FF Cuda 168 Installation Help....

I installed a FF (Cuda 168) on my Scupper Pro.  I followed exactly the installation instructions that's on Hook1.  I mounted the transducer inside using Marine Coop.  I took the yak out yesterday to test the FF and seems like it's working pretty well.  Sometimes it will read the bottom and sometimes it breaks up.  When I mounted the transducer inside, I squeezed 1 whole tube of marine goop on the sanded spot, then I slowly pushed the transducer down until it hit the bottom, then I put a 5lb weight on it and let it sit over 24 hrs.  I can see that only the bottom part of the transducer is glue to the yak. My question though, am I suppose to cover the transducer halfway up with marine goop to get a good reading through the plastic hull. Any help will be appreciated.

Fred

Only the bottom needs to be gooped.  A whole tube of goop is way too much. 

 There absolutely need to be NO air (Pockets, bubbles etc) between the transducer and the hull.  I think 24 hrs is not enough time for the goop to cure fully.  If the goop was still "wet" beneath the transducer when you used it on the water, theres a good chance that there are tiny air bubbles in the goop now, from being "whipped up" by the ultrasonic sound. 

  No, you don't need to have goop covering the transducer, to be safe, at least the entire bottom part should be in some medium used to transmit the sound,to your hull, in your case the goop.  I'm not 100% sure where the actual sound waves actually exit the transducer, never researched it or looked for that info, That part of the transducer is whats needs to be in contact with the hull to allow it to transmit through the hull and operate properly.  Thats why I make sure that, at least the whole transducer's bottom is in the medium of choice.

Fred when you put the Goop on you need to put it on the bottom of the transducer (ducer) only so you can see if there our any air bubbles. If you put it on the bottom of the boat first and place the ducer on the Goop you might not be able to see if there was any air bubbles. After putting the Goop on covering the bottom of the ducer push it down on the lightly sanded area in the kayak. When pushing down turn the ducer giving it a little turn to the left and the right. Think of a clock turning to 11:00 and then 1:00 and back to 12:00. Letting it dry for 24 hours has always worked for me but it is a little cooler right now so if you can do this in your house or somewhere warm it might help. Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the advise. The funny thing, I took the kayak up to Van Damme yesterday and the FF works pretty well up there. I can't seem to figure out why it did not read bottom at the San Leandro marina and it did up in Van Damme. I love that FF, I was able to pick a good dive area yesterday.

Fred