transducer cable

[EGregerson]

I'm replacing the depth finder in my 87 34; the transducer cable enters a hose in the v berth area and snakes under the starboard settee where it emerges in a compartment near the navigation station. the fun part is that the cables are seized up so that they will not pull thru; they won't budge an inch. I can only suspect the water tank is sitting on and compressing the hose sheathing somewhere under the settee. Anyone encounter this before?

 

[Tom Metzger]

Not I, but I would sure like to know what you find.

BTW, what ever is causing your problem could also be what is causing the depth sounder problem. Frequently a crimp in the cable causes the depth sounder to fail, and straightening out the cable resolves the problem.

 

[Shadowfax]

E & Tom

I went through this drill last year when I replaced mine. I actually did it twice as the replacement cable proved to be defective.

I believe that the cable travels through the tube you see in the vee berth and this tube travels between the hull proper and the shell liner. The problem is that the tube in the vee area makes like a 90 degree turn here and constricts passage because of the bend and other [speed] cable. Cut the cable at this end and attach a pull string. Pull the cable out from where it comes out by the nav station and settee. It is a bear and a complete PITA. The second time we did it we broke the cable and pulled the ends out at both ends and then ran a metal electricians snake through. Use cable lube and when you feed the new cable in do it from the vee berth end. Secure the new cable to the very strong pull string, or snake very securely, as you will be pulling very hard

Hope this helps

 

[Tom Metzger]

A different route

Thanx Paul -

FWIW, Saturday I pulled some wires from the breaker panel, through the instrument panel, into the starboard hanging locker. The Admiral wanted a pornograph mounted on the bulkhead. This is an easy pull and I think it would be a snap to get from there to the transducer enclosure.

This might be easier than using the crimped conduit.

 

[EGregerson]

transducer

I cut the cable (after gritting my teeth) at the transducer and patched a line straight to the data marine df. It still read 3.8'; i wondered what it would read without any input from a cable...3.8'. I hate to drill new holes to run a new cable; i might bite the bullet and remove the starboard water tank; it's the most likely suspect. I haven't messed with the transducer or the cabling prior to this; it functioned great til last summer (at the Cheasapeake Ericson raftup; now that was a great party!) Next day i dived in and found barnacles on the transducer; so that's where the erratic readings came from; after, it was improved; then i read about advancing the gain; thru the rest of the summer and fall; it worked very well. On haulout, i saw a barnacle base left on the transducer; well, now it should be flawless. On launching this spring, the df read 3.8' consistently. Tom; do your df and speedo cables move freely inside the hose?

 

[EGregerson]

Oh those admirals...

always wanting pornographs on their bulkheads. Well from what it sound like, this is the solution. 1st pour motor oil (or similar) down the hose. If the cable pulls thru fine; if not drill hold thru and into v berth housing under locker; into hanging locker and into chamber under settee. At least i don't have to remove the water tank.

 

[Tom Metzger]

I went through the top of the hanging locker, then I followed the AC cable up over the shelf, above the zippered vinyl with the large wire bundle directly into the instrument compartment. It might be easier then getting around the water tank.

YMMV