Sealcast M163 Owner's manual

Brand: Sealcast

Model: M163

Type: Owner's manual

Sealcast M163 is a transducer that can be used to measure the depth of water and the speed of a vessel through water. It can also be used to find fish and other objects underwater. The transducer is mounted on the outside of the hull of a boat and uses sound waves to measure the depth of water and the speed of the boat. The transducer can be used with a variety of fish finders and other marine electronic devices.

011

rev.

02 2/03

CAUTION

NEVER USE SOLVENTS

Cleaners, fuel, paint, sealants, and other products may

contain strong solvents, such as acetone, which attack

many plastics greatly reducing their strength.

Sealcast

™

Transducer

Models: M42 and M163

Mounting Location

Acoustic Noise

Acoustic noise is always present and these sound waves can

interfere with the operation of the transducer. Ambient

(background) noise from sources such as: waves, ﬁsh, and other

vessels cannot be controlled. However, carefully selecting the

transducer’s mounting location can minimize the effect of vessel

generated noise from the propeller(s) and shaft(s), other

machinery, and other echosounders. The lower the noise level,

the higher the echosounder gain setting that can be used.

Placement

Carefully study the hull to determine the best mounting location.

• Mount the transducer away from the propeller and other

sources of vessel generated noise (see Figure 1).

•Mount where the water is smoothest with a minimum of turbulence

and bubbles. Water near the bow and keel can be quite aerated.

• Locate the transducer about 1/3 aft LWL. Generally, this

provides the best compromise between obtaining aeration-free

water away from the bow and minimizing propeller noise.

• Mount the transducer on the side of the hull where the

propeller(s) is moving downward. The upward motion of the

propeller generates pressure waves and pushes bubbles up

against the hull. By mounting on the downward side, the hull

shades the transducer from this effect (see Figure 2).

• The deeper the transducer protrudes into the water, the less

aeration.

•

Do not

mount the transducer in an area of turbulence or bubbles:

Near water intake or discharge openings

Behind strakes, ﬁttings, or hull irregularities

Behind eroding paint (an indication of turbulence)

External Mount

Fairing and Backing Block

Nearly all vessels have some deadrise angle at the transducer’s

mounting location. If the transducer is mounted directly to the hull,

the sound beam will be tilted off the vertical at the same angle as

the deadrise. If the deadrise angle at the mounting location

exceeds 10

a fairing is strongly recommended (see Figure 2).

•Orients the sound beam straight down by mounting the

transducer parallel to the water’s surface

• Minimizes aerated water ﬂowing over the transducer’s face by

mounting it deeper in the water

•Inclines the transducer so the acoustic window is shaded from

propeller noise. A 3• incline angle is recommended (see Figure 1).

Fabricating a Fairing and Backing Blocks

Measure the deadrise angle of the hull at the selected location

(see Figure 2). A fairing is usually constructed of an oily wood

such as mahogany or teak. Shape the fairing to match the outline

of the transducer housing. Orient the fairing with the blunt end

facing forward toward the bow. Cut the fairing to match the hull’s

deadrise angle and shape it as precisely as possible to the hull.

Cut a 75mm x 150mm (3" x 6") hole in the center of the fairing for

the stufﬁng tube and the cable service loop. Place the transducer

over the fairing and using the transducer as a guide, drill two holes

for the threaded rods (see Figure 3).

OWNER’S GUIDE & INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

IMPORTANT

: Please read these instructions

completely before proceeding with the installation.

These instructions supersede any other instructions in

your instrument manual if they differ.

Record the information found on the cable tag for future reference.

Part No._________________Date___________Frequency________kHz

Figure 2. Deadrise angle & recommended transducer location

fairing minimizes aerated

water flowing over the

transducer’s face by

aeration, cavitation and turbulence

pressure waves

Transom View

deadrise angle

slope of hull

parallel to waterline

mounting it deeper

in the water

Figure 1. Recommended transducer location & incline angle

3˚ incline

1/3 aft

(Load Waterline Length)

LWL

angle

deadrise shape

fairing

77mm (3") 77mm (3")

backing block (2)

deadrise shape

Figure 3. Fairing and backing blocks

blunt

end

hole diameter

M42—13mm (1/2")

M163—10mm (3/8")

Backing blocks are mounted inside the hull to provide a level

surface for tightening the nuts that hold the threaded rods. They

are fabricated to match the interior deadrise angle. Drill a hole

through the center of each backing block (see Figure 3).

Choosing a Stufﬁng Tube

Installation of the transducer requires a stufﬁng tube. The stufﬁng

tube seals the hull forming a water-tight conduit for the cable.

These instructions are written speciﬁcally to install an Airmar

stufﬁng tube. Another stufﬁng tube can be used, but special care

must be taken to insure the tube will form a tight seal with the

transducer cable. Airmar can furnish stufﬁng tube dimensional

drawings if required.

The stufﬁng tube

must

be compatible with the hull material.

Aluminum hull

—Use a stainless steel stufﬁng tube.

Never

use a

bronze stufﬁng tube in an aluminum hull as electrolytic corrosion

will occur.

Installing a Threaded Stem Stufﬁng Tube

1.At the selected mounting location, inspect the hull interior to

ensure that there is clearance for the stufﬁng tube and threaded

rods.

Be sure

no cables, ribs, or struts will interfere. Mark the site

for the stufﬁng tube.

Warning

: Always wear safety goggles and a dust mask.

2.From inside the hull, drill a 3mm or 1/8" diameter pilot hole

perpendicular to the hull. If there is a hull irregularity near the

selected mounting location, drill from the outside.

3.Outside the hull at the pilot hole, drill a 28mm or 1-1/8" diameter

hole perpendicular to the hull surface (see Figure 4).

Warning

: The fairing must be installed parallel to the keel to

ensure proper boat handling and water ﬂow over the

transducer.

Hull Material Stufﬁng Tube Hole

Diameter Max. Hull

Thickness Airmar

Part No.

Fiberglass

Wood Threaded Stem

Bronze 26mm (1") 50mm (2") 33-815

Fiberglass

Wood Threaded Stem

Bronze 26mm (1") 191mm (7-1/2") 33-816

Fiberglass, Wood

Steel, Aluminum

a. Requires the tube to be isolated from the hull with polymer spacers.

Threaded Stem

Stainless Steel 26mm (1") 50mm (2") 33-819

Steel Welded, Steel 38mm (1-1/2") 50mm (2") 33-818

4.Locate the holes for the threaded rods by positioning the fairing

at the selected location.

•Orient the fairing with the blunt end facing forward toward the bow.

• Center the hole for the stufﬁng tube inside the access cavity.

•The fairing

must

be parallel to the centerline of the boat (keel).

Using the fairing as a guide, drill two holes through the hull for

the threaded rods.

M42

—13mm (1/2") diameter

M163

—10mm or 13/32" diameter

5.Sand and clean the area around the holes, inside and outside,

to ensure that the marine sealant will adhere properly. Remove

any petroleum residue before sanding.

Aluminum hull

—Remove all burrs.

6.Remove the nuts, washers, and bushing from the stufﬁng tube.

Use marine sealant to seal the hull and hold the ﬂange nut

securely in place. Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of marine

sealant to (see Figure 5):

• The ﬂange that makes contact with the hull.

•The side wall of the stufﬁng tube, 6mm (1/4") higher than the

combined thickness of the hull, backing block, and ﬂanged

nut (or nut and washer).

• The ﬂange of the nut that contacts the backing block.

7. From outside, push the stem of the stufﬁng tube through the hull and

fasten it with the ﬂanged nut (or nut and washer) (see Figure 4).

Fiberglass hull

—Tighten the ﬂange nut securely.

Aluminum hull

—

Use spacers to isolate the stainless steel stufﬁng

tube from the hull. Be sure to apply marine sealant to the spacers.

Wood Hull

—If the boat has been out of the water for a

prolonged period,

hand-tighten

the ﬂange nut. Wood will swell

after the boat is in the water and exert considerable pressure on

the stufﬁng tube hardware.

After

the hull has expanded, tighten

the nut securely.

Installing a Welded Steel Stufﬁng Tube

An Airmar steel stufﬁng tube can be installed with or without

welded conduit (see Figure 6). Some approval authorities require

that the transducer cable be encased in conduit. In such an

installation, the conduit is welded to the steel stufﬁng tube. In

welded conduit installations the stufﬁng tube must have the

compression nut tightened from outside the hull. Airmar stufﬁng

tubes are reversible allowing the compression nut to be mounted

outside or inside the hull.

1.At the selected mounting location, inspect the hull interior to

ensure that there is clearance for the stufﬁng tube and threaded

rods.

Be sure

no cables, ribs, or struts will interfere. Mark the site

for the stufﬁng tube on the outside of the hull.

WARNING: A Fire Watch Must Be Stationed Inside the Hull.

Figure 5. Marine sealant

on threaded stuffing tube

marine

sealant

Figure 4. Threaded stem stuffing tube installation

stuffing

flanged nut

nut & washer

threaded

nut (2) &

rubbery

nut (2) &

plug (2)

cable

compression nut

backing

fairing

cable

transducer

hull

Bow

➣

tube

transducer

fairing

backing

service

washer (2)

marine

sealant

rod (2)

loop

block

service

2.At the marked location on the outside of the hull, drill or cut

(with a cutting torch) a 38mm (1-1/2") diameter hole.

Warning

: The fairing must be installed parallel to the keel to

ensure proper boat handling and water ﬂow over the

transducer.

3.Locate the holes for the threaded rods by positioning the fairing

at the selected location (see Figure 4).

•

Be sure

to orient the fairing with the blunt end facing forward

toward the bow.

• Center the hole for the stufﬁng tube inside the access cavity.

•The fairing

must

be parallel to the centerline of the boat (keel).

Using the fairing as a guide, drill two holes through the hull for

the threaded rods.

M42

—13mm (1/2") diameter

M163

—10mm or 13/32" diameter

4. Grind the area around the holes, inside and outside, removing

all burrs. Clean the area around the holes to ensure that the marine

sealant will adhere properly. Remove any petroleum residue.

5.Remove the compression nut, washers, and compression

bushing from the stufﬁng tube. Weld the stufﬁng tube to the hull

(see Figure 6).

Installing the Fairing and Transducer

Welded steel stufﬁng tube with conduit

—It is easier to seal the

cable inside the stufﬁng tube before the transducer and fairing are

attached to the hull. Bolt the fairing and transducer together

following steps 1, 2, 4, and 5. Slide the washer, compression

bushing, washer, and compression nut along the transducer cable

to the stufﬁng tube.

Be sure

the compression bushing ﬁts securely

weld all

transducer

cable

compression

Figure 6. Steel hull installation

metal washer,

hull

cable

conduit

fairing

stuffing tube

weld all

around

compression bushing

& metal washer

with conduit no conduit

marine

sealant

stuffing tube

hull

flanged nut

washer

compression bushing

washer

compression nut

Figure 8. Sealing the cable in a threaded stem stuffing tube

flange

nut and washer

loop

nut

compression nut

metal washer,

compression bushing

& metal washer

Figure 7. Marine sealant

hull

fairing

transducer

backing

block

into the machined lip of the tube. Tighten the compression nut

(see Figure 6). Follow step 3. Proceed with steps 6, 7, and 8.

Other Installations

1.Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of marine sealant to the surface

of the fairing that will contact the hull (see Figures 4 and 7).

2.Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of marine sealant to each

threaded rod. The marine sealant will seal the hull and hold the

nuts securely in place. Screw a nut and slide a stainless steel

washer onto each threaded rod. Position the nuts a distance

from the rod ends equal to 92mm(3-5/8") Slide the threaded

rods through the fairing.

Note: The rods will extend above and

below the fairing

3.Place the fairing against the hull pushing the threaded rods

through the hull. With a person stationed inside the vessel,

position the backing blocks on the rods. Secure each rod with a

stainless steel washer and nut.

Wood fairing

—Hand-tighten only. Allow the fairing to swell and

then tighten the nuts with 4 N-m (3 ft.-lb.) of force.

Caution

: Never pull, carry, or hold the transducer by its cable as

this may sever internal connections.

4.Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of marine sealant to the surface of

the transducer that will contact the fairing. Thread the transducer

cable through the access cavity in the fairing and the stufﬁng tube

to the inside of the hull. Push the transducer onto the threaded

rods. Allow a service loop within the cavity of the fairing so there is

no tension applied to the cable (see Figures 4 and 6).

5.Mount the transducer to the fairing by sliding a rubbery washer

and stainless steel washer onto each threaded rod and securing

them with a nut (see Figure 7).

Note: The rods should extend a

minimum of 3 threads beyond the nut after it is tightened. Be sure

there is marine sealant on the exposed threads

Wood fairing

—Hand-tighten only. Allow the fairing to swell and

then tighten the nuts with 4 N-m (3 ft.-lb.) of force.

6.Plug the mounting holes to minimize turbulence on the surface

of the transducer. Cut the foam plugs to length so that each

plug will be recessed 5mm (3/16") below the surface of the

housing. Push the foam plugs into the holes. Use marine

sealant to ﬁll each recess

ﬂush

with the transducer’s surface.

7.Remove excess sealant on the outside of the hull and the

fairing to ensure smooth water ﬂow over the transducer.

8.Seal the cable by sliding the washer, rubber compression bushing,

washer, and the compression nut down the transducer cable to the

stufﬁng tube (see Figures 6 and 8). Make sure the rubber bushing

ﬁts securely into the machined lip of the tube. Tighten the

compression nut. Remove all excess sealant inside the hull.

In-Hull Mount

(

Fiberglass hull only)

In-hull mounting can be used in ﬁberglass hulls to minimize drag

when the top speed of the boat is more than 25kn (29MPH).

Although this placement results in a sound loss of 50% or more,

these powerful transducers more than compensate. Also, in-hull

mounting creates less turbulence, so the transducer’s

performance can improve above 20kn (23 MPH).

Locate the transducer where the hull is

solid

ﬁberglass to maximize

sound transmission.

Do not

locate over balsa wood or foam core

material as these are poor sound conductors. Consult the hull

manufacturer if you are unsure of the best location.

Never

bond the

transducer directly to the hull.

Always use a liquid-ﬁlled box

1.Position the transducer at the selected location and test it with

the echosounder before proceeding. Use one of the test

methods below.

•Lay the transducer against the hull and ﬂood the area to

cover the transducer’s face.

•Grind the interior test surface smooth and wet it generously. Put

the transducer in a plastic bag, ﬁll it with water, and close tightly.

Press the transducer’s face against the hull through the bag.

2.Construct a tank using the hull as the bottom. Design it with a

removable lid that is parallel to the waterline (see Figure 9).

3.At the selected location, grind the inside hull surface smooth

and ﬁberglass the tank in place.

4.On the lid, mark the location of the holes for the two threaded

rods used to mount the transducer. Locate the cable exit hole

about half way between the threaded rods. Locate a ﬁll hole

between the transducer and the wall of the tank. Drill two holes

for the threaded rods and drill the remaining two holes.

M42

—13mm (1/2") diameter

M163

—10mm or 13/32" diameter

5.Attach the transducer to the underside of the removable lid.

Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of marine sealant to the surface

of the transducer that will make contact with the lid. Thread the

cable through the center hole in the lid. Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick

layer of marine sealant to each threaded rod end. Secure each

rod with a nut. The rods should extend a minimum of 3 threads

beyond the nut. Slide a stainless steel washer and rubbery

washer onto each rod. Push the threaded rods through the

transducer and lid. Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of marine

sealant to the rods near the lid. Secure the assembly in place

with stainless steel washers and nuts. Tighten the nuts with a

AIRMAR

TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

35 Meadowbrook Drive, Milford, New Hampshire 03055-4613, USA

■

www.airmar.com

Figure 9. In-hull installation (fiberglass hull only)

fiberglass

tank

(G10 fiberglass,

nut (2) &

rubbery

pipe plug

cable

transducer

LEXAN®, or

stainless steel)

(marine

removable lid threaded rod (2) with fill hole with

in place

plywood)

washer (2)

screw (4) & washer (4)

(stainless steel)

washer (2) & nut (2)

(supplied)

mineral oil

marine sealant on

transducer, around cable,

and perimeter of tank

mineral oil

grind surface smooth

Sealcast M163 Owner's manual

Brand: Sealcast

Model: M163

Type: Owner's manual

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Sealcast M163 Owner's manual

Sealcast M163 Owner's manual

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