Com-Pac Yacht Owners Association

Com-Pac Model Specific Discussions => Eclipse => Topic started by: Fastdoc98 on March 26, 2020, 09:41:48 PM

Title: Depth transducer placement
Post by: Fastdoc98 on March 26, 2020, 09:41:48 PM
Just ordered a shoot-thru depth transducer for my Lowrance nav unit that came with the boat and I'm wondering about placement.  My understanding is that it can be epoxied to the inside of the hull just forward of the mast in the storage compartment there?  My Eclipse has the battery in a box just forward of the mast but there's still plenty of space to mount the puck there if that part of the hull is solid glass.  If not, does it need to go further aft on either side of the keel or centerline but way aft?
Title: Re: Depth transducer placement
Post by: slode on March 27, 2020, 09:29:06 AM
Mine is mounted right up against the forward wall of that storage compartment, dead center.  Just get your offsets set correctly.
Title: Re: Depth transducer placement
Post by: Fastdoc98 on March 28, 2020, 07:37:49 AM
Thanks for the info slode.  What do you mean by the 'offsets'?
Title: Re: Depth transducer placement
Post by: slode on March 30, 2020, 09:03:00 AM
Most depth finders have programable offsets to account for placement of the transducer that is not right on the waterline. If your transducer is 1' below the waterline you'll want to set it -1' to account for that.  Or you can set it to measure from bottom of your keel.
Title: Re: Depth transducer placement
Post by: Fastdoc98 on March 30, 2020, 09:14:00 AM
Ah, makes sense now.  I would think keel bottom would be the most practical in terms of grounding/bottoming
Title: Re: Depth transducer placement
Post by: slode on March 30, 2020, 10:45:13 AM
Maybe, but consider your rudder drafts deeper than the keel, and with the centerboard down you have an extra few feet.

I set mine at the waterline, knowing that I draft 5'2" with board down, about 2'5" with board up and rudder down, and 1'6" with both up.  For gunkholing in the backwaters this has all come into consideration and kept me from doing any damage.  You can add these depths to your keel draft, but I just find it easier to know how deep the water actually is in any spot.