Waterproof Marine
DIY Marine Electronics: Installing a Fishfinder
A big factor in buying a fishfinder is deciding whether to install it yourself or pay someone to do it for you. If you have never installed a fishfinder before this article will give you an overview of the general process. It is not intended to be a step by step guide for any particular fishfinder but it will give you an idea of whether or not you have the right skills to tackle the installation yourself.
Getting Started:
You can purchase fishfinder installation kits or assemble the components yourself using off the shelf products. The kit usually comes with some or all of the following components:
- A rubber grommet or water seal (for feeding the wiring from the transducer to the fishfinder display unit)
- Some extra wire
- A waterproof battery pack and battery pack bag
- A foam block (for mounting the transducer in the boat)
- A heavy duty marine sealant such as Marine Goop or Lexel
Your fishfinder unit may or may not come with an installation kit, but at the very minimum should contain:
- Fishfinder display unit
- A ram mount and mounting bracket (to attach the fishfinder display unit to the boat)
- Transducer and power cable
1. Mounting the Fishfinder Display unit
Determine where you will mount the fishfinder. Choose a location that makes it easy to reach while navigating the boat, and out of the way of any obstructions. Some installation mounts have back brackets which must be screwed on for stability. This type of mount requires you have access to the part of the boat underneath the mount so you can tighten the screws. You will need to drill holes for the mount and attach it securely. You can then insert the ram mount and fishfinder unit.
2. Installing the fishfinder transducer
There is more than one way to do this and it depends on your preference and on the type of fishfinder you purchased. Mounting a transducer inside the bottom of the boat involves cutting out a hole in a foam block designed to cushion the transducer. You attach the foam block using a good quality sealant and then insert the transducer in the foam block. The sealant must be applied carefully avoiding gaps and bubbles for the transducer to work correctly. An outside mount may require drilling a hole in the boat. You can use a rubber grommet or a waterseal and plenty of sealant to make the hole watertight. Alternatively you can mount the transducer on the the hull, at a point high enough to be in the water but out of the way of rocks or obstacles.
3. Wiring up the Fishfinder to the Transducer.
This step involves routing the power cable from the transducer to the fish finder display unit and may involve drilling another hole to keep the installation neat and tidy. Again, a grommet or waterseal may be needed.
4. The last step is wiring up the unit to the battery pack.
You may need to add additional lengths of wire depending on where you plan to stash the battery pack, the size of your boat etc. The batteries must be sealed in a waterproof container, such as a waterproof battery pack bag.
These are the basic steps required for installing a fishfinder. After you follow the four steps above, you can tidy up any loose wires with tie wraps and tuck them out of site. If you are handy with a drill and pair of wire crimpers it is easy enough to do but if the idea of drilling holes in your boat and crimping battery wires doesn’t thrill you it is well worth paying someone to install your fishfinder for you.
About the Author
Want to learn more about top-quality fishfinder? MarineWholesales.com has all the leading brands of discount marine electronics for yachting, boating and fishing.
Humminbird Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter
|
|
12V SMD5050 LED Tri-chip Horizontal Ribbon Flexible LED Strip Light 5M/16Ft Waterproof – RGB Color Changing with Remote Control $27.02 CBConcept proudly introduce our latest product. LED Ribbon/strip. LED RIBBON (A.K.A FLEXSTRIP LIGHTING) is a low voltage (12 volt) Super Bright LED lighting in a flexible thin PCB strip. This LED ribbon uses super flexible PCB board as base and adopts SMD Chip LED as its luminous body. Designed for the lighting professional, this lighting can be used for architectural lighting, sign letter light, … |
|
|
Coghlan’s Three Piece Set waterproof Pouches $4.60 With 3 different sized waterproof pouches. The Coghlan’s Waterproof Pouch Set holds a variety of different sized items that you need to keep dry. Watertight in a strong vinyl material your valuables are kept safe and dry…. |
|
|
Sangean H201 AM/FM Digital Shower Radio $99.00 The Sangean waterproof H201 radio allows you can enjoy your morning news, your favorite radio show, stock and financial news, or your local ball games. Unlike other shower radios, most of which are just water resistant; the Sangean H201 is made with JIS7 standard, which is waterproof. This radio issubmersible and meets waterproofing standards that are equal to marineradios. It is so versatile that… |
|
|
Pyle PWPE10B Marine Sport Waterproof In-Ear Earbud Stereo Headphones for iPod/iPhone/MP3 Player (Black) $12.67 These Pyle Waterproof headphones feature an ultra-slim design, and fit securely into any ear. They work great with your iPod, iPhone, Zune, Sansa, or any other MP3 player or Cell Phone with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. Use these with your waterproof media player for the ultimate maritime audio experience…. |
|
|
Cobra MR HH125 Compact Waterproof Marine Handheld VHF Radio with 1 or 3 Watts, All Weather Channels, and Weather Alert (Black) $79.95 The Cobra MR HH125 is a compact, waterproof, Marine Handheld VHF Radio with 1 or 3 watt power options for short and long communications. The unit works for all U.S., Canadian, and International channels, allowing operation on any of the three different channel maps established for these areas. It also has instant national access to all the NOAA weather Channels which provide information on hazards… |
|
|
Pyle PLMRKT4A 4-Channel Waterproof MP3/iPod Amplified 6.5-Inch Marine Speaker System $116.00 4-CH AMP Speaker System… |
|
|
Pyle Marine Sport Waterproof In-Ear Earbud Stereo Headphones for iPod/iPhone/MP3 Player … |
|
|
Uniden MHS75 VHF Waterproof Two-Way Marine Radio $99.99 This compact, well built, rugged handheld Marine radio is rated JIS8/IPX8 submersible and is packed with outstanding features. Included accessories are a rapid clip-on DC charger, and Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery…. |
|
|
… |
|
|
Pyle PLMRMP3A 4-Channel Waterproof MP3/iPod Marine Power Amplifier $146.99 This 4-channel waterproof MP3/iPod marine amplifier is a powerful addition to your marine audio setup. It pushes 200 watts maximum on each of the two channels for a bone-rattling power that’s basically unmatched. It takes RCA line inputs and includes a 3.5mm-to-RCA adaptor so you can plug in your MP3 player or iPod easily. Also takes standard high and low level inputs from a marine head-unit. Co… |
|
|
Pyle KTMR14SP Waterproof Marine 4-speaker CD/MP3 Player Stereo System $129.99 Listen to your favorite music and radio even when you are out on the lake with a waterproof stereo system. This CD and MP3 player receiver is perfect to install in your boat. |
|
|
Pyle Waterproof Marine CD/MP3 Player Receiver/ Speaker/ Radio Cover (Refurbished) $89.99 Waterproof speakers and an anti-skip mechanism are featured in this marine stereo system from Pyle. A splash proof radio housing and anti-theft detachable face make this a great system to install in just about any boat. |
|
|
Pyle KTMR11SP Waterproof Marine 4-speaker CD/MP3 Stereo $127.99 Listen to your favorite music and radio even when you are out on the lake with a waterproof stereo system. This in-dash stereo kit is perfect to install in your boat. |
|
|
Pyramid 6.5-inch 120-watt Dual Cone Waterproof Speakers $19.99 Pyramid 6.5-inch marine 120-watt stereo speakersAudio equipment full range dual cone speakersAudio speakers are completely waterproof |
|
|
Pyle PLCD11MRKT Car Audio Player $89.99 Waterproof marine CD/MP3 player receiver w/ speaker and splash proof radio coverIn-dash marine car stereo Audio/video device has anti-theft detachable face |