Have just fitted Lowrance Chirp to my Fx Sho and l

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BillyD

New member
Have just fitted Lowrance Chirp to my Fx Sho and left with a 25mm hole at the back where the transducer cable goes through into the battery/ engine area. Need advice on what to use to fill the hole? Yamaha sold me an elastic Wurth product that has elasticity which is a bit like silicon. Surely I should rather fibre glass the hole as fishing a few kms offshore with a soft substance below the water line just seems crazy.
Any advice would really be appreciated_seal1_
 
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Michael Mulder

New member
Hi Billy,

I've sealed a good couple of holes in jetski's with sikaflex, which is also similar to silicone but a hell of a lot stronger and long lasting.
 
D

D5

Senior Member
I also came up to this ultra strong silicone adhesive called Elastoseal E43  - made by German manufacturer DRAWIN Vertriebs-GmbH
It does not age and it is UV resistant

I found it at Carlin Medical Extrusions in Germiston - cost around R 130 for 90ml
It is also self leveling which makes any job very neat.

Main purpose of this glue is to connect silicone pipes - it becomes inseparable connection.
I tried on many other materials and it does not let go, strongest silicone adhesive to this date that I come up to.
 
W

willem wikkel spies

Moderator
Staff member
surely I would get the 25mm hole smaller first!

sikaflex might be good, but that is still a big hole you have there!!

its still gonna be a messy job!
 
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BillyD

New member
Thanks for the good advice looks like mostly a soft elastic repair is recommended, this was the case from Yamaha. I still think that to go to see with a soft fill in quite a big hole is not something I can see myself doing. Today I bought some good old fashioned fibreglass with bandage. I am thinking that I should make this a strong mixture and put pressure on both sides of the hole, compressing the fibre glass to chase out any bubbles. I will finish off this work with a rubber grommet with the wire cable through it so it will look neat and be strong. Only thing is if I need to change the transducer it will be a hassle but will just redrill the same hole.... Hope that does not happen!! Willem, makes the point that seems to be best._seal1_
 
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BillyD

New member
Some feedback job done. What I used was a rubber grommet at the back inside the engine compartment. This was parachuted out so it did not leak any resin and also allowed for a lip and extra strength on the inside. Three more applications applied also using bandage and resin. Then applied black silicon Den Braven which dries like a rubber gasket and is really tough with very high UV and water resistant claims....really like that stuff and only cost R84 for +_ 130 ml.
Doing my skippers at Blue Lagoon Saturday through to Tuesday. The glass will cure for a week and then am taking the ski for a test run at Hartebeespoort to see if any water gets in.
:)
 
C

codfather

Senior Member
Next time anyone else needs to do this. What I do is feed the power plug from the back of the Jetski through the drain plug. You just need to remove the drain plug and cut a small piece of the plastic so the wire fits tight then seal the small gap. Getting to the nuts on the back of the plug is tricky I just bent a spanner and it fits great. Dont attempt to do anything like this unless you are confident. The new HDI & CHIRP transducers must be fitted externally
Mick Codfather
 
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BillyD

New member
Jobs done so here's a pic. The proof will be after I try it out on the water. Thanks all for the advice.
 

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B

BillyD

New member
Just spent the last 4 days getting Cat E skippers licence at Blue Lagoon.
Needed to get 12 launches in, used the instructors ski. Next step is to get my jetski in the water to see if any leakers appear, join Durban Ski Boat Club and will see if the hole I drilled into the hull can take the pounding it will get in the surf. I went to Den Braven's head office in Randburg and got a demo kit of some really strong rubberized sealant. These guys are in competition with Sikaflex and have asked for feedback on the success of the hole repair. I have also used this stuff to fit the Lowrance into the drinks holder on the dash. It may be overkill but also went to Racetech here in KZN today and bought the s/s attachment they use for the dash attachment. Am now thinking I might clean out the Den Braven's compound on the dash and bolt in the s/s fitting. Anybody have any comments on what they would suggest I do? Comments from anybody will be really appreciated.
_seal1_
 
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codfather

Senior Member
Use the stainless fitting. You will need to remove the cover from inside the front hatch to get access to mount it.
 
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