Tools & Materials
Safety glasses
Dust mask
Ear protection
Water-based anti-fouling paint (
mandatory in salt water
)
Electric drill with 10mm (3/8")
or
larger chuck capacity
Drill bit:
3mm
or
1/8"
Hole saw: 51mm
or
2" (plastic or metal housing in non-metal hull)
57mm
or
2-1/4" (stainless steel housing in metal hull)
Sandpaper
Mild household detergent
or
weak solvent (such as alcohol)
File (installation in a metal hull)
Marine sealant (suitable for below waterline)
Slip-joint pliers (installing a metal housing)
Grommet(s) (some installations)
Cable ties
Installation in a cored fiberglass hull (page 4):
Hole saw for hull interior: 60mm
or
2-3/8"
Fiberglass cloth and resin
or
Cylinder, wax, tape, and casting epoxy
Anti-fouling Paint
Surfaces exposed to salt water must be coated with anti-fouling
paint.
Use only water-based
anti-fouling paint made for
transducers.
Never use ketone-based paint, since ketones can
attack many plastics possibly damaging the sensor.
It is easier to brush on anti-fouling paint before installation, 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 insert below the lower O-ring
• Paddlewheel cavity
• Paddlewheel
• Exposed end of the insert
• Exterior flange of the housing
• Bore of the housing up 30mm (1-1/4")
• Blanking plug below the lower O-ring including the exposed end
Mounting Location
CAUTION
: Do not mount the sensor in line with or near water
intake or discharge openings, or behind strakes, fittings, or hull
irregularities that will disturb the water flow.
• The water flowing under the hull must be smooth with a
minimum of bubbles and turbulence (especially at high speeds).
• The sensor must be continuously immersed in water.
• The transducer beam must be unobstructed by the keel or
propeller shaft(s).
• Choose a location away from interference caused by power and
radiation sources such as: the propeller(s) and shaft(s), other
machinery, other echosounders, and other cables. The lower
the noise level, the higher the echosounder gain setting that
can be used.
• Choose a location with a minimum deadrise angle, so the
transducer beam will be aimed at the bottom.
• Choose an accessible spot inside the vessel with adequate
space for the height of the housing, tightening the nuts, and
installing the insert. Allow a minimum of 280mm (11").
•
DST810
—The sensor must be within range of 5m (16') to
connect to the Airmar CAST
TM
App on mobile devices.
Boat Types
(Figure 2)
•
Displacement hull powerboats
—Locate amidships near the
centerline. The side of the hull where the propeller blades are
moving downward is preferred.
•
Planing hull powerboats
—Mount well aft, on or near the
centerline, and
well inboard of the first set of lifting strakes
to
ensure that the sensor will be in contact with the water at high
speeds. The side of the hull where the propeller blades are
moving downward is preferred.
Outboard and I/O
—Mount just forward of the engine(s).
Inboard
—Mount well ahead of the propeller(s) and shaft(s).
Stepped hull
—Mount just ahead of the first step.
Boat capable of speeds above 25kn
(29MPH)—Review the
installation location and operating results of similar boats before
proceeding.
•
Fin keel sailboats
—Mount on or near the centerline and
forward of the fin keel 300–600mm (1–2').
•
Full keel sailboats
—Locate amidships and away from the keel
at the point of minimum deadrise.
2
planing hulls
Figure 2.
full keel sailboats
large displacement hulls
small displacement hulls
fin keel sailboats
Best location for transducer
Copyright © 2005 Airmar Technology Corp
stepped hull
outboard and I/O
Figure 1. Anti-fouling paint
outside wall
paddlewheel
paddlewheel
bore up
exterior
O-ring
below lower
cavity
30mm (1-1/4")
of flange
insert
housing
exposed end
Copyright © 2006 Airmar Technology Corp
