Installing transducer on aluminum boat

[Kevb81]

I have a 14 foot aluminum and am planning on installing a fishfinder on it. Theres no holes drilled in it yet but not against the idea of it. Just wondering what everyone uses to seal the holes. It's a tiller as well wondering where to tie the wires out of the way

[topher]

I put some steel screws with marine silicone and a gasket to seal.. Just ran the site over the top.. And got some electrical clips for TV cable.. Haven't had a leak in 5,years.. Oh.. Ya.. I also put a small strip of wood on the inside with marine silicone on it as well..

[Surf and Turf]

You might want to consider installing a "starboard" plate, use bolts not screws, generous with sealant at holes, the back of starboard and then seal around the edges. Once this is installed you can screw your transducer to the board. This will allow you to move or change transducers down the road without having to put new holes in your hull

[patvetzal]

I assume that you will mount the transducer outboard on the transom where it won't get damaged by dragging it over rocks etc the way it might with a thru the hull mount on a small boat.....

[M_P]

Whatever you do, use stainless steel hardware. Aluminum and regular plated steel hardware will result in galvanic corrosion.

[trimmer21]

I put some steel screws with marine silicone and a gasket to seal.. Just ran the site over the top.. And got some electrical clips for TV cable.. Haven't had a leak in 5,years.. Oh.. Ya.. I also put a small strip of wood on the inside with marine silicone on it as well..

X2.That's how I installed mine,over the top and attached to the outside transom.

[JUDGE]

Just glue it to the bottom of the boat , I used two part eypoxey and it works great, and no holes in bottom of boat.

[One_Tracc_Mind]

Use 3M 5200 it is a marine sealant, it's the best. To avoid drilling more holes then I would want to, I installed a polyethylene plate that installs with 2 screws and sealant. That way I can move, add and remove transducers anytime with no holes to fill in the boat. SS screws is a must.

[Kevb81]

Thanks for the tips guys thinking a plate is my best bet!

[DJB]

I use a tip up transducer bracket that clamps to the transom on my 14' Sea Nymph. This way it is portable and I can use it on rentals when required. I also had a severe storm come up and turned my boat sideways one time. If the transducer were fixed, it would have been damaged. I also store my boat outside and flip it over in the off season. I think that all that UV exposure would do something to the material.