Stealth Transducer Install.

Yet another transducer install and Fishfinder upgrade.

I originally installed a lowrance hook 5 on my Fisha 500. It came with a small access in the fish hatch to the main hull to install a transducer. Long story short I had nothing but problems with getting a good bottom reading.

I suspect it was the location of my transducer. When I load my kayak using the Yakima sweetroll I think it was rolling on the transducer and causing it to become unglued.

At the same time I wasn’t super happy with the lowrance. After using a 7 inch raymarine for so long on my Hobie I had been spoiled. I wanted a 7 inch on the stealth. I decided to go with a Humminbird Helix 7.

Drawing inspiration from Eddie I added a 6 inch hatch on the rear deck to do a water bath transducer install.

Cont…..

For the water bath I wanted to make it permanent. As in fill it once and leave it. I bought a waterproof box, cut the bottom off it and acuffed it real good so that adhesive would stick well. On the lid I drilled a hole for the cable and used a cable grommet to seal it. The box was glued down using marine adhesive.

For power I used the same box with a cable gland to keep it waterproof. Inside is a nocqua battery and voltage regulator as well as a fuse.

The battery box is mounted with Velcro in the dry hatch behind the seat. There is a weird area that is basically under the seat that is fits perfectly. It’s great because if things slide or roll up there it’s challenging to retrieve them while on the kayak. I routed the wires out using a cable gland again to maintain it being waterproof. The wire is routed out the back where it is then run with the transducer cable to the front of the kayak.

That is a creative install. I haven’t seen a permanent water bath before.

Up to the fish hatch!

The stealth is sort of a dual hull design, with the fish hatch being one area and the main hull being the second. On theory if you suffer a hull breach the fish hatch would help keep you floating. Or if you flip with the fish hatch open the main hull will stay dry and keep you afloat.

As I mentioned earlier mine came from the factory with an access cut into the main hull to install a transducer. This access had an opening with a cap fo run wires, but no way to seal it after running wires. Also it was not sealed in any way, so water could just run between the two areas, defeating the whole purpose.

Running into the main hatch I used another cable seal just like the one used in my waterproof box for the transducer. The power cable I ran thru another cable gland. I then sealed up the access panel with silicone to keep it waterproof. All cables were then routed out of the way and up through the hatch with a Hobie thru hull fitting.

Is the Stealth a fiberglass kayak?

Not just a fiberglass kayak. Da apex lean mean high performance surf paddle fishing machine.. w/ a fish hatch.

Is the Stealth a fiberglass kayak?

Yup, it’s fiberglass. All 16+ foot length, 26 inch width, and ~60 lbs of it. Very light and fast! Especially compared to any of the 100+Lb “kayaks” out there. Which I’m guilty of also owning a 103lb Hobie outback 

After a long day loading it up is a breeze!

A fiberglass kayak and a flush mount, thru-hull, transducer, like something from Airmar, could be an arranged marriage made in heaven. Don’t know if Hummingbird is a dedicated transducer, I believe Lowrance will work with 3rd party transducers, Raymarine will.

I did a quick look at the Hummingbird Helix 7 and what Hummingbird has for thru hull transducers, looks like you are limited in your options, didn’t see anything flush mount.

Overall, it is a cleaver install without having to do any fiberglass work. Do you drain the water out of the transducer box after fishing?

You and your transducer project now have me rethinking rotomold kayaks vs fiberglass.

 

There are a few transducer that will work. You need a nmea 2000 adapter which Humminbird will happily sell you. I was looking into going that route, but the idea of drilling a hole, and a big ass hole at that, through the bottom of my kayak didn’t sit well with me.

The water is in there permanently. So no need to drain it (I hope). I’ll check it after a few trips and see how it’s going.

Nice looking install John!
Now you’ll be able to catch more fish!

Scotty

That looks like a quality install Looking forward to the updates

Quick update I am very happy with the image quality. Still gotta learn how to use it.

I was able to get clear views of trees using the 500 kHz DownScan down to 100+ feet. The higher downscan frequency gave great views in water down to ~50 feet (no photos). With the regular sonar I could track a small 3 inch drop shot worm and 1/8 oz weight down to ~50ft in 100ft of water over some trees. Using the zoom function I could track it even further. So far so good!

Nice! Does the big screen interfere with a full paddle stroke at all?