer and the medium? I see
a lot written here about good choices for the medium (marmalade?)
Some ideas here would be most appreciated as usual.
Thanks to all for your past help. Looks like we're coming to the
end.
Frank

Depth Finder Doesn't Work- Now Working But...
 

Some ideas here would be most appreciated as usual.

Where does the boat manufacturer say you should put the sender?

If you had issues with the old one, at speed, then it's not unreasonable to
imagine the same thing happening with a new one. Placement is key but some
boats just don't have a 'perfect' place to put it and have it work reliably
at speed.

I'd ask the boat maker or other owners where they've got it situated and try
it there.