Topic: transducer guard?

[gooral]

Hi.

I was just wondering what would of happen if I would put some sort of box over it to protect it from impacts (like put it inside metal ring?)
would the waterflow /air bubbles created by such a device interrupt readings?   yesterday i was fishing over flooded meadow and every so often was hitting submersed fencing posts (luckily non hit the transducer which i guess will be expensive to replace) and come with idea to make some sort of protection for the transducer. Any suggestions about what material to use and how to make one?

[sonar2000]

Dont use any metal.  dont enclose the transducer inside a guard such as a box.... If it was me I would use only plastic...as a guard. something like a ring..At slow trolling speeds you should not get any bubbles....
Is this on a trolling motor or the boat transom.

http://www.basswishes.com/Home.aspx  Here is a guard for the skimmer transducer.  Might work on the HDSI..
If you google the internet for transducer guard you will get some interesting hits...

Chuck

[gooral]

thanks. Ps was it on purpose or not before i quoted you i didn't see more than half of your message...

[sonar2000]

I posted and part of the post did not take so I modified to get the missing part in.  The part about the google search....

Chuck

[rnvinc]

Scap makes quality shields for the HDSI xducers...
http://www.transducershieldandsaver.com/home/transducers

Rickie

[gooral]

and no guard interfere with signal received?
Ps how close to engines propeller can you put transducer? (I think i have just enough room in between an outboard and bow of the boat)

[sonar2000]

Not very close as the prop can and will create cavitation or bubbles. both of which the transducer and sonar dont like...
And possible a shield from the signal. 
Chuck

[amiacalva]

Another trolling motor mount protector option:
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Innovative_Angler_Transducer_Protector/descpage-ITP.html

[gooral]

Thanks all for replies.

As i don't live in US (most of items will be subject to 100% additions such as shipping, customs, tax and God knows what else....) and currently unemployed (have to be cost efficient) I only used some ideas found on internet.
Plus found some sort of solution to my previous problem : http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=3265.msg18604#msg18604.

My main concerns was transducer hitting something while drifting on shallow/moored (so no chances of using outboard to avoid collision).
But as most solutions could affect the readings of the unit I came up with such a construction made up from 4 bits of aluminium strips and a galvanised steel hanger:
transducer in "standard" position: Ps note the loop I made on the transducer cable - unit is only couple months old and this cable gland seems to be falling apart from transducer! (like a cable is too stiff for it or gland to weak?)

"secure" position while on shallow/moored/in transport (i used lader hanger with slight modification of riveted metal strips. It should stop all objects from collision with transducer from back and left (from right is protected by outboard and from front by hull)

plus i got some idea how to keep my dog away from cables (some plastic container hung on the trailer board bracket):


I know this is nowhere to state of the art but was cheap (fiver?) strong (hanger is rated 160Lbs) and not interfering with readouts (in standard position whole "cage" is about foot higher than transducer.

[sonar2000]

Thank you...Gooral....

That is economic creativeness at its finest.

You may have helped a lot of users..

Chuck

[amiacalva]

Yes, thanks for sharing.  Your sample got me thinking about strapping the transducer to my ladder, allowing me to completely raise the transducer out of the water, completely protecting it.  Then drop the ladder for scanning.  The ladder would also serve as a frame for strapping additional protection.

Thanks!

[gooral]

Yes, thanks for sharing.  Your sample got me thinking about strapping the transducer to my ladder, allowing me to completely raise the transducer out of the water, completely protecting it.  Then drop the ladder for scanning.  The ladder would also serve as a frame for strapping additional protection.

Thanks!

I'm delighted that someone like it
Just look carefully at your transducer (place where gland is fitted to it) - maybe because i moved it couple of time in cold conditions, maybe for some other reason i can see like a slight gap in between gland and transducer (hence the loop taking all the strain away from the joint).
Maybe I'm over protective here but IMHO better this way than other.