Fluid for Transducer

Hi To all: Happy 4th July everyone!!

I am in the process of installing a transducer for my Hummingbird 987C sonar which is a side scan unit. The transducer is large and plastic it measures 3 1/2 X 6 1/2 inches and would require a 1 inch hole for thru hull installation. Since it is plastic and not permissiable on no trailerable boat I made a small box for it and wonder what is the best fluid to use?Mineral oil,pink antifreeze??

Thanks,Bill

Still on the hrad!!! maybe splash before July is over!!

RE: Fluid for transducer

Bill, Mineral oil will work very well. Chuck

RE: Fluid for transducer

Explaine this to me guys, I would like to get a sonar type depht finder and did not want to make another hole thru my hull.Are you talking about installing the transducer inboard? BB

RE: Fluid for transducer

I mounted the puck type transducer for a Humminbird digital readout depth sounder on the inside of the hull. Took a big wad of toilet seal ring wax softened it up and squished the transduce down into it pressing any air bubbles or voids out. I made sure the transducer was level, it has been there for a couple of years and works fine gives me basically the same readings as the original Raymarine which is mounted through the hull. To find a good spot I used a "bagggie" filled with water between the hull and transducer I used a spot where I got a good reading and was out of the way. This is a digital read out I don't know how it would work with a "fish finder" type as far as accuracy goes.
I read about using toilet seal wax on one of the forums maybe here?
Steve W

RE: Fluid for transducer

I mounted a transom mount style Humminbird transducer inside the hull of my old Mainship using the epoxy kit that Humminbird has. Worked great on my fishfinder, could not tell the difference from the thru hull xducer.

RE: Fluid for transducer

I've got a transducer mounted on the inside of the hull. Attached a glass bowl shaped container to the hull and filled with mineral oil. This set up has been in operation for 30 years. Not a very fancy sounder. A Neon flasher Coastal Navigator. Used a a secondary device but very reliable.

RE: Fluid for transducer

Non toxic antifreeze is what Airmar now recommends because mineral oil may eventually disolve the product used to seal the cup to the hull and it will leak out.

RE: Fluid for transducer

Installed mine in a piece of pipe glued to the hull and filled with silicone. Works great.

RE: Fluid for transducer

4"black ABS cut to the angle and epoxied to the hull, screwed the transom mount to the inside, added 10w Hydraulic oil (had lots for steering).
Bob's yr Uncle.

RE: Fluid for transducer

Fotoman wrote:
Installed mine in a piece of pipe glued to the hull and filled with silicone. Works great.

Click to expand...

* * * * I did the same thing years ago with the same results. By using silicone, there was no

******* need to monitor the level of fluid in the pipe.

RE: Fluid for transducer

What type of silicone?

RE: Fluid for transducer

After you fill in the area beneith your transducer and find that your sounder doesn't work you will now really have fun cleaning that mess up. Most likely there were air bubbles in the silicone/RTV. The silicone might work but my guess is that you will have a very hard time squirting the goo and avoiding bubbles and air pockets. Ever tried to clean dry silicone off of a transducer? I have!

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