Topic: towfish on a Sea View fish as a base.

[stevemc]

I am planning to use my Sea View underwater camera fish as a base for my HB transducer.  My camera lens has a lip sticking out about 1/4" from the face of the lens, around the edge.  It is cupped, flat lens, but a lip that will catch water and might move.  It is normally towed with camera facing back.  I see Roddy's fish is the same way, but his lens is or looks flat.  I dont want to put on a piece of plexiglass as it might make the picture harder to see.  There is about 5 lbs of lead in the camera end, or I would have it out the back.  Anybody have this problem?  Steve.

[Roddy]

Steve,
Got your email. OK there is a list of modifications to be made to the Sea View body before it is used as a side scsn tow fish.

  OK here we go.

Remove the plug from the end of the cable of CCTV.
Remove the camera and pull the cable gut thru the hole.
Remove the lead weight.
Remove bulkhead in the tube body.
Make a mold that fits inside of the tube body. melt 10 lbs of lead into the mold. After lead cools drill a .25 inch hole thru the lead whight for the camera cable to pass thru.
Drill a .25 hole at the top of the tube 10 inch from frount of body tube.
Use 1"X1"X3" long sq "U" tube Drill hole for Xducer mount bolt, drill two (2) holes for hose clamps.
Use 1"X1"x6" long sq "U" tube Drill five (5) holes for 11/4 tow shackle bolt, drill three (3) holes for hose clamps.

Push 150' of camera cable thru hole in lead whight. Add a 8" section of 3/8" tube over the camera cable, push cable from the inside of the body tube out the hole in the top.
Pull camera cable all up snug coat camera body with white grease check camera body is right slde up. Do not install plug at this time.
Install Xducer mount and Xducer with hose clamps on tow fish body keep screw on top of body.
Install tow bracket on top of tow fish with hose clamps keep on top of body.
DO NOT CUT XDUCER CABLE
Cut Xducer Extention cable (order from HB) two (2) feet from end.
Splice in 120' of CAT6A cable (ebay $18.95 US) record and save wire coloring of splice.Usehot glue and 3/4" heat shrink at plug and splice.
Make up 150' of 5/16" SS cable. leave the CCTV, Xducer plug end undone for now.Use two (2) swedges at the loops.
Take three 48"X3/4" heat shrink tube and cut in one (1) inch strips.
Lay out all three cables and slide 144 one (1) inch heat shrink strips over the cables and shrink starting at Tow Fish working to the plug ends. Space 12" between strips.
Inst plugs using recorded color codes.
Makeup tow SS tow cable end.
Test CCTV.
Test HB unit.

Happy scan'n!

Post PIX!

Roddy

[stevemc]

Thanks Roddy.   With your pics in the gallery, and your instructions, I should be able to do it.  I got your message too, thanks.  I will call you if I run into any problems, but I think I have it all.  When you have the downrigger cannonball, is it on a downrigger wire/reel, or actually on the tow cable-it sounded like it was actually on the tow cable.  At the boat end of the tow cable, is there a shackle point loop thimble on the cable?  I would assume there would have to be.  And do you have several for different depths?   Thank You, Steve.

[Roddy]

Steve, downrigger wt is just a clip on to the SS tow cable. The SS cable has a loop at each end with a thimble. I use a Jam Cleat to hold the tow cable. The loop at the plug has a 18" float. If I snag chuck it overboard as marker, come back and dive/ROV for recover.This has taken place a few times. Hope this helps Roddy

[stevemc]

Yes it does, thank you again.