New Fishfinder Install

[Chris & Dale]

I thought it would be so easy to replace the 15 year old fish finder running the new thru-hull transducer right thru the old fairing block. As usual, it turned into a real project. Biggest lesson learned: Do all your research about transducers and all the requirements for this new technology, fairing blocks, location versus dead rise, BEFORE you buy the unit....not like I did!
I went and bought this great Garmin Echo 551 DV (down view) with the initial intent of just placing the transducer in a bed of epoxy and shooting thru the hull. Ok, then I read that you can't do that with a cored hull and the DV technology. So then I ordered a 20 degree thru hull transducer figuring that would offset the dead rise and we could put in the existing fairing block...wrong again. We had to then move it back beyond mid-ship port side just outside the stringer. Of course this involved another hole in the boat during my spring haul-out. Below are a series of pictures for the hole, exterior view of transducer location, interior view of transducer location, and the finished product on the dash showing I don't have a lot of water under us in our slip. Longer and more expensive than initially expected, but it's in and works wonderful with a great picture.

The Hole.jpg

Overall location.JPG

broad view.jpg

DSCN3074 (588x800).jpg

We are ready to go fishing!!!!!