CONTINUOUSWAVE

Anyone have pics or ideas on the cleanest transducer install? I've seen a couple that have the wiring go thru the back of the motor drain. I'm trying to decide if I want to go thru hole. Below is a link to my rebuild.


http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/716711-1975-boston-whaler-montauk-17-rebuild.html

I do not recommend filling the transom splash well drain holes with rigging cables.

On my 15, I ran the transducer cable through the splashwell drain hole on one side. I had to take a file to the corners of the attached plug to get it to fit through the hole (Lowrance transducer) but I didn't have to remove much material at all. It made for a very clean install, and the 5/16" transducer cable does not impede water flow to any appreciable degree.

I ran vertically along the motor bracket and used available motor locations to zip tie against; then zip tied to the steering cable. There is one sealed screw in the transom on my install (aside from the bracket itself). It took a few deep breaths to actually make the hole. Since your motor will be up a notch or two, you'll have room room to run between the transom and motor lip if you install on the port side as well. I have a kicker to starboard, so SONAR transducer is to port.

As far as actual location, from the pictures where the originals where looks fine.

On the old timers, the steering cable is supported by a transom bracket with two through-bolts. When I mounted the new E-TEC, I filled in one hole and then bored the other out big enough for the transducer plug to pass through the hull. Then I added stainless clam shells inside and out and filled the whole thing with waterproof silicone.

Chris

I would route the transducer cable over the transom or something like the picture below.

Chris, please say how you achieved that look on the E-TEC 90. I like it very much.
JimL

The E-TEC 90, IMHO, looks like a model-year 2000 Bearcat. The cowling has slab sides. The front has a convex centerline crease, an eyebrow, and the back is sculpted. I thought that with the correct graphics and paint, it could almost look period-correct. I contacted Janis at Magicbrush about altering the Fisher Pierce Bearcat 55 decals she had made previously. I wanted "Evinrude Bearcat 90" and this is what she came up with. The "cross flags 4 cycle" on the original Beacat is a placard, not a sticker. I sent her a photograph and gave her the width dimensions that I felt would look correct, and I had her change the "4" to a "2." The front sticker is perfect.

If you look at the side stickers, she has the slant wrong on both sides. On the port decal, the "90" is slanted back instead of forward, and on the starboard decal, everything is slanted back. Also, I'm not nuts about the font used for the "90." The truth is, Janis is very sweet and the quality of their work is tops. Had I complained, I have no doubt she would have corrected them and sent along another set. I've been meaning to order a corrected set for two years now but haven't. Maybe learning to live with this minor mistake that no one but me ever notices--might help this engineer be less of a PITA ;-). The price she charged me was so reasonable I actually asked her if she was charging me enough. She laughed at me, of course, and assured me that the price quoted would do just fine. If you have her correct the digital template for a sticker purchase, please let me know so I can get another set as well.

As far as the mid section covers go, I removed them, taped off and sanded them down, and painted them with Honda Highland Blue (paint code PB55M) and two coats of clear. This is an exact match to Homelite blue. I also taped off the eye brow, sanded it and painted it with a can of red spray paint.

Total cost was around $150. I get as many comments and curious questions on the motor as I do on the boat. Some folks can tell that it's an E-TEC. Others ask if it's the original 50 year old motor. Everyone loves it!

Chris

Steve--Do you have reservations about [having the cable from the SONAR transducer] going over the transom?

I see [you are] in San Diego; you may eventually think about a transom mounted bait tank pump, which typically needs to go over the transom, anyhow. You can route your [cable from the SONAR transducer] alongside that.