Mounting a transducer

[RHuff]

I know this looks like an electronics question, but it's sort of on the fence so I am gonna post it here. My aluminum boat has a crack in the weld right underneath where my Garmin GT transducer is mounted (the long gray one). I think it has been causing unnecessary stress on the hull in that spot due to the bulkiness of the transducer. I am in the process of getting the weld fixed so I am looking at two options to try to prevent the situation of reoccurring.  Should I mount a small cut of plywood into the hull and mount the transducer on that in order to take the stress off of the aluminum or should I move the transducer farther towards the side of the boat to move it away from the flex/stress point? Would that cause further problems? Seeking advice. 

 

Edit: I just became aware of a product called stern saver that is a little block designed just for this... Do any of you recommend this product? 

[Scott F]

Unless you screwed the transducer to the hull with an impact driver, I can’t imagine it putting so much stress on the hull that you cracked a weld. I’m no expert, and can’t see where the crack is, but my guess is that the weld was either not done very well or possibly, it cracked from hitting a bump hard while being trailered. If there was a lot of stress from the transducer, the screws and or the bracket on the transducer  would be pulling loose. 

[Way north bass guy]

I agree with Scott F, and will add that the stern saver boards work great. I have two mounted on my boat, you can screw and unscrew as many times as you need to get the transducer in just the right spot, without drilling a pile of holes in the boat itself ( as long as you don’t use too long of a screw ?).

[RHuff]

7 hours ago, Scott F said:

Unless you screwed the transducer to the hull with an impact driver, I can’t imagine it putting so much stress on the hull that you cracked a weld. I’m no expert, and can’t see where the crack is, but my guess is that the weld was either not done very well or possibly, it cracked from hitting a bump hard while being trailered. If there was a lot of stress from the transducer, the screws and or the bracket on the transducer  would be pulling loose. 

 

Well I did use an impact driver lol and it’s the big Garmin transducer.. You reckin that caused the crack?? There was a noticeable rooster tail too.

[Scott F]

2 minutes ago, RHuff said:

 

Well I did use an impact driver lol and it’s the big Garmin transducer.. You reckin that caused the crack?? There was a noticeable rooster tail too.

I’ve got the big transducer on my boat too. If you are getting a rooster tail, you may have the transducer too far below the hull. No matter what, Too much pressure on the transducer will cause it too swing up, out of the water (if you didn’t over tighten it). If it was too tight, the bracket would bend or twist. Is there any damage on the transducer bracket?

[slonezp]

I can't imagine installing a transducer would cause a weld to crack. You have an outboard that weighs hundreds of pounds more than the transducer and produces a lot more torque stress than a transducer. That would cause a crack before a 6" long transducer.

[RHuff]

17 hours ago, Scott F said:

I’ve got the big transducer on my boat too. If you are getting a rooster tail, you may have the transducer too far below the hull. No matter what, Too much pressure on the transducer will cause it too swing up, out of the water (if you didn’t over tighten it). If it was too tight, the bracket would bend or twist. Is there any damage on the transducer bracket?

 

 None at all....