pool noodle transducer mount - do you replace the water each time?

I've got a couple of questions regarding the transducer mount.

Actually I did not use a pool noodle as they did not have the big ones that I wanted when I went to Big5. So I bought a kickboard instead, and the foam is denser and more durable anyway. I cut out a block, made the transducer hole and it fits like a charm. Glued it in with goop, and all looks so-far-so-good.

Questions:
1. I didn't put the transducer in the middle of the boat since I wanted to maintain the center for storage. Instead, it is just in front of the scupper molding on the starboard side. (T-13) That's fine I think, but it is not completely flat there. With the slight deflection, will I see a slightly deeper reading or would that be negligible?

2. I was planning to fill the block with water, but do you do this each time you go out? Does it leak out between trips? I hang my yak from the ceiling upside down and transport it on the rack upside down as well. I'm just curious how well the seal holds.

3. Has anyone ever tried ultrasound gel instead? I've seen posts about vaseline, but that seems really messy. Ultrasound gell is water based I think and would be much easier to clean up. It would also seem that it would not leak out of the seal like water might.

Thanks,

Peter

Its not gonna seal the water in if you flip the boat. I fill mine each time. Just needs about three capfuls from my water bottle

i fill mine each time too, its easy, i do it when i install the battery, i keep a small bottle of water in the hull, and use that to fill it.  I can access mine through the rod pod on the water.

Mine NEVER leaks while im out fishing, water tight.
the water only comes out when i flip the boat to transport.

Fill mine each use too.  I'm sure it's not watertight because sometimes I'll just pour the water on top of the xducr and let it seep in.  If you get out on the water and suddenly read 400' in 6 feet of water, you will probably start filling it the night before you go fishing! 

Mine is pretty tight but I empty it after each trip 1 time I didn't and the water got really nasty

I think any type of liquid will work.  I used sunscreen and it worked, although it was a mess to clean up eventually.

Why not just goop that sucker down and forget about it?

Why not just goop that sucker down and forget about it?

Because you can use the same FF in several kayaks if it isn't permanently attached.
Goop eventually wears down and it usually happens when you are OTW and need the FF to actually work.
Easier to keep the transducer clean if you can take it out.
Just a few reasons. Gotta get back to work now.

Why not just goop that sucker down and forget about it?

Tote gave good reasons not to goop it down, but that's how mine is.  I can't easily take the FF out and use it in another boat, but I NEVER have to mess with filling with water or anything.  

To be clear, the 'ducer is gooped down in a little pool of goop inside the noodle housing.  It works great.

I started out that way, switching a FF between boats, but with quality fishfinders costing less than a cleap paddle...  I finally after a year bought one for the other yak and gooped em in...  life is just that much simpler now.

SBD was like a broken record on this topic, and I wished I'd listened sooner.

I gooped my first THREE in my first three kayaks. I learned the hard way. Never again.

go goopless on the ducer... mine came out sweet! Honestly, its real easy to fill, takes like 10 seconds of the 24hr day!!!

Like i said, just keep a tiny bottle of water in your hull, or rodpod tray, or in your tackle box....

I mean a tiny bottle, like this! You can even get them in plastic, look in the baby juice section at the store....

The foam block is gooped. I'll run the transducer un-gooped for awhile, but may goop it in if
a. I decide against un upgraded FF in the near future (hummingbird)
b. setting it up each time becomes a PITA

I am going to try ultrasound gel instead of water though. I'm interested to see whether it leaks out between sessions or not. And it would be way easier to clean up than any other gels or vaseline etc.

Do any of you have yours slightly offset in the hull and not pointing down at perfectly 90 degree angle? Is that an issue at all?

If you do the noodle right, it will not leak on you even when you flip.  Trick is to outline the transducer with a sharpie on the noodle before you cut it, and cut the inside diameter a bit short so it wedges in nice and snug.  I think Porky came up with a neat idea of re-enforcing the noodle by wrapping the outside in electrical tape?  That may help others that have leaks.  

My original install on my OB is still working, snug, and water tight after 2 years!!!  I'm actually very impressed with how well my first attempt at this has lasted me!

I know at least one person I know was really happy with the Vasoline method and I plan on trying it on my new yak.  Not that i'll be removing the transducer, but I just prefer the noodle mount vs direct goop.  

Lemme know how this ultra-gel stuff works out!  Maybe go that route instead!

I gooped my first THREE in my first three kayaks. I learned the hard way. Never again.

Same here..   I switched to foam block w/ cutout of transducer. 

So you all had goop failures, eventually?

It's just funny that I'm so against the grain, it seems...  opposite of everyone else, when I thought I was finally catching up.