Depth Finder puck placement in Speedster 200

[nvcoppop]

Hey, does anybody know of a place on the speedster to glue down the in-hull puck for a Humminbird depth finder? I have tried a half dozen different places but get no results. Apparently the hull is very thick or I'm just not finding the right place. Please help! Also I got my power connection off 1 of the tachs, can that have anything to do with it? Thanks anybody.
Bill (nvcoppop)

 

[kustomkarl]

Bill, I have a 2008 200 speedster. You can try in front the fuel tank if you can get to it, or in the rear quadrant toward the center of the hull. Place the transducer in a plastic bag of water and move it around in the hull, to locate good location. I recommend you use any purple wire that isn't a pulse type of connection, like a fuel gauge for example. That could also be your problem.

Karl

 

[ncarbon]

Interesting

I just put in a Hummingbird 610....puck is in the rear just in front of bilge pump. I get good readings until underway, then it reads loopy. Not sure what to do next. It seemed good when sitting, but is crap now at speeds.

 

[nvcoppop]

Depth finder puck

Thanks for the info Karl
Yesterday I temp. hot glued the puck down right next to the bilge to see if that works. I've looked around the gas tank area and I can't see any place that I can get to easily. If this doesn't work I think I'm going to try the area around to the driver side next to the ski locker. Do you think wiring the depth finder to the tach. really might have something to do with it? Its still a purple wire. You know how that wiring harness is set up in there. A guy suggested to me that I go directly to the battery but then it would always be on, right?
I will just have to play with it.
Thanks Bill

 

[nvcoppop]

Depth finder puck

NCARBON
Thanks for replying
What wire did you tap into for power? I also put the puck next to the bilge but just temporarily hot glued it. I'll bet there is to much turbulance right there for it to register correctly. Oh well. We'll see.
Thanks Bill

 

[kustomkarl]

Your wasting you time with hot glue... you need to either add water to the hull of your boat or insert it in a bag of water so it has a denser contact to the bottom of your boat. If you read the directions of the transducer it states to use a 2 part epoxy to secure it when you locate an appropriate spot. If you get even one bubble under the transducer it won't have a solid connection to the boat bottom. I usually add fresh water into the boat so the transducer is submerged in water to find a good location. Then empty the water, dry it real good, scuff the surface and mix and add my 2 part epoxy...done.

As for the wiring: any purple wire is linked to the dess so it only pulls power when the lanyard is attached. This way it won't draw power unless the engines are running....dess attached.

Karl

 

[nvcoppop]

Depth finder puck

Karl
All I was saying about the hot glue was just to temporily hold the puck down to see if I get a good reading. About the bag of water, do you just use a glad bag or something and set it where you want to try it out and see if it works? I take it that this all has to be done while in the water. Stupid question I live quite a ways from the lake.
Thanks Bill

 

[kustomkarl]

Yes...the boat needs to be in the water. To be sure I get a accurate reading, as per the mfg instructions...is drop the transducer over the side of the boat...see if it reads say 3 feet deep ( if the water is 3' deep)...now put it in the boat...it should read 3 feet...it's working. If you put your fingers on the transducer you should fell a pulsing..it is sending out a signal to the bottom and bouncing back to the transducer... if the boat isn't in water you could never get a reading. The transducer won't work in the air. Even a small bubble between the transducer and boat hull will cause a bad connection. I twist the transducer on the epoxy to be sure all the bubbles are out before I let it dry. That's why they recommend a slow cure, clear 2 part epoxy...so the bubbles leave. Read the directions...they explain it all.

Karl

 

[ncarbon]

Just curious where you put your puck Karl. I thought in the center by the bilge pump would be OK, but once under way the readings go loopy. I might get another puck and try again.



Ned

 

[kustomkarl]

At present it is toward the rear in the right side , but I lose signal at speeds above 45+ so I'm gonna move it again. If you can get to it you can smack it with a 2x4 and a hammer and it will pop out of the epoxy...to be reused.

Karl

 

[ncarbon]

Lol ok I will give it a smack, I was going to try that but thought most likely I would need a new one, where is your next try?

 

[kustomkarl]

I'm thinking about under the rear seats in back of the fuel tank. It looks like a good smooth water location in front of the Pumps... I've moved mine 2 times already. I had it in front of the bilge pump area too...no go

Karl

 

[ncarbon]

Hmmm knowing you will move yours, I will wait for the report....mine works at <10 mph......then goes loopy. And some times it will come back, but rarely.




Ned

 

[kustomkarl]

Well I have been wanting to do it for about 4 weeks now...I just haven't had the time...but I hope this week. I have mine on a lift too and I get too many projects in the way...:ack:
I pull my boat out about every 4-5 weeks to clean it good and re-wax...so it's due. I'll keep ya posted.

karl