installing eagle fish/depth finder

[stangs4]

When i bought my utopia the guy gave me bascially a new eagle fish/depth finder. Has anyone put one of these in. I want to put the transducer on the outside rather than inside so i get a more accurate/clearer reading. Is it a good idea to drill into the hull for my mounting screws and for the wires? Also if it isn't really a big deal what would you suggest for sealing it. the directions say i need a high quality, marine grade above- or below-waterline caulking compound. Thanks

 

[timmyboy76]

marine sealant

I found this stuff at home-depot...marine adhesive sealant by 3m #5100...white and blue tube. Stuff is great, plugged up my bilge exit hole, and moved it to above waterline on side of boat...

 

[stangs4]

I found this stuff at home-depot...marine adhesive sealant by 3m #5100...white and blue tube. Stuff is great, plugged up my bilge exit hole, and moved it to above waterline on side of boat...

and this will work like to seal where i put my screws and and around where my lines go in? like it will be soft enough and stuff? thanks!!

 

[boeing747arowair]

stangs 4 do you mind putting a picture up of where you mounted the transducer on the utopia ive been wantin to do this but im not sure where to mount it. thanks

 

[stangs4]

stangs 4 do you mind putting a picture up of where you mounted the transducer on the utopia ive been wantin to do this but im not sure where to mount it. thanks

I haven't mounted mine yet. I was actually waiting on someone to post a pic to show me:rofl: I think i have a good idea where i wanna put it but just kinda get nervous drilling into the fiberglass. I think i am going to put it on the starboard side down below the exhaust at the bottoem. That would be ideal so if i do get it mounted i will def. post a pic of it. I am really trying to find an excellent above/below waterline sealer for around the mounting screws and for where the lines go into the boat so that it seals the water out....

 

[boeing747arowair]

3M 5200 Seal Adhesive FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i trust this stuff with my life! Nothing but good experiences from it

 

[stangs4]

3M 5200 Seal Adhesive FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i trust this stuff with my life! Nothing but good experiences from it

Ok cool... you think it would be better to run my wires in just above the transduser which would be below waterline or should i run them up to where the space is for the ladder and go in there where it would be above the water 95% of the time?

 

[boeing747arowair]

in the past when i have installed these, i do that, I install the transducer then bring the cable up above the water then and go in through there. I rather not have any thru hull fittings or cables below the waterline

 

[stangs4]

yea thats what i was thinking. I just seen that the speedo cable went in below the waterline and was curious...can you find thru hull fittings on ebay or something or would i have to go to a dealer to get one?

 

[boeing747arowair]

a fitting for what? in the past i have jus done a hole with the hole saw and put the cable thru then sealed it nicely with the 5200 and it looks good also since its white

 

[stangs4]

ohh ok well thats even better lol soo i fell dumb asking all of these questions but route the line up above the waterline where can i get like little camps to hold it up to the hull... and to drill my hole do you just use a normal bit or should i use something different. I don't know what fiberglass does when it is drill--splinter??---and do you just use screws for the mounting plate or did you use small bolts?? and then how did you seal around those so that if you need to adjust it you can?? or do you just reseal it if you adjest it?? Thanks sooo much!!!!

 

[boeing747arowair]

the little plastic clamps are sold virtually any where. What i have done is that i do a small pilot hole but no need to drill through!!!!!!!!!!! Use regular stainless screw but i coat the threads with 5200 so when i screw them in. it is sealed.

 

[stangs4]

Excellent... i just ordered some of that 5200 sealant so it should be here soon so hopefully i can get it done this weekend or sometime soon. It's not like i can get out on the water right now lol Thanks for the help and advice!!

 

[gpiatt]

When I installed my transducer on my Searay I drilled above the water line in the transom. I used a professional grade hole saw in a drill to make the hole in transom. I used the blue masking tape over where I drilled so that there wasn't any splinters from the fiberglass. They sell a thing locally at West Marine called a clam shell. Once I ran the transducer wire through the transom I then filled the hole with the adhesives that everyone has recommended. Then you drill some small holes for the clam shell that covers the hole and make sure you put sealant on screws. Then you just need to mount the transducer with screws and again make sure you put sealent in the screw holes and on the screws. You don't want your fiberglass to be soaking up water. It take about an hour or two depending how hard it is getting cable to the helm for the head unit.