Airmar P52 User Manual

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONSOWNER’S GUIDE &

Transom Mount with Kick-up Bracket 20-035

Transducer or TRIDUCER® Multisensor

Model: P52

Follow the precautions below for optimal product
performance and to reduce the risk of property
damage, personal injury, and/or death.

WARNING: Always wear safety goggles and a dust

mask when installing

WARNING: When the boat is placed in the water,
immediately check for leaks around the screws and

17-002 rev. 04 04/12/11

any other holes drilled in the hull.

CAUTION:

impact only.

CAUTION: Never pull, carry, or hold the sensor by the
cable as this may sever internal connections.

CAUTION: Never strike the sensor.

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.

IMPORTANT: Please read the instructions completely
before proceeding with the installation. These
instructions supersede any other instructions in your
instrument manual if they differ.

Applications

• Not recommended for boat with large inboard engine(s).

• Good operation up to 40kn (46MPH).
Requires experimentation at higher speeds.

• Vertically orients the sound beam on hull with deadrise angle up

°

to 22

• Adjusts to transom angles up to 20°.

Tools & Materials

Safety goggles
Dust mask
Water-based antifouling paint (mandatory in salt water)
Screwdrivers
Adjustable wrench
Pencil
Electric drill
Drill bits and hole saw or spade bit:

Bracket holes 4mm, #23, or 9/64"
Fiberglass hull chamfer (preferred), 6mm, or 1/4"
Transom hole (optional) 20mm or 13/16"
Cable clamp holes

Masking tape
Marine sealant (suitable for below waterline)
Straight edge
Line (optional)
Zip-ties

The bracket protects the sensor from frontal

3mm or 1/8"

P52 TRIDUCER® Multisensor

Identifying Your Model

The model name is printed on the cable tag.

Antifouling Paint

Aquatic growth can accumulate rapidly on the sensor’s surface
reducing performance within weeks. Surfaces exposed to salt
water that do not interlock must be coated with antifouling paint.
Use water-based antifouling paint only. Never use ketone based
paint, since ketones can attack many types of plastic possibly
causing damage to the transducer. It may be easier to apply paint
before installing the sensor, but allow drying time. Reapply paint
every 6 months or at the beginning of each boating season.

Assembling

1. The bracket is shipped in the “up” (released) position. Before
attaching the sensor, set the bracket in the “down” (operating)
position by grasping the cross bar and pulling outward in an arc
(see Figure 1).

2. Run the cable through the bracket between the cross bar and
the transom (see photo on front page).

3. Attach the sensor to the bracket with the four #10-32 x 5/8"
machine screws, washers, and lock nuts. Tighten the screws so
the sensor remains in place, but can be adjusted (see Figure 2).
P52—Place the bracket inside the mounting tabs (see photo on
front page).

“up” (released) “down” (operating)

cross bar

Figure 1. Bracket positions (P37 shown)

transom

lock nut (4)

flat washer (8)

mounting tabs

#10-32 x 5/8"

screw (4)

Figure 2. Transducer and bracket assembly (P37 shown)

Mounting Location

CAUTION: Do not mount in an area of turbulence or bubbles:

near water intake or discharge openings; behind strakes, struts,
fittings, or hull irregularities

CAUTION: Avoid mounting the sensor where the boat may be
supported during trailering, launching, hauling, or storage.

• For the best performance, the sensor must be in contact with
smooth water. To identify an area of clean water, observe the
water flow off the transom while the boat is underway.

• Allow headroom space above the bracket for it to release and
rotate the sensor upward (see Figure 3).

• Mount the sensor as close to the centerline (keel) of the boat as
possible to ensure the sensor remains in the water when the
boat is turning.

• Single drive boat—Mount at least 75mm (3") beyond the

swing radius of the propeller (see Figure 4). The starboard
side where the propeller blades are moving downward is
preferred.

• Twin drive boat—Mount the sensor between the drives.

height

Model
P52 175 mm (7-1/2") 215mm (9")

Height without Height with
paddlewheel paddlewheel

Figure 3. Height required at mounting location (P37 shown)

3. Using a 4mm, #23, or 9/64" bit, drill three holes 22 mm (7/8")
deep at the locations indicated.

4. Apply marine sealant to the threads of the three #10 x 3/4" self­tapping screws to prevent water seepage into the transom.
Slide a flat washer onto each screw and fasten the assembly to
the hull. Do not tighten the screws completely at this time.

5. Using the vertical adjustment space on the bracket slots, slide
the sensor up or down to provide a projection of 6mm (1/4")
(see Figure 4). Tighten the screws.

6. Using a straight edge, adjust the angle of the transducer on the
bracket. Sight the underside of the transducer relative to the
underside of the hull (see Figure 6). Adjust the sensor on the
bracket so it is parallel to the bottom of the hull or at a slight
angle. For best results set the trailing edge of the transducer
1-3 mm (1/16 - 1/8") below the leading edge (see Figure 7).
Tighten the screws.

Installation

CAUTION: Do not position the leading edge of the sensor lower

than the trailing edge because aeration will occur.

CAUTION: Do not position the sensor deeper into the water than
necessary to avoid increasing drag, spray, and water noise and
reducing boat speed.

CAUTION: To prevent drilling too deeply, wrap masking tape
around the bit 22mm (7/8") from the point.

CAUTION: Fiberglass hull—Minimize surface cracking by
running the drill in reverse until the gelcoat is penetrated.

Mounting & Adjusting

1. Position the assembly at the selected location with the
transducer face parallel to the water. Good results can be
achieved on most boats when the bottom of the transducer is
about 6mm (1/4") below the bottom of the hull and parallel to the
waterline (see Figure 4).

2. With a pencil, mark the outline of the bracket slots on the hull.
Mark the screw location at the bottom of each slot to allow for
adjusting the bracket (see Figure 5).

2

cable cover

cable clamps

50mm (2")

Hull projections:

fiberglass, wood 6mm (1/4")

Bottom parallel to water line

75mm (3") minimum beyond
swing radius of propeller

Figure 4. Mounting location on single drive boat