Step hull question
 

Own a 32 ' Fountain w/single step hull. Anyone know what part of the hull forward of the step should be in the water when running with medium trim ? Some/none ? I'm trying to install a shoot thru transducer that isn't disturbed by aireation rear of the step. Was thinking of mounting it forward of the step.

I can respect what your trying to do but unfortunately none of the depth sounders seem to work very well at speed with or without steps. Look up past posts might help and if you find the solution let us know :D

Thanks Troutly Prove me wrong :p
I was basing this off a discussion we had in the spring about how bad they were working. Mine included (I've tried two different makes). I wonder if Formula makes a pocket in the hull to accommodate the sender? What type of finder are they using? Thanks Scott

I had a 260 PQ with no step and my depth sounder worked at wot. It was a President and shot through the hull. Try putting your transducer in a baggie with water, and tape it down at different locations and see if you can find one that works most of the time. Fountain should know where the best spot is to install the transducer though.

Troutly,

What type of depth sounder do they use?

Does Fountain use a cored hull? If so you will not get good results without cutting through, removing the balsa core and potting the tranducer with epoxy.

Padraig

All,
The problem is the step and aeration. Fountain has not provided a solution. I have two transduders (both Airmar brand) one on the hull floor in the engine compartment and the other transom mounted. They both work until the boat is up on plane then the aeration issue occurs.
Back to my orignal question. Would any part of the hull forward of the step be in the water with medium trim while on plane.

I don't see how you could get a good reading in front of the step, unless you are driving it with the bow buried. No matter how you slice it, the forward half will see alot of air, the rear half will be aireated, with even conservative trim. Both conditions will give spuratic(sp) readings, as you have confirmed. Troutlys boat may read most of the time do to the fact that his boat may ride a little different, lower(?) in the water. Just a theory.
While of no help, mine is mounted in the engine compartment inside a pvc tube that is glassed to the hull. I have no idea if the tube actually penetrates the engine compartment floor. It works perfectly, except for when in turns and the bottom sees some air.

[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: US1 Fountain ]

I had a 32 with a depth finder. If you look down as soon as you step through the door,into the cabin you will see a carpeted step. Their should be a latch on the front of it open it up and you will see a bilge pump in their. Fountain also mounted the transducer for the depth finder in that part of the hull.

What do you do while going 80mph or WOT when the Depth Guage suddenly reads shallow water ... not going to help much. I've only refered to mine when idleing around unknown or shallow water. Do you really need to know how deep the deep water is?

G

Padraig hit it right. You can never get a good reading thru a cored hull. The 4" PVC thru the core so the transducer can sit on the 'true' floor is a nice way to do it.

I have a Formula like Troutly. Although mine is a 382, I think that the installations are similar. The boat has a solid (not cored) bottom, and the transducer is mounted in the center of the hull just before the first step. (Look under the step that leads into your cabin, Troutly.) As long as this part of the hull is in the water, it reads perfectly all the way up to 80. Same basic 2" in-dash Lowrance 3500/Gaffrig that you find everywhere.

12
 

addition for photo upload