Vexilar FL-22 - Manual (Page 36)

36
AlumaDucer
™
Transducer Installation
IMPORTANT PRE-INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
The AlumaDucer mounted in-hull helps many boaters get better performance and
protection from damage than ever before using externally mounted transducers. The key
to good performance is to understand the dynamics of how water flows under your hull at
different boat speeds. Fiberglass boats often have a flat spot or “pad” on the very rear of
the boat. This flat area is ideal for transducers to get a good clear reading at high speeds.
With aluminum hulls, this area may not be as obvious. In welded, flat bottom Jon boats
it is often easy to find an area where smooth water without bubbles are flowing down
the hull of the boat. Boats with rivets, scratches, and/or dents along their bottom side
create more turbulence, so finding an area of smooth water without air pockets can be a
challenge, but it is possible in most cases. We highly recommend you test your boat to find
the optimal mounting location BEFORE installing the AlumaDucer. Here’s how to do it:
Select an area within one foot of the center keel of the boat and directly in front of the
bottom corner of the transom. This area is often near the drain plug. Your goal is to select
an area that is between ridges or rivets preferably in the center or towards the driver’s side
of the boat. You need to select an area of the hull that does not have a dent or depression
that might create a pocket of air while the boat is running at higher speeds. A simple
straight edge ruler can be used on the bottom of your hull to ensure you have selected a
non-warped area. Also, avoid areas of the hull where trailer bunks or rollers rest, as the
aluminum in these areas tend to flex slightly while trailering the boat.
m
oUntinG
L
oCation
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eStinG
1. Head to your favorite testing waters and launch your boat.
2. Fill the rear bilge area of your boat with about an inch of water.
3. Remove the protective film from the transducer face and place the transducer in the
water in the desired position.
4. Connect the AlumaDucer to your depth finder. You don’t need to do any fancy
routing of the cable for now.
5. Go for a boat ride. Make sure you get good strong readings at all boat speeds. If
not, move the transducer around until you do.
If you don’t have a friend to help drive the boat while you’re moving the transducer
around, use a zip lock bag with beach sand in it, or something similar, to keep the
transducer face firmly in place on the hull and under the thin layer of water you have in
your boat. Remember to consider the average weight distribution within your boat. Try to
compensate for your own weight during the test.
Once the “sweet spot” has been found, you simply drain your boat, dry the area thoroughly
and install the AlumaDucer by following the instructions on the next page.