Airmar Shorty S300 Owner'S Manual & Installation Instructions Download Page 2

Fin keel sailboats

—Mount on or near the centerline and 

forward of the fin keel 300–600mm (1–2').

Full keel sailboats

—Mount amidships and away from the keel 

at the point of minimum deadrise angle.

Displacement hull powerboats

—Locate amidships near the 

centerline.

Planing hull powerboats

—Mount well aft to insure that the 

sensor is in contact with the water at high speeds.

Anti-fouling Paint

Aquatic growth can accumulate rapidly on the sensor’s surface 
reducing performance within weeks. Surfaces exposed to salt 
water 

must

 be coated with anti-fouling paint. 

Use water-based 

anti-fouling paint only

. Never use ketone-based paint, since 

ketones can attack many types of plastic possibly damaging the 
sensor.

It is easier to apply anti-fouling paint before installing the sensor, 
but allow sufficient drying time. Reapply paint every 6 months or 
at the beginning of each boating season. Paint the following 
surfaces (Figure 1):

• Outside wall of the paddlewheel insert below the lower O-ring
• Paddlewheel cavity
• Paddlewheel
• Bore of the housing up 30mm (1-1/4")
• Exterior flange of the housing
• Blanking plug below the lower O-ring including the exposed end

Installation

Hole Drilling

Cored fiberglass hull

—Follow separate instructions on page 3.

1. Drill a 3mm or 1/8" pilot hole from inside the hull. If there is a rib, 

strut, or other hull irregularity near the selected mounting 
location, drill from the outside.

2. Using a 51mm or 2" hole saw, cut a hole perpendicular to the 

hull from outside the boat.

P398

—Use a countersink tool to make a “seat” in the hull.

3. Sand and clean the area around the hole, inside and outside, to 

ensure that the sealant will adhere properly to the hull. If there is 
any petroleum residue inside the hull, remove it with either mild 
household detergent or a weak solvent (alcohol) before sanding.

Metal hull

—Remove all burrs with a file and sandpaper.

Bedding

CAUTION

: Be sure the surfaces to be bedded are clean and dry.

Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of marine sealant around the 
flange of the housing that contacts the hull and up the sidewall of 
the housing (Figure 2). The sealant must extend 6mm (1/4") 
higher than the combined thickness of the hull, any washer(s), 
and the hull nut. This will ensure there is sealant in the threads to 
seal the hull and hold the hull nut securely in place.

Installing

CAUTION

: The arrow on the flange of the housing must point 

forward toward the bow for the paddlewheel insert to align properly.

1. From outside the hull, push the housing into the mounting hole 

using a twisting motion to squeeze out excess sealant. 

Align the 

arrow on the flange of the housing pointing forward toward the 
bow 

(Figure 2). If the sensor is not installed on the centerline of 

the boat, angle the housing slightly toward the centerline to align 
it with the water flow.

2. From inside the hull, slide any washer(s) onto the housing.

NOTE

: Some installations do not have a washer.

Aluminum hull less than 6mm 

(

1/4"

)

 thick

—Use an additional 

rubbery, plastic, or fiberglass washer. Never use wood, since it 
will swell, possibly fracturing the plastic housing. Never use 
bronze, since electrolytic corrosion will occur.

2

Figure 2. Bedding and installing (

low profile shown)

hull

safety

cap nut

hull nut

sealant on flange

paddlewheel

arrow

and side wall 

washer

wire

large

O-ring

detail

key

small

O-ring

Figure 3. Paddlewheel insert (

no paddlewheel shown)

notch

(some

installations)

insert

housing

Copyright © 2000 Airmar Technology Corp.

Copyright © 2000 Airmar Technology Corp.

Figure 1. Anti-fouling paint

 (low profile shown)

paddlewheel

cavity 

paddlewheel

bore of housing

exterior flange of housing

outside wall below 

lower O-ring 

paddlewheel

up 30mm (1-1/4")

insert

housing

Copyright © 2004 Airmar Technology Corp.

BOW 

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