Association Forum - Knot Meter Installation

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Knot Meter Installation

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

AliceP
Deckhand

Member Avatar

USA
1 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/16/2006 : 13:20:42

I want to install knot meter on my 1985 Tall Rig, Swing Keel C-25. My problem is lack of access to hull from inside the boat at the to the 12-24 inches ahead of the keel (where transducer should go). I doubt that it would be worth cutting through the flooring in the head.

I could put it under the V-berth, but I'm concerned that would be too far forward, and that the curvature of the hull at that point would cause installation problems.

Any solutions out there?

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 13:30:37

Ours was installed in the settee locker athwarthships of the keel. For a boat that isn't going to do more than 10 knots (if that) ever putting it there isn't too big of a deal. Option B is to use a GPS and not put any holes in the boat. Option C is a non invasive model that uses a hockey puck transcucer that doesn't need holes.

FYI - While that is the ideal location, its pretty darn rare that you find the transducer located there in most non racing sailboats.

dw

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 15:40:23

"I could put it under the V-berth, but I'm concerned ..."

That's where mine is... I put it slightly off-center to get a flatter spot.
No problems. Makes it easy to access.

You'll probably find that you will want to take it out and put the blanking plug in when you're not sailing. (at least if you're in salt water)... any little amount of fouling will throw it off.

Swapping the plug and looking at a hole in the bottom of the boat is a bit scary the first time... but you get used to it quickly.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 16:09:41

I installed mine under the V berth also. It is just forward of the head thru-hull and an inch or so from the centerline.

"I could put it under the V-berth, but I'm concerned that would be too far forward, and that the curvature of the hull at that point would cause installation problems."

You are right, the curvature does indeed throw one a curve ball.

When I test fitted my new knotmeter, I found that the flange nut would not sit flat against the rather curved inner hull. Because of this curve, when one side of the flange nut was tight against the hull, the other side of the flange nut had a 1/4" gap.

To solve this problem, I made an epoxy shim that I carefully shaped for both taper and curve. This shim allowed both the inner and outer flanges of the knotmeter to sit flush.

This rather crude illustration sort of shows you what I did.

Edited by - dlucier on 04/16/2006 21:56:04

Happy D
Admiral

Members Avatar

921 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 18:35:30

My paddle wheel is located under the Beckson plate on the right side of this photo.
I didn't put it there. It was there when I bought the boat.
Dan

Edited by - on

jesse camp
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
84 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2006 : 08:08:14

I would suggest using a GPS handheld. They are only $80.00 on the low end but, eliminate another hole in the boat, dont foul, and
are more accurate. I bought the little etrax from Garmin at a Target. It can also be useful as an extra compass and use as a GPS
for tracking position.

Jesse

Edited by - on

dblitz
Navigator

Members Avatar

240 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2006 : 09:12:20

On the Hudson, I found the meter on my previous boat would foul so quickly that I could never use it. Will go with a GPS on my Catalina

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2006 : 13:37:56

Hi AliceP, Welcome to the site.

My Cat is an '83 and it came with the depthsounder and speedo transducers under the V berth. Factory installed.

If I were to start a fresh I think I might pass on the speedo installation and concentrate on the needed depth sounder. I never take my eyes off the depth readings, and never run aground ( hardly ever ), once in the last fifteen years, my yakety yak brother was talking with a crabber and we/I lost track of the drift,THUMPETY THUMP EGAD!!! Depth readings are, to me, the most important information that I require on the Great South Bay (ole skinny water hole)The GPS gives an accurate reading of speed over ground and is one half of the speed readings a boat generates, the other being speed through the water. It's sometimes interesting to dwell on the differences between the two readings caused by the presence of wind and or tide in the equation. In any event you have been given a whole lot of on the target information, in the end the the decision is up to you. Have a great experience on your Cat and report back here when it suits you to.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3936 Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

StSimon
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2006 : 18:02:19

Val,

Would it be too much to ask for some measurements from known points on your factory transducer locations?

I will soon be installing my paddle wheel transducer for my Standard Horizon depth/speed/temp display. I also recently purchsed a Garmin 192C which can be hooked up to an optional sounder. It will be nice to redundant systems once everything is hooked up.

I know where I think I will be putting them but it would be nice to know what Catalina thought about there location back then.

Thanks and...

Edited by - StSimon on 04/17/2006 19:06:23

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2006 : 08:41:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by StSimon
 ...I will soon be installing my paddle wheel transducer for my Standard Horizon depth/speed/temp display...I know where I think I will be putting them but it would be nice to know what Catalina thought about there location back then.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Andy,...Where will you be installing your knotmeter?

I installed a SH knotmeter a few years ago and I believe the recommended location was somewhere forward of the keel (I put mine under the V berth). My old knotmeter was under the aft dinette seat.

"Andy, Breakin' Wind, 1984 C25 SK SR"

Doe this refer to you or your boat?

Edited by - dlucier on 04/18/2006 08:49:02

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2006 : 09:35:15

Hi Andy,

I'm going to the boat today and will bring a yo-yo with me for accurate measurements, but if an off the cuff will do I'd say that the deepsounder is 6" to the left of center and the speedo 6" to the right of center and both are about 6"/8" forward of the v bunk bulkhead. They share the area with the forward sink thru hull fitting.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3936 Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2006 : 12:05:35

A N D Y ! ! !

D O N 'T D R I LL !!!

As I said I'd go to the boat and measure the locations of the factory installed sending units under the V bunks. I was close on the distance from the hull's centerline, they measured 5.5" each, but 3.5" forward of the bulkhead. These measurements are taken from the center of the bore holes.

Hope this helps.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3936 Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

StSimon
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2006 : 12:21:18

Thanks Val and everyone else,

I've been out for a few days and just read the posts.

I haven't drilled yet. I'm in the midst of redoing almost everything including a bottom job. I'm going to drill right before I put on the Interprotect. I will put it where you said the factory put theirs. I may need to move my puck transducer. I'm going to end up with three transducers. The paddle wheel thru hull, the puck for depth, and then one other for the sonar on the Garmin 192C. I forget whether it is a thru hull or puck.

BTW, Breakin' Wind is the new name of our boat. She was named by the first owner and wasn't changed by the second owner. I sailed her for about 4 years before deciding to change the name. Every time I went to the marina it was to jump in and start sailing. I promised myself she will stay on the hard this time until every project on my wish list is completed. It's killing me but I plan to stay the course. Of course there will be a renaming ceremony when she finally splashes.

Edited by - on

Cate
Navigator

Members Avatar

199 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2006 : 14:32:24

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jesse camp
 I would suggest using a GPS handheld. They are only $80.00 on the low end but, eliminate another hole in the boat, dont foul, and
are more accurate. I bought the little etrax from Garmin at a Target. It can also be useful as an extra compass and use as a GPS
for tracking position.
Jesse
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Can someone tell me how a little eTrex GPS can read depth on the water? Is it reliable?

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2006 : 14:55:23

It doesn't - unlesss it has a chart fuction, and then it is only as reliable as the chart. I can't see a charting gps for that price.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2006 : 15:22:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Cate
 Can someone tell me how a little eTrex GPS can read depth on the water?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

To use the eTrex to read depth you first must tie it to a length of line then throw it overboard keeping ahold of the other end of the line. When the eTrex touches bottom, measure the amount of line between you and the eTrex.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3434 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2006 : 17:45:40

Don,

I thought the instructions indicated you had to first jump in the water and measure the line from the bottom of your hull to the Etrex. You must have a more sophisticated unit ! LOL

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2006 : 17:49:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OLarryR
 Don,

I thought the instructions indicated you had to first jump in the water and measure the line from the bottom of your hull to the Etrex. You must have a more sophisticated unit ! LOL
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes, Larry, I do...The model I have doesn't require the user to actually get in the water!

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3434 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2006 : 18:08:52

When I bought my boat, the depthfinder did not work and I replaced it with a fishfinder. The knotmeter works but...sometimes it has a mind of it's own and that may have something to do with either the current and/or tide at the time in the river or maybe some fish holding onto it to mess with me.

The PO left me the basic Garmin Etrex handheld that indicates speed and thread of where you have been but no charts, etc. I have a friend that just bought a new motorboat that came with a GPS and he very generous and just gave me his 2 year old Magellan Meridian Marine handheld. This handheld has a larger screen compared to the Etrex that I have and it also has charts of our area with depths, buoy markers, etc info on the screens. If my knotmeter was to stop working, I would be hard pressed to buy another one. The handhelds are dead accurate, that is, for speed relative to the actual distance moved, not what the speed is with the current added in when it's against you. For me, the speed going from point "A" to "B" is all that is really important to me, though, I sometimes like to see if small adjustments in the sails or tack has on the speed. Perhaps for that, the knotmeter works better or maybe it just seems better but either the handheld or the knotmeter would serve that purpose. I have not used the handheld that much yet. So...time will tell.

Some fishfinders, like my Humminbird Matrix 17 allow for hooking up a GPS accessory of their own or another mfrs handheld. That then let's you read the speed on the fishfinder larger screen and not have to hold the handheld or mount it near the tiller where it would be in view.

Edited by - on

captck
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2006 : 05:59:28

I have had good luck with an under V berth location. Four years ago I took the sink out of the head area making the drain thru hull unused. ( I have porta poti so no water intake is necessary)
I removed the existing thru hull fitting and reamed out the hole. The transducer from my knot meter fit just fine and works great in that location. With the sink gone, I have more storage in the cabinet.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.