Anyone with Glass Boats have through hull Tranducers

[WalleyeRanger]

Ordering a new boat and was thinking about putting my transducer in the hull. Anyone else doing this. Any Pros or Cons??

[walleyejigger]

Yfou asked about transducers glassed in. Yes I have my transducer glassed in on my 617vs Ranger. My brother also has his glassed in on his 692vs Ranger. And we both love them . No hasseles with the transducer on the back end of the boat. And they read at top speed just as good as outside the transom of the boat if not better. Don't be afraid to have it glassed in. In fact it will be one of the smartest things you will do. With some depth finders you have to order or specify the puck style transducer. I run with a x-70 lowrance and my brother has a x-85. If you are orderiing a new glass boat have the factory do it right there. Good luck

[Jim Ordway]

I too have had my ducers glassed in my my last two boats. Saves a lot of breakage and high speed reading problems, especially if you fish in a bit of ice at times. Be sure to have it done by a professional that knows the proper locations on the pad to install. Many pros and weekenders used glassed in pucks.
Take care,

[RVRRAT]

I have 3 transducers RTV'ed inside my boat at the pad and have had no problems with bottom readings.I like the idea of RTV as they can easily be removed or replaced.

[iamwalleye1]

I also glassed in one! It is on one of the locators on my dash for high speed pick up. I do have one off the back and that locator is right next to it! I really don't see tht much difference in the two!

[WinnerZ880]

Could you please explain the exact process you followed when installing with RTV? Is there RTV under the transducer as well as around it?
Thanks,
CJB

[SnellTier]

After the other replies reporting such success I am almost afraid to post this one. But here goes.

1. The boat dealer I was considering buying a Ranger from told me that if he orders transducers glassed in, he puts a spare one in each location so that they can be changed if they fail. He said that they do fail.

2. A buddy of mine who has owned Rangers for the 10 years I have known him said that he quit having his glassed in. He said every one of them failed within 3 or 4 months of his buying the boat. He finally said to heck with it and runs them like I do on my aluminum boat.


Perhaps transducers have become more reliable since he stopped doing that to his. I did not ask how many boats ago he stopped doing that. He DOES get a new boat every 2 years and it sounded like he stopped glassing them in several boats ago.

[REW]

I do have to agree that transducers do fail.
I have had a transducer fail on every one of my depth finders over the years.
Some have failed in 6 months, and some have failed in 5 years.
The idea of using RTV is a good one. Bed the transducer in RTV,and you can always cut it free from your boat, with a razor knife.

The transducer will work fine, from inside the bottom of a single layer bottomed boat.

Take care
REW

[Dan]

A friend of mine has a glass boat and had the 'ducer glassed in. He has had the boat for 2 years now and it hasn't worked right yet. Anything over 15 mph and anything less than 8 ft it looses bottom. He's had it back several times and each time there are problems again. He's ready to tear someone a new one if you know what I mean.

[SnellTier]

REW, what the heck is RTV????? I need to tell my buddy about it.

[RVRRAT]

RTV stands for room temperature vulcanization,most commonly called silicone sealant.The rep. from Vexilar told me of this idea.His words were find the worst smelling clear RTV(strongest adhesive?) and form a puddle where you want to try the transducer.Press the transducer atop the puddle and squish down,rotate the transducer back and forth to work out the air bubbles.What you end up with is a thin coat of RTV between the transducer and the hull with the transducer surrounded by the excess RTV.I also clean and scuff up the hull(bilge area)with some sandpaper before pooling up the RTV.I have used this method with my last 2 boats with excellent results.I have even transferred transducers from my last boat to my present boat.

[Jim Ordway]

What kind of boat, locator, and what is the location of the pucks? Maybe someone here can help out?
Take care,