gooping transducer on hull of tarpon 100 a good idea?

Hello guys. have read quite a few articles and I'm finally ready to install a Lowrance hook 4x downscan on my tarpon 100 kayak. Thing is, a lot of people say do not goop the transducer inside hull because you will lose sensitivity, lose temp, and get inaccurate readings.  Other people say its the ony way to do it that sound will go thru plastic ok and give accurate readings. I would really appreciate you guys input. How did you guys install your fish finders? -what worked and what totally didn't work?  Thanks a lot in advance for your replies.

I've gooped and water bathed transducers and I can still see my jig hopping.(humminbird and raymarine dragonfly)
 There probably a slight loss of sensitivity but the temp is closer than the water bath.
 I did the alcohol wipe,sand lightly, and propane torch pass install.
 Now 10 years later it is still on and working on my old yak (I could not pull it off).

sorry whats the propane torch for?

sorry whats the propane torch for?

If you heat polyethylene, you'll get a better bond. But be careful---you really only want the superheated air, not the flame per se.

Btw, if you happen to have any black starboard you might practice on that, since it's easy to see the effect on that. Other colors, not so much.

Another vote for water bath. I made my "bath" out of a cut up kneeling pad like this one:

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-Kneeling-Cushion-94216974J/100534790


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Any pictures of water bath setups?  I am at the same point and have considered both options.

Ziploc work really good for me!!! Just filled up with water. OG style! 



-Kiel

Duct Seal. Put some Vaseline on the bottom of the transducer. Mash /wiggle it down into the Duct Seal. Form the duct Seal up the sides and over the top of the transducer so the transducer doesn't move / shift.

 Water bath for me. I used the same kind of pad that Alexb posted on both mine and my daughter's kayaks.
Super easy and works perfect.
 I've tried the goop in the past, wasn't as happy.

I'll try to remember to snap a pic of my water bath later today. It's really simple... Basically just trace the outline of your transducer onto the pad, cut it out, goop it down.


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Locktite Marine adhesuve, ×2 tubes. It holds a little stronger than the goop if you are going to go that route. If you take your time when setting the transducer in the hull, the sonar still works perfectly. I have a hook 4x, hull transducer mount. I have a little bit of extra surface clutter from the setup and no water temp reading, but the sonar and downscan work very well

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Water bath because I had what I needed.  Depth and temperatures are not spot on, but very close to readings with the transducer hanging in the water.

Reports on duct seal suggest the oil will eventually seep into the transducer and destroy it.  Anyone had that experience first-hand?

Water bath because I had what I needed.  Depth and temperatures are not spot on, but very close to readings with the transducer hanging in the water.

Reports on duct seal suggest the oil will eventually seep into the transducer and destroy it.  Anyone had that experience first-hand?

Never heard that duct seal will destroy a transducer over time.

I have done the Goop method twice, and eventually I got weird readings because it wasn't sticking, or got bubbles. I didn't try heating, though. It was a bitch getting the goop off everything to start again, and I did use a blow dryer for that. 
   I've had the same foam doughnut water bath for maybe 8 years now with no problems.  I used a big diameter pool noodle, and cut the hole just a little small so the transducer stays in - I put it in at home, tilt the kayak up onto my car, and reverse at launch, and the water and 'ducer stay put.   Any sort of flexible foam should work.  It only takes a couple of tablespoons of water to do the job.

Thanks for the tips guys, the last part I need to get my project going just got here today.  I am going make a water bath using a foam kneeling pad for my Lowrance elete 5 hdi (came with the transom mount transducer).  I also will likely add a velcro restraining strap to keep the transducer secure since I transport my kayak upside down.