Good idea that wasn't

[sanibel sailor]

Good idea that wasn't. When I had my depth sounder transducer installation disassembled a couple of years ago, I figured I might be able to improve the performance of my through hull depth sounder by filling the cavity with medical ultrasound gel. Being a gel, I wouldn't worry about leaking out. It might perform better than just plain water. I know others use Mineral oil as it doesn't freeze, but I'm in Florida and so that's not a concern. It worked fine at first, I'm not sure any better than regular water though.

Depth sounder recently quit working. Turned out to be the transducer. When I pulled the transducer to replace it , I discovered the gel had dehydrated and pulled away from the transducer face. The good news is, I scooped the gel out, filled it with water and now it's fine.

It is a sealed container theoretically, so I don't quite know where the water went from the gel.

[a64pilot]

Never heard of that, I follow your logic though, would have thought the gel to be the best.
I use antifreeze with a little water, I don't go where it freezes either, but someday someone might, and I always have it on board too.

[Reefmagnet]

Years ago I set up a transducer to shoot through the hull. I removed the messy old oil filled container and just glued the new unit in with sikaflex - done carefully to avoid air bubbles, of course. Worked perfectly.

[sanibel sailor]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

Years ago I set up a transducer to shoot through the hull. I removed the messy old oil filled container and just glued the new unit in with sikaflex - done carefully to avoid air bubbles, of course. Worked perfectly.

My hull is fairly steeply Vee'd forward.

[Reefmagnet]

I still think it would work, my install was steeply sloped so a thick layer of goop was required. Nevertheless, if I were to run with the gel idea, I'd probably pick silicone grease

[mitiempo]

I use epoxy when installing a transducer. If the hull is V'd I flatten a section with epoxy first. I have installed many this way.