OWNER’S GUIDE
& INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Record the information found on the cable tag for future reference.
Part No.________________Date___________Frequency_________kHz
Thru-Hull, Depth with Stem
Transducer
Models: B45, B258, B260, B265LH, B265LM, B271W
SS258, SS260, SS270W, SS505
U.S. Patent No. 7,369,458. UK Patent No. 2 414 077. U.S. Patent Pending
High-Performance
Fairing
B45
Standard
Fairing
Follow the precautions below for optimal
product performance and to reduce the risk of
property damage, personal injury, and/or death.
Identify Your Model
The model name is printed on the cable tag.
WARNING: A High-Performance Fairing must be
installed following the installation instructions that
accompany the fairing. A High-Performance Fairing
requires an anti-rotation bolt to keep the fairing from
turning while the boat is underway.
Tools & Materials
Safety goggles
Dust mask
Electric drill
Drill bits and hole saws:
Pilot hole
WARNING: Always wear safety goggles and a dust
mask when installing.
3mm or 1/8"
WARNING: Immediately check for leaks when the
boat is placed in the water. Do not leave the boat
unchecked for more than three hours. Even a small
leak may allow considerable water to accumulate.
B45, SS505
22mm or 7/8"
30mm or 1-3/16"
33mm or 1-5/16"
B258, B271W, SS258
B260, B265LH/LM, SS260, SS270W
Sandpaper
Mild household detergent or weak solvent (such as alcohol)
File (installation in a metal hull)
Angle finder (installation with a fairing)
Band saw (installation with a fairing)
Rasp or power tool (installation with a fairing)
Marine sealant (suitable for below waterline)
Slip-joint pliers
CAUTION: CHIRP transducer—Always operate the
transducer in water. Operating in air will allow the
transducer to overheat resulting in failure.
CAUTION: Bronze transducer—Never mount in a
metal hull, because electrolytic corrosion will occur.
CAUTION: Stainless steel housing in a metal hull
requires using a Fairing Kit to isolate the stainless
steel transducer from the metal hull. Failure to do so
will cause electrolytic corrosion.
Grommet(s) (some installations)
Cable ties
Water-based anti-fouling paint (mandatory in salt water)
Installation in a cored fiberglass hull: (see page 4)
Drill bits and hole saws for hull interior:
CAUTION: Never install a metal transducer on a
vessel with a positive ground system.
B45, SS505
B258, B271W, SS258
B260, B265LH/LM, SS260, SS270W
Cylinder, wax, tape, and casting epoxy
35mm or 1-3/8"
40mm, 41mm, or 1-5/8"
42mm or 1-5/8"
CAUTION: Never pull, carry, or hold the transducer by
the cable as this may sever internal connections.
CAUTION: Never strike the transducer.
CAUTION: Never use solvents. Cleaners, fuel, sealant,
paint and other products may contain solvents that can
damage plastic parts, especially the transducer’s face.
About Fairings
Most vessels have some deadrise angle at the mounting location. If
the transducer is mounted directly to the hull, the sound beam will
be tilted to the side at the same angle as the deadrise. A fairing is
strongly recommended if the deadrise angle exceeds 10°. Made of
a high-impact polymer with an integrated cutting guide, an Airmar
fairing is safer and easier to cut with a band saw and shape with
hand tools than custom fairings.
IMPORTANT: Read the instructions completely
before proceeding with the installation. These
instructions supersede any other instructions in your
instrument manual if they differ.
• Orients the sound beam straight down by mounting the
transducer parallel to the water surface.
Applications
• Mounts the transducer deeper in the water for clean flow over
the transducer’s face.
• Bronze transducer recommended for fiberglass or wood hull only.
• Airmar High-Performance Fairing has a long streamlined
shape, directing water around the transducer to minimize drag.
Performance is excellent above 15kn (18MPH). (To order see
“Replacement Parts” on page 4.)
• Stainless steel transducer compatible with all hull materials.
Recommended for aluminum hulls to prevent electrolytic corrosion
provided the stainless steel transducer is isolated from the metal hull.
B45
B258, B271W, SS258
(arrow toward bow)
(pointed end toward bow)
band saw
table
BOW ►
cutting
guide
Figure 4. Standard Fairing orientation
Copyright © 2005- 2011 Airmar Technology Corp.
deadrise
angle
forward toward the bow. The long side must be parallel to the
fence
centerline of the boat (see Figure 4).
arrow/pointed end
for installation
on starboard
Stainless steel transducer in a metal hull—Be sure the
isolation sleeve is between the transducer stem and the hull (see
Figure 2). However, the top of the isolation sleeve must be below
the top of the hull nut or the backing block to prevent the sleeving
from interfering with tightening the hull nut.
side of the hull
Figure 3. Cutting a Standard Fairing
Copyright © 2005 - 2010 Airmar Technology Corp.
2. From inside the hull, slide the backing block (if installing with a
fairing) and the hull nut onto the cable. Seat the backing block
against the hull, being sure the arrow/pointed end faces
forward toward the bow. Screw the hull nut in place and tighten
it with slip-joint pliers (see Figure 2 or 5).
2. Tilt the band saw table to the measured angle and secure the
cutting fence (see Figure 3).
3. Place the fairing on the table, so the cutting guide rests against
the fence. The arrow/pointed end will be pointing toward you for
installation on the starboard side of the boat or away from you
for installation on the port side (see Figure 4).
Cored fiberglass hull—Do not over-tighten, crushing the hull.
Wood hull—Allow for the wood to swell.
4. Adjust the cutting fence, so the fairing will be cut in about two
equal parts (see Figure 3). The section that will become the
fairing must be between 6–12mm (1/4–1/2") at its thinnest
dimension (see Figure 2).
3. Remove any excess marine sealant on the outside of the hull/
fairing to ensure smooth water flow under the transducer.
5. Recheck steps 1 through 4. Then cut the fairing.
Cable Routing & Connecting
6. Shape the fairing to the hull as precisely as possible with a rasp
or power tool.
CAUTION: If the sensor came with a connector, do not remove it
to ease cable routing. If the cable must be cut and spliced, use
Airmar’s splash-proof Junction Box No. 33-035 and follow the
instructions supplied. Removing the waterproof connector or
cutting the cable, except when using a water-tight junction box,
will void the sensor warranty.
7. Use the remaining section of the fairing with the cutting guide
for the backing block.
Bedding
CAUTION: Be sure all surfaces to be bedded are clean and dry.
1. Route the cable to the instrument being careful not to tear the
cable jacket when passing it through the bulkhead(s) and other
parts of the boat. Use grommets to prevent chafing. To reduce
electrical interference, separate the transducer cable from other
electrical wiring and the engine. Coil any excess cable and
secure it in place with cable ties to prevent damage.
1. Remove the hull nut (see Figure 5).
2. Thread the transducer cable through the fairing (if used).
3. Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of marine sealant to the surface
of the transducer that will contact the hull/fairing and up the stem.
The sealant must extend 6mm (1/4") higher than the combined
thickness of the hull, fairing and backing block (if used), and the
hull nut. This will ensure there is marine sealant in the threads to
seal the hull and hold the hull nut securely in place.
2. Refer to the instrument owner’s manual to connect the
transducer to the instrument.
Stainless steel transducer/stem in a metal hull—Slide the
isolation sleeve over the bedded transducer stem as far down as
possible (see Figure 2). Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of the
marine sealant to the outside of the sleeving.
cable
BOW ►
stem
4. Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of marine sealant to the
following surfaces (see Figure 5):
hull nut
• Fairing that will contact the hull
• Backing block that will contact the hull interior
• Hull nut that will contact the hull/backing block
backing
block
hull
5. Standard Fairing—Seat the transducer firmly in/against the
fairing with a pushing twisting motion. Be sure the button on the
fairing mates with the recess in the transducer housing.
fairing
Installing
transducer
marine
1. From outside the hull, thread the cable through the mounting
hole. Then push the stem of the transducer through the hole
using a twisting motion to squeeze out excess sealant. Take
care to align the transducer with the blunt/button end facing
sealant
Figure 5. Bedding and installing (B258 with Std. Fairing shown)
Copyright © 2005, 2007 Airmar Technology Corp.
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5. Coat a hollow or solid cylinder of the correct diameter with wax
and tape it in place. Fill the gap between the cylinder and hull
with casting epoxy. After the epoxy has set, remove the cylinder.
Checking for Leaks
When the boat is placed in the water, immediately check around
the transducer for leaks. Note that very small leaks may not be
readily observed. Do not leave the boat in the water for more than
3 hours before checking it again. If there is a small leak, there may
be considerable bilge water accumulation after 24 hours. If a leak
is observed, repeat “Bedding” and “Installing” immediately (see
page 3).
6. Sand and clean the area around the hole, inside and outside, to
ensure that the sealant will adhere properly to the hull. If there is
any petroleum residue inside the hull, remove it with either mild
household detergent or a weak solvent (alcohol) before sanding.
7. Proceed with “Cutting the Standard Fairing” on page 2.
Installation in a Cored Fiberglass Hull
Anti-fouling Paint
The core (wood or foam) must be cut and sealed carefully. The
core must be protected from water seepage, and the hull must be
reinforced to prevent it from crushing under the hull nut, allowing
the transducer to become loose.
Surfaces exposed to salt water must be coated with anti-fouling
paint. Use water-based anti-fouling paint only. Never use ketone-
based paint since ketones can attack many plastics possibly
damaging the transducer. Reapply anti-fouling paint every 6
months or at the beginning of each boating season.
CAUTION: Completely seal the hull to prevent water seepage into
the core.
Maintenance, Parts & Replacement
Cleaning
Aquatic growth can accumulate rapidly on the transducer’s
surface reducing its performance within weeks. Clean the surface
with a Scotch-Brite® scour pad and mild household detergent
taking care to avoid making scratches. If the fouling is severe,
lightly wet sand with fine grade wet/dry paper.
1. Drill a 3mm or 1/8" pilot hole perpendicular to the waterline from
inside the hull (see Figure 6). If there is a rib, strut, or other hull
irregularity near the selected mounting location, drill from the
outside. (If the hole is drilled in the wrong location, drill a second
hole in a better location. Apply masking tape to the outside of the
hull over the incorrect hole and fill it with epoxy.)
2. Using the appropriate size drill bit, cut a hole from outside the
hull through the outer skin only. Be sure to hold the drill plumb,
so the hole will be perpendicular to the water surface.
Replacement Parts
The information needed to order a replacement transducer is
printed on the cable tag. Do not remove this tag. When ordering,
specify the part number, date, and frequency in kHz. For
convenient reference, record this information on the top of page 1.
3. The optimal interior hole diameter is affected by the hull’s
thickness and deadrise angle. It must be large enough in
diameter to allow the core to be completely sealed.
Using the appropriate size drill bit for the hull interior, cut through
the inner skin and most of the core from inside the hull keeping
the drill perpendicular to the hull. The core material can be very
soft. Apply only light pressure to the drill bit after cutting through
the inner skin to avoid accidentally cutting the outer skin.
Lost, broken, or worn parts should be replaced immediately.
Model
B45
Hull Nut
Fairing Type
Standard
Fairing Part #
33-351-01
02-031-3
High-Performance 33-509-01
02-222-03 Standard 33-226-01
4. Remove the plug of core material so the inside of the outer skin
and the inner core of the hull is fully exposed. Sand and clean
the inner skin, core, and the outer skin around the hole.
B258, B271W
High-Performance 33-523-01
High-Performance 33-391-01
High-Performance 33-391-01
B260
02-036-2
02-036-2
B265LH/LM
SS258
dimension equal to
the thickness of the
02-539-01 Standard
33-226-01
inner skin
core
hull’s outer skin to
ensure adequate
clearance
High-Performance 33-523-01
02-036-03 High-Performance 33-391-01
02-036-03 High-Performance 33-391-01
02-111-01 High-Performance 33-355-01
SS260
pour in
casting
epoxy
SS270W
SS505
Obtain parts from your instrument manufacturer or marine dealer.
Gemeco
(USA)
Tel: 803-693-0777
hull
Fax: 803-693-0477
outer skin
email: [email protected]
solid or hollow
cylinder
Airmar EMEA
Tel: +33.(0)2.23.52.06.48
(Europe, Middle East, Africa) Fax: +33.(0)2.23.52.06.49
email: [email protected]
Figure 6. Preparing a cored fiberglass hull
Copyright © 2005 Airmar Technology Corp.
®
35 Meadowbrook Drive, Milford, New Hampshire 03055-4613, USA
AIRMAR
TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Copyright © 2003 - 2013 Airmar Technology Corp. All rights reserved.
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