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Location: Des Moines IA | Just bought my first fiberglass boat. How do I mount a new transducer and trolling motor on a glass boat? I have never drilled, or tried to put screws in fiberglass before? |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Start small, as in with a pilot hole and gradually work up from there. If you try to take too much too soon or all at once, the bit can (usually will) grab the gel coat and either crack it or break off a chunk. Some guys tape it off first, putting down masking tape (not duct tape!!) to help thwart cracks or breaks.
For the trolling motor, I recommend bolts. For the transducer, I recommend screws. When drilling holes for screws, you've got to find the happy spot. Make the hole too big, and the screw won't bite. Make the whole too small and you'll posssibly crack the glass screwing it in. It should screw it with some resistance, but if it's hard to screw in, it's too small and you need to back it off before you crack the glass. |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Use a new, very sharp drill, and go slow...don't force it. Make sure the predrilled holes are just small enough so the thread of the fastener holds well, or you will just chip up the gel coat. I use a drill one size larger to bevel the gel to be sure. Trolling motor is bolts, pretty straight forward, just carefully drill the holes and put the motor on. Seal ALL screws and bolts with silicone sealant. |
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Posts: 224
Location: Madison | You don't need to drill holes for the transducer mount - a number of folks with 'ducers that can be finicky (I'm looking at you HB SI) are using stuff like this:
http://www.sternmate.com/ |
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| Hi Waldo...We appreciate your compliment to your friends on this forum regarding our SternMate™ Transducer Mounting System. Not only do we build the finest transducer mounting system in the world, we do our best to help boat owners avoid jeopardizing their boat warranties when they do mount their favorite electronic fish-finding transducers.
Safe boating...
Captain Chris |
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | When bolting your trolling motor down don't forget to use a backing plate or at least "fender" washers on the inside of the deck. This will give the nuts more surface area for a stronger install in the long run. If you want your depthfinder to work at all speeds you may want to install the trandsducer inside the hull. We have always found a level spot inside the boat bottom at or near the stern. Make a "ring" about 2 inches high out of modeling clay. Then put this ring on the spot to mount the transducer. Mix up a good grade of epoxy. Pour this into your clay ring and set the transducer in the epoxy. Use your wifes blow dryer to heat the whole mess up a little bit to clear out the air bubbles and just like magic, an install of your transducer that reads at 60 mph and above. More work but well worth the effort. Call it a labor of love. |
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