I’m about to install a forward scan transducer and looking for some advice/reassurance.

The sounder is more or less the same as a normal depth / speed transducer, ie a 50ish mm threaded tube with flange and removable inner plug. Unlike a depth/speed fitting it needs to be installed horizontally athwart ships (there can be a small angle fore/aft).

The hull is almost completely horizontal very close to the centreline so installing it there would save me messing about with fairing inside and out to get the fitting horizontal. So less work and less drag.

I have two queries really:

1. General install method. I’m planning on drilling a hole with a hole saw, removing the antifoul from around the hole, applying plenty of sikaflex in and around the hole, push the fitting up, tighten the nut. The housing is either stainless steel or chromed bronze. Seems pretty straight forward but is there anything else I should be doing or not doing or looking out for?

2. Location. The proposed location is quite far forward and offset slightly from the centreline. About an inch or two to one side of the fore/aft glassed in bulkhead and very close to where the baby stay terminates on that bulkhead. The baby stay hydraulic ram is bolted to the bulkhead about 3 inches above the bottom of the hull and the proposed hole. I’m wondering if there are any potential issues, structural or otherwise, in drilling the hole so close to the bulkhead and/or the baby stay connection point?

Thanks in advance

Pete