Hello I'm new and in need of assistance

[LJCollinsVT]

I am now a new to me owner of a 1995 Mainship 31 sedan bridge and am looking for some information.

I am looking to replace my president digital depth gauge with a newer hawkeye unit but I have no idea where the current sensor is located.

Can anyone help me with locating this, the boat is currently in the water and the new unit that I want to install is a through the hull.

If you cant help me locate the old one to remove it can you offer a good location to glue the new through the hull transducer.

Thanks in advance for the help, I will have more questions in the future I am sure.

Lannie

 

[Lepke]

Follow the wire from the old unit.
The transducer is usually below the steering station. In small boats it's sometimes on the transom.
What are you gluing?

 

[LJCollinsVT]

I am looking at a place to glue down the new transducer to the hull and need to find a good location to do so, thanks for replying.

 

[Peter B]

Welcome to TF Lannie. Firstly, my advice is don't replace the original sonar, but rather just add in the new. You can't have too many depth sounders, as one day, one will go on the blink at a bad time. The only issue is the need to set them to operate at different frequencies, and most will have at least two options.

As to the placement of the through the hull sender, I suggest choosing a place that has easy access to the hull, as dry, and near to the centreline as possible, but not too close or the keel might cause issues, and also take into account where you can get the lead down without too much grief.

I installed three over the 16 years I owned our boat, so have a bit of history with this exercise. One being that the old original sounder was still working when we sold her. It was a much newer one bought as part of a combined Lowrance GPS/Sonar unit where the sonar in it died, hence my suggestion of adding to, rather than replacing. The GPS was still fine, so I added just straight sonars cemented into the hull for one to replace that at the lower helm, and one to replace the old Lowrance sonar that had got water damaged and died at the upper helm. I placed them at about the same for-aft position, but on opposite sides of the keel.

I expect the manual for the new one advises the way to cement it to the cleaned and dried hull surface..? The original sonar is probably mounted in a through-hull mount, so you won't be able to use that, so again, supports keeping it if it is still working. Locating the new sender/transducer further forward than the old one if possible can be useful in giving slightly earlier warning of a significant depth change, as well. I hope that helps.

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard.

 

[Bacchus]

Welcome aboard TF
If shooting through the hull you will likely be mounting a housing that is adjustable for dead rise angle to receive the new xdcr. Airman makes many xdcrs and I belirve has an installation guide online.
No clue where MS mounted on that yr/ model. Mine was Stbd side about 10 ft from stern. In general you want to stay away from anything that will create turbulence on the hull. I believe airman has instructions for a temp install to try one or more locations before gluing the receiver.
I would try to avoid any location where it gets frequent traffic in the bilge. Mine was close to the ER entry and in the normal path forward so it got bumped and eventually broken. I drilled and installed a through hull xdcr with fairing block so I could get sea temp as well as full bottom picture.

Airmar In hull P79 instructions including temp location check
https://www.airmar.com/productdescription.html?id=3

 

[CharlieO.]

I recently installed a hawkeye, if I remember correctly the hull angle needs to be 10 degrees or less. I had a spot in the forward section of my keel where I had removed some of the concrete so I was able to mount it right on the centerline and at the bottom of the keel. I like having the transducer mounted closer to the bow. Mine is located under the steps that lead down to my forward stateroom.

The non functioning Garmin transducer was mounted on the outside of the transom.

 

[LJCollinsVT]

So its obvious that I am not a "Boat Nut" yet but, I am working on it. At least I know the difference between port and starboard....