Cutting between deck and hull?
Hi Guys,
After some advice here - My sounder is erratic, as it is mounded on the transom of my boat, but I cant get it submersed properly because the hull is stepped, and at an angle. I want to do a through hull mounting on the transducer, so I would need to cut through the fibreglass deck(may be plyboard between?) and make a "hatch" to access the hull - I have a 6,1 m Guardian, and the guy I bought it from, said it had a sealed hull, with compartments to stop the boat from sinking if the hull got damaged? It has a bung in this cavity on the transom, and collects about a litre of water on a full days trip, so I suppose this could be true.
If I need to cut through the hull, I would like to add an underfloor petrol tank, to get the 3 loose plastic tanks off the deck and make space for my Esky/gear, and seal up the under deck compartments to retain the bouyancy - I know it would be less, but would polystyrene pushed into these cavities not do the trick?
So the end result would look like a hatch on the floor, with the transducer and fuel tank below it - see the thread on Fraser 626 - 2nd Photo.
Has anyone gutted a Guardian before, or even better, does anyone have the plan of the underfloor setup? Is it ply covered with a layer of FB or just FB, are there struts or compartments below the deck, and are these for strength to keep the boat together, or just for bouyancy? Any Do's or Dont's regarding this type of mod? Will my current Hummingbird 565C transducer work through the hull? Anyone know where to get around 80L fuel tank for a boat?(for V shaped hull). What material would be best for the hatch cover, as we would be walking over this all the time?
Anyone want to do this job for a fair price - during the coming winter?
Any help and advice will be appreciated.
Dave
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
1) Surely you can get a
1) Surely you can get a better mount for your tranny than having to cut into the hull.
2) 1l of water per trip? Where is that coming from?
3) Don't use polystyrene, use the right kind of closed-cell foam. Best to put the foam into pockets that can in fact drain, just in case you accidentally open the void, ie; a screw.
4) There will certainly be stringers underfloor, who knows what else.
5) You can use ply for the cover, just make sure it can be screwed down to a good seal. I'm pretty down on glassing over tanks, you have to do a lot of cutting to get them back out!
davebarry (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Till..
Hi Till,
1) I have tried to move it around and about 10 different positions - the best position causes a spray up into the boat, as the hull is stepped, and these steps are angled, when the transducer is horizontal, just in the water, the angle between the hull causes a roostertail that sprays into the back of the boat that the bilge pump start after about 5 minutes...I have made an ali plate that covers the transducer to stop the spray, but now, when the motor is running in gear, the bubbles get trapped under this plate and give false echos - proved by going really fast, watching the sounder, then cutting the motor and the sounder clears up...? Russ suggested the problem would be solved with the through hull conversion a few months ago - posted a few pics of the mount then too..
2) The water is coming from a little altercation with a reef that chipped the front of the boat, and must have cracked through - 1 litre does not bother me, but will fix it in this exercise too..
3) Any Idea where i can buy the closed cell foam?
4) Any idea if the stringers will be to keep the hull together or just to support the deck?
5) If I cut out an area, say 800mm x 1400mm, put the closed cell foam in where I could reach too, and put stronger supports in a box type frame around the edges of the cut-out, and fibre glass over this, to create a seperate hatch area, mount the tank and sounder in there, and then used those deck clips and a rubber seal around the edges of the cover, so future access was possible, this should keep it safe?
Dave
scottnofish
Posts: 1621
Date Joined: 28/08/07
a transom mount transducer
wont shoot through the hull very well at all you need a wetbox type or a through hull type of tranny
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
1) I have no doubt you have
1) I have no doubt you have tried 10 different places and still don't have it right. Its a black art.
3) Any of the glass boat markers, or glasser supplies will sell you the foam, its named in some reports too, try google.
4) Both, if they weren't there, your hull would need to be pressurised to cope with waves.
5) Remember its a boat, getting a useful hatch that big in an 8m boat would be a coup. It will be a lot more clear once you have the floor up though.
Its a massive project, and not one I envy you.
Rexxo
Posts: 1
Date Joined: 26/09/10
Has anyone gutted a Guardian before??
Hi Dave,
I removed the floor from my 5.3m Guardian half cabin, there is about 400mm between the bulkheads, no stringers, the pieces of timber running the length of the hull are just to support the floor.... hope it helps, keen to see how things turn out.
Rex