I am about to install a new in-hull transducer for a new plotter/sounder.
Question for the brains trust:
Must I install it in a position reasonably clear of the long keel? See attached photo of current position.
Or; can I use a position further aft, and much easier to get to?

I have a long keel like yours, and the sounder transducer is fitted a bit under a metre forward of the companionway - quite a long way back compared to your existing one, and it works just fine.

That spots OK. The best is centreline just ahead of the keel pointing ahead a few degrees.

G'day MB
What set up are you looking at for the sounder and plotter etc? I have been doing a little research on changing out my aged system and the airmax transducer and JRC sounder are starting to give me erratic untrustworthy readings. I have dived under and carefully cleaned the face of transducer, but I Just think its time for an upgrade. Would be interested to know what you have decided upon ( if anything yet )
Cheers

While on the same subject...
Next time I haul out I'll replace my transducer. Currently I have separate speed and depth transducers. What is preferred, separate transducers or a triducer with speed, depth and temp in the one unit? On my boat the current location is the speed transducer slightly starboard and 50cm forward of the keel with the depth transducer centered another 50cm forward.

IMO I prefer two separate units.

I just learned to always factor in something breaking. With two units you don't lose the lot if something goes wrong with one.

My new unit (Simrad Cruise 5) is very basic and does not support a log. I really only need SOG from gps, so depth transducer only.
Not interested in annoying the few remaining fish so I hope an in-hull mount will show the limited (shallow) depth range to avoid grounding.
Transom mount transducer (supplied) to be epoxied in. Simrad say it will work.
Fingers crossed.

Transom mounted transducer fire ok through solid glass layups and ferro, sometimes through wood dependent on a stack of factors and nil through steel. Beware of air bubbles in the epoxy or whatever it is you bed it in that is the trap

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MuttonBird said..
My new unit (Simrad Cruise 5) is very basic and does not support a log. I really only need SOG from gps, so depth transducer only.
Not interested in annoying the few remaining fish so I hope an in-hull mount will show the limited (shallow) depth range to avoid grounding.
Transom mount transducer (supplied) to be epoxied in. Simrad say it will work.
Fingers crossed.

Same same here. I have a log also but zero need for it as SOG is realistically all I require so the GPS should suffice.
I have a steel hull so there is no option but replace (other than transom mount which for my situation is not ideal) I'll def look up the Simrad for suitability.
Cheers

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woko said..
Transom mounted transducer fire ok through solid glass layups and ferro, sometimes through wood dependent on a stack of factors and nil through steel. Beware of air bubbles in the epoxy or whatever it is you bed it in that is the trap

Yeah , I use a transom mount in an internal
wet well firing through GRP and it works great .
I did originally mount it in molding silicon and it was a failure.

Any suggestions for best epoxy for mounting with no air bubbles? or a pool of polyester resin?
Wet well may not be possible for this skimmer transducer, unless I set to and fabricate one myself.
Old transducer was mounted that way.

I did this five years ago and no problems to date.

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MuttonBird said..
Any suggestions for best epoxy for mounting with no air bubbles? or a pool of polyester resin?
Wet well may not be possible for this skimmer transducer, unless I set to and fabricate one myself.
Old transducer was mounted that way.

I used a tube of ordinary silicone being careful to massage the transducer into the bed of silicone to remove any air pockets. It works perfectly. If I need to remove it for some reason it will come out easily. Not so sure epoxy will do the same.

I used Blu-Tack (friends have used their kids Plasticine successfully). Been OK there for seven years now.

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troubadour said..

MuttonBird said..
Any suggestions for best epoxy for mounting with no air bubbles? or a pool of polyester resin?
Wet well may not be possible for this skimmer transducer, unless I set to and fabricate one myself.
Old transducer was mounted that way.

I used a tube of ordinary silicone being careful to massage the transducer into the bed of silicone to remove any air pockets. It works perfectly. If I need to remove it for some reason it will come out easily. Not so sure epoxy will do the same.

I have not needed to try this.