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What's inside a Montauk Transom
bccanucker	#1  Posted on 06/21/10 - 9:45 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 61 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/11/09	For a 1983 17' Montauk, does anyone know how solid the bottom starboard side of the transom is? and what's inside? I'm mounting a new transducer for my new depthsounder and the first screw hole I drilled hit air, I think. Oh Oh. Guts, you'll be happy to know I broke down and ordered a Furuno Roy Warner 1983 17 Montauk - 1998 Yamaha 115 V4 2 stroke
bottomfish	#2  Posted on 06/21/10 - 10:24 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 198 Comments: 32 Joined: 01/07/09	I had the same issue on my 83. I made plates out of starboard and bedded them in 5200 using 4 screws each. I then mounted my transducer to the plate. I also did it for my bait tank pick up. Everything is rock solid and able to be removed and upgraded without any worries. Looks ok also.
Tom W Clark	#3  Posted on 06/21/10 - 10:32 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	Look at the wood locating diagram for your hull and you'll see the transom is solid plywood in the central motor mounting area. In addition to that there is some backing for kicker motors near the upper edges and the few little blocks of plywood for the lights but in the typical transducer mounting locations there is nothing, nor does there need to be. The fiberglass skin is more than strong enough for a few little screws. The Wood Locating Diagrams are available here: http://whalercentral.com/downloads.ph...?cat_id=12
bccanucker	#4  Posted on 06/21/10 - 11:02 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 61 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/11/09	Tom: I looked at the wood locating diagrams but could only see a 1975 and 1997 for the 17' so couldn't figure out whether either applied. The airmar transducer for this doesn't use little screws. It's quite a substantial piece of hardware. Instructions say to drill 7/8" deep and I think I hit air after about 1/2". Bottomfish: Did you find the starboard stuck with the 5200? (Nothing is supposed to stick to that stuff) and what depth screws did you use on the starboard? Also, I am about to mount my bimini same as yours. Did you find wood beneath your slider and strap holders? Roy Warner 1983 17 Montauk - 1998 Yamaha 115 V4 2 stroke
Fishmore	#5  Posted on 06/22/10 - 1:14 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 270 Comments: 0 Joined: 11/20/07	I mounted the Airmar P66 transducer using 3/4" starboard and one screw. A year later on a very rough day the screw pulled out and the starboard came with it. The 5200 did not stick to the starboard but it did stick to the gelcoat. I cleaned off the 5200 and refilled the screw hole with epoxy then took a block of wood 2" x 4" x 6" and rounded all the edges. I coated the block with fiberglass cloth and two coats of west systems epoxy infused with a white pigment to match the hull color. Then I sanded the hull and the back of the block with 80 grit sandpaper and attached the block to the hull with thickened West Systems G-flex epoxy and no screws. Works great and even if it did pull off there are no holes in my transom to worry about. I attached the transducer to the wood block with the screws coated in 4200. I have since run many days in very rough conditions with no problem. Bonus is it moved the transducer in to clean water and I can read bottom at WOT. By the way I used 3" wide blue painters tape to hold the wood block in place while the epoxy cured and then did a thickened and color matched epoxy filet all around the block for looks and added strength.
bottomfish	#6  Posted on 06/22/10 - 6:43 AM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 198 Comments: 32 Joined: 01/07/09	Roy, I used 4 screws 1 1/2" long at the corners. The 5200 doesn't stick really well but does stick if pressure is even accross the board. Starboard does have some stuff that is made to stick to their product but it comes from them only I believe. Yes there is wood under the slide mount. No worries there. Everything screwed topside along the gunnel is into thick glass and wood.
Tom W Clark	#7  Posted on 06/22/10 - 7:41 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	Roy, The drawing dated 1975 is applicable to your hull. Note the update notes on the drawing. I've installed a lot of Airmar transducers on a lot of Whalers over the years. I've never had a problem. Perhaps you have some special transducer? You don't say what model. If you've got 1/2" of 'glass, then you have more than enough.
bccanucker	#8  Posted on 06/22/10 - 10:46 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 61 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/11/09	Many, many thanks to you three for taking the time to answer and having such great personal pages so I can see pictures. You've answered my questions and have added to my to do list to do this jop right. Funny, I just bought a new supply of West System epoxy yesterday. ps Tom- it's a P66 just like Fishmore's and to all, I'm having to mount more outboard than you other 2 did as I'v got trim tabs. I hope I'm in clear water out there. Bottomfish- Your welded hoops for the bimini straps are the perfect idea. Roy Warner 1983 17 Montauk - 1998 Yamaha 115 V4 2 stroke