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Author Topic:   Mounting transducer with epoxy

Fishmore posted 04-28-2010 11:00 AM ET (US)
Last week while running my Montauk through 3 foot chop and bouncing hard all the way my transducer and mounting block pulled free from the transom. The block was made of 3/4" Starboard and I used one 1.75" size 10 screw to hold it. I had relied on a liberal coating of 5200 for adhesion. Upon inspection of the failure the 5200 did not stick to the starboard and I was able to easily peel the 5200 from the gelcoat. The screw pulled right out of the transom.
Because I am trying to limit the number of holes in the transom my new method is going to be fill the old hole in the transom with epoxy, coat a 2"x3"x6" piece of wood with West Systems Epoxy (105 resin, 205 hardener) then sand the mounting area on the transom and use the new West Systems G/flex Epoxy from the 650-K kit to affix the block to the transom with no screws. According to the West Systems website "With a modulus of elasticity of 150,000 PSI, it (G/flex Epoxy) is a bit more flexible than standard epoxies and polyester, but much stiffer than adhesive sealants. This gives G/flex the ability to make structural bonds that can absorb the stress of expansion, contraction, shock and vibration.
Hope this works better than the last method. But even if it fails at least there is no additional holes in my transom.
dino54904 posted 04-28-2010 01:37 PM ET (US)
I used a similar method to mount the tansducer on my Montauk. Marine seal a block ot teak on the transom and then screw the transducer into the teak. It worked great for about 10 years, then I sold the boat but I'm sure it is still holding well.
Ridge Runner posted 04-28-2010 05:38 PM ET (US)
I purchased a product called Sternmate http://sternmate.com/ . It mounted with a special 3M adhesive. It's expensive at $119, but I found a few qualities I really like. First the set-back is great and keeps the transducer in very clean water. Second the adhesive is removable with a heat gun, I'm not sure how you would remove structural epoxy bonded to the hull. Plus you can tell by the pictures it looks like a factory install.
jimh posted 04-28-2010 08:12 PM ET (US)
I'd mount the transducer with a couple of appropriately sized stainless steel self-tapping screws; that will cost about $1.

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Author	Topic: Mounting transducer with epoxy
Fishmore	posted 04-28-2010 11:00 AM ET (US) Last week while running my Montauk through 3 foot chop and bouncing hard all the way my transducer and mounting block pulled free from the transom. The block was made of 3/4" Starboard and I used one 1.75" size 10 screw to hold it. I had relied on a liberal coating of 5200 for adhesion. Upon inspection of the failure the 5200 did not stick to the starboard and I was able to easily peel the 5200 from the gelcoat. The screw pulled right out of the transom. Because I am trying to limit the number of holes in the transom my new method is going to be fill the old hole in the transom with epoxy, coat a 2"x3"x6" piece of wood with West Systems Epoxy (105 resin, 205 hardener) then sand the mounting area on the transom and use the new West Systems G/flex Epoxy from the 650-K kit to affix the block to the transom with no screws. According to the West Systems website "With a modulus of elasticity of 150,000 PSI, it (G/flex Epoxy) is a bit more flexible than standard epoxies and polyester, but much stiffer than adhesive sealants. This gives G/flex the ability to make structural bonds that can absorb the stress of expansion, contraction, shock and vibration. Hope this works better than the last method. But even if it fails at least there is no additional holes in my transom.
dino54904	posted 04-28-2010 01:37 PM ET (US) I used a similar method to mount the tansducer on my Montauk. Marine seal a block ot teak on the transom and then screw the transducer into the teak. It worked great for about 10 years, then I sold the boat but I'm sure it is still holding well.
Ridge Runner	posted 04-28-2010 05:38 PM ET (US) I purchased a product called Sternmate http://sternmate.com/ . It mounted with a special 3M adhesive. It's expensive at $119, but I found a few qualities I really like. First the set-back is great and keeps the transducer in very clean water. Second the adhesive is removable with a heat gun, I'm not sure how you would remove structural epoxy bonded to the hull. Plus you can tell by the pictures it looks like a factory install.
jimh	posted 04-28-2010 08:12 PM ET (US) I'd mount the transducer with a couple of appropriately sized stainless steel self-tapping screws; that will cost about $1.