Airmar SS200 User Manual

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONSOWNER’ S GUIDE &

Thru-Hull with Stem & No Fairing

Depth Transducer

Models: SS200, SS422, SS502

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

17-008-06 rev. 03 11/22/13

WARNING: Always wear safety goggles and a dust
mask when installing.

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.

CAUTION: Always operate the transducer in water.
Operating in air will allow the transducer to overheat
possibly resulting in failure.

CAUTION: The stainless steel housing must be
isolated from a metal hull to prevent electrolytic
corrosion. Use the isolation sleeve and washers
supplied.

CAUTION: SS422—The transducer must be oriented
properly. The mark on the face must be forward and
parallel to the centerline of the boat.

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

CAUTION: Never strike the transducer.

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

Part No.________________Date___________Frequency_________kHz

SS200
SS502

Tools & Materials

Safety goggles
Dust mask
Permanent marker
Electric drill
Drill bits and hole saws:

Pilot hole 3mm or 1/8"
SS200, SS502 23mm or 15/16"

SS422 25mm or 1"
Sandpaper
Mild household detergent or weak solvent (such as alcohol)
File (installation in a metal hull)
Marine sealant (suitable for below waterline)
Knife or scissors (installation in a metal hull)
Slip-joint pliers
Grommet(s) (some installations)
Cable ties
Water-based anti-fouling paint (mandatory in salt water)
Installation in a cored fiberglass hull (see page 4):

Hole saws for hull interior: 35mm or 1-3/8"
Cylinder, wax, tape, and casting epoxy

Mounting Location

Guidelines

CAUTION: Never use solvents. Cleaner, fuel, sealant,
paint, and other products may contain solvents that can
damage plastic parts, especially the transducer’s face.

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

Applications

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.

CAUTION: Do not mount in line with or near water intake or
discharge openings or behind strakes, struts, fittings, or hull
irregularities that will disturb the water flow.

CAUTION: Do not mount the sensor where the boat may be
supported during trailering, launching, hauling, or storage to avoid
damaging the transducer’s face.

• The water flowing under the hull must be smooth with a

minimum of bubbles and turbulence (especially at high speeds).

• The transducer must be continuously immersed in water.

• The transducer beam must be unobstructed by the keel or

propeller shaft(s).

• Choose a location away from interference caused by power and

radiation sources such as: the propeller(s) and shaft(s),
machinery, other echosounders, and other cables. The lower
the noise level, the higher the echosounder gain setting that
can be used.

• Choose a location with a minimal deadrise angle.

• Choose an accessible spot inside the vessel with adequate

space for the height of the stem and tightening the nut.

Bedding

CAUTION: Be sure all surfaces to be bedded are clean and dry.

large displacement hulls

outboard and I/O

fin keel sailboats

Figure 1.

Copyright © 2005 Airmar Technolog y Corp.

planing hulls

Best location for transducer

small displacement hulls

stepped hull

full keel sailboats

Boat Types (see Figure 1)

• Displacement hull powerboat—Locate amidships near the
centerline. The starboard side of the hull where the propeller
blades are moving downward is preferred.

• Planing hull powerboat—Mount well aft near the centerline and
well inboard of the first set of lifting strakes to ensure that it is in
contact with the water at high speeds. The starboard side of the
hull where the propeller blades are moving downward is preferred.
Outboard and I/O—Mount just forward and to the side of the
engine(s).

Inboard—Mount well ahead of the propeller(s) and shaft(s).
Stepped hull—Mount just ahead of the first step.
Boat capable of speeds above 25kn (29 MPH)—Review

transducer location and operating results of similar boats before
proceeding.

• Fin keel sailboat—Mount to the side of the centerline and
forward of the fin keel 300–6 00 mm (1 – 2').

• Full keel sailboat—Locate amidships and away from the keel
at the point of minimum deadrise angle.

Identify Your Model

The model name is printed on the cable tag.

SS422—To aid orienting the transducer, use a permanent marker
to draw a mark on the stem in line with the mark on the face (see
Figure 2).

Installation

Hole Drilling

Cored fiberglass hull—Follow separate instructions on page 4.

1. Drill a 3mm or 1/8" pilot hole perpendicular to the waterline from
inside the hull (see Figure 3). If there is a rib, strut, or other hull
irregularity near the selected mounting location, drill from the outside.

2. Using the appropriate size drill bit or hole saw, cut a hole from
outside the hull. Be sure to hold the drill plumb, so the hole will

be perpendicular to the water surface.

3. Sand and clean the area around the hole, inside and outside, to
ensure the marine sealant will adhere properly to the hull. If there
is any petroleum residue inside the hull, remove it with either a mild
household detergent or a weak solvent (alcohol) before sanding.

Metal hull—Remove all burrs with a file and sandpaper.

2

1. Remove the hull nut (see Figure 3).

2. Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of marine sealant to the surface
of the transducer that will contact the hull / washer and up the
stem. The sealant must extend 6mm (1/4") higher than the
combined thickness of the washer, the hull, the second washer,
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.

Metal hull—The stainless steel housing must be isolated from
the metal hull to prevent electrolytic corrosion. Use the isolation
sleeve and washers to separate the transducer stem from the
hull. However, the top of the isolation sleeve must be below the

hull nut after it is screwed into place, to prevent the sleeve from
interfering with tightening the nut. Slide the isolation sleeve over

the bedded transducer stem as far down as possible. Trim the
isolation sleeve to length. Apply a 2mm (1/16") thick layer of the
marine sealant to the outside of the isolation sleeve.

Installing

1. Slide a washer onto the cable and stem of the transducer. Rest
the washer against the transducer (see Figure 3).

2. 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.

SS422—Orient the transducer, so the mark on the face and the
corresponding mark on the stem are forward and parallel to the
centerline of the boat (see Figure 2).

3. From inside the hull, slide the second washer and the hull nut
onto the cable. Rest the washer against the hull. Screw the hull
nut in place against the washer. Tighten the hull nut with slip­joint pliers.

SS422—Be careful not to rotate the housing disturbing the
alignment. When grasping the stem, be careful not to damage
the threads.

Metal hull—Be sure the isolation sleeve is between the
transducer stem and the hull. However, the top of the isolation

sleeve must be below the hull nut to prevent the sleeve from
interfering with tightening the hull nut.

Cored fiberglass hull—Do not over-tighten, crushing the hull.
Wood hull—Allow for the wood to swell.

4. Remove any excess marine sealant on the outside of the hull to
ensure smooth water flow under the transducer.

mark

NOTE: Orient the mark on
the face and the mark you
have drawn on the stem

mark

Figure 2. SS422 orientation

Copyright © 2013 Airmar Technology Cor p.

forward and parallel to the
centerline of the boat.