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Following C Marine Industries
SternMate is the best way to mount your transducer on your aluminum, fiberglass or wood boat
Polyethelyene plate "eliminates unnecessary holes" ...so says the ad!
What do the famous boat and equipment manufacturers say about warranties?
WARRANTY STATMENT LANGUAGE and disclaimers are all generally worded very similar.
Remember - "MODIFICATION and ALTERATION" - "EXCLUSIONS and LIMITATIONS"...it's in there!
"In a nutshell..."
Warranties are drafted to protect the mfrg. from you and you from yourself for installation damages created after the boat left the manufacturer.
Important Information you may have forgotten about:
Transducer Mounting Boards - Transducer Mounting Plates
Polyethelyene transducer mounting boards - Plastic transducer mounting blocks - Poly plastic cutting boards
* Possesses a very low surface energy...DYNES... (slick or waxy) and are resistent to adhesives
* Polyethlyene cutting boards may not be UV stabilized and quickly deteriorate when exposed to outdoor elements
Starboard™ is a high quality, UV stabilized, proprietary polyolefin thermoplastic
*Starboard™ does not recommend using adhesives only without fasteners when fastening to itself or other substrates
*Starboard™ has a very high thermal expansion rate (heat/cold)...it moves alot and can easily separate itself from an adhesive bond
*Abrading (sanding), undercutting, "dovetailing", thread-cutting simply creates more surface area of the same material
(ex: Transducer mounting board glued to a hull which has been sitting in hot sun backed into cool water can easily "fracture" the bond = adhesive failure
"…that water intrusion or associated damages occurred from mounting this type of accessory (transducer), would the Ranger boat warranty accept responsibility and cover repairs or replacement for this type of claim upon determining that leaks actually occurred at the transducer mount screw holes?"
Response: Mon 4/27/09 "...Our factory warranty doesn’t cover any type of modification or alteration, which includes mounting transducers to the transom"....If water does leak into the screw holes...., this would not be covered by our warranty. Our warranty only covers manufactured defects in our workmanship".
Thank you, Emily J. Snyder Warranty Department
Carolina Skiff LLC
http://www.carolinaskiff.com
Ranger Boats
From: info@RangerBoats.com
Sent: Fri 10/30/09 3:57 PM
"The installation of a transom mounted fishfinder itself would not void the warranty, but any damage deemed to be caused by or resulting from its installation would not be covered under Ranger warranty. Hope this helps. Thanks again and let us know if we can be of further assistance".
Sincerely,
Greg Marler
Ranger Boats
Famous maker Transducer Mfgr.
[Disclaimer from LEI installation manual]:
“…or for any loss or damage resulting from any other cause whatsoever. We will not under any circumstances be liable to anyone for any special, consequential, incidental, or other indirect damage of any kind".
LEI Extras
PO BOX 129, Catoosa, OK
(Lowrance and Eagle products)
Pub. 988-0147-581
Carolina Skiff "Modification and Alteration" Warranty Statement and Explanation
Stingray™ Boat Co.
Warranty Information: (excerpt)
This Warranty does not cover the following:
“(d) Options and accessories installed after the boat was manufactured by STINGRAY, and/or any damage caused thereby:"
These famous well-respected companies provide the instructions to help you enjoy a problem-free boat for many years beyond the life of the warranty...
INQUIRY: "The attachment of aftermarket accessories, a transom-mounted transducer in this instance, would require drilling holes below the waterline for mechanical fasteners. Regardless of the method or attempt at sealing the screws and holes, would the Carolina Skiff warranty cover and accept responsibility for water intrusion between the hull and the floor and any associated damages of any sort upon determining that leaks actually occurred at those screw holes?"
Carolina Skiff
Transducer Mount with Interesting "rooster-tail" shield
How many screw-holes?
An expression of indecision
Another interesting "rooster-tail" shield. Foam tape to avoid screw-holes?
Transducer Mounting Board "eliminates
unnecessary holes"...
We don't believe it!
Correct spot this time?
How many? A work of art!
You've seen 'em look just like this
Checkmate Power Boats (warranty excerpt)
"This limited warranty does not apply to: damage or effects
of such damage caused by the installation of engines,
accessories or other equipment installed by anyone other
than CHECKMATE MARINE, INC."
Triton Boats says:
December 02, 2009 12:58 PM
To: Captain Chris
Subject: Re: boat warranty
"Captain Chris, Triton's warranty does not
cover the installation or damage caused by an external transducer mount through our warranty statement. Only hardware factory installed is covered regarding electronics".
Thank You,
Marty Morris
- Transducer installation is justifiably intimidating to many installer/users.
Many dealers will not install transom transducers...the liability is simply too great
- Incorrect multi-attempt installations are common and result in many unnecessary screw-holes and, of course, boat damage
- Damage is always caused by “mechanical fastener” transom-transducer installations
- The installation of “plastic cutting board-type mounts” create a damaging installation
- Common installations oftentimes create difficult or impossible transducer sounding adjustment capabilities
- Transducer upgrades almost always require a new set of damaging screw-holes
(click the photos below to enlarge)
Navigation Menu
09-04-2010 "Installed my 597 tonight. Easy install …seems good. I did break a dang screw off in my hull. So now I have to repair
my boat that has 5 hours on it. Oh well crap happens".
09-06-2010 "Got my 597 installed and it is working great..."
09-06-2010 "Oh yeah, I guess I need to post why I want to move my transducer. I am loosing bottom anytime I am running over 7-8 mph."
09-08-2010 " I moved it down, but it was not enough so I need to drill some new holes. Not a big deal, I am going to go ahead and
seal the old ones up with some marine tex and then drill some new ones.
09-12-2010 "I hate transducers. This thing is more of a PITA than it is worth. I mounted it to low this time and now I am spraying the side of
my motor which is unacceptable imo. I am going to pull it to a local guy here and have him fix my gel coat and fix
my holes and mount it for me I am done putting holes in my hull. Oh well, lesson learned."
Transducer Mounting Consequences
"We just purchased a new aluminum boat and was suggested by our friend to use the plastic board screwed to the transom to mount our transducer. Fortunately we found SternMate before we took his advice and have told others that they no longer have to drill holes in their boat to mount their transom transducer. SternMate works great! It looks like my friend will repair his screw holes and use a SternMate.
B. Powell
Pennsylvania
There are less expensive ways to mount a transducer on my boat, but I think I'll pass...I have seen them. SternMate is a tremendous value. You get exactly what you pay for, or you'll end up paying dearly later.
Will SternMate be building a mount for two transducers?
Jess
Lund boat owner
"G'day mate...Kudos to SternMate! I always enjoy buying the newest in fish-finding electronics. With each new one I buy, and I have bought several. I end up having to drill more holes in my boat for the new transducer because the hole patterns are always different and they are usually a chore to adjust properly too. My new boat will will definitely thank you for SternMate, and so will I".
Bill and Eve
New South Wales
"My SternMate arrived last week and was easily installed. That is one stout, well made, piece of equipment . Before I began installing, I first made a simple repair to 4 transducer holes (a mistake I made when I mounted it in the wrong place the first time) and mounted SternMate right over the repairs. It looks great on my boat too and it covered up my mess. SternMate makes my transducer very easy to adjust. StenMate is a great value, saves the aggravation of drilling holes below the waterline and simplifies my transducer adjustments. Its value is such a small price to pay to insure against costly leaking boat repairs which probably will occur by mounting the old way. It's a great way to help me take better care of my boat too. Every one that uses a transducer should mount it on SternMate".
The Kizer family
Michigan
Transducer Installation Photos
Would you invest in one of these for your next boat?
2010 Carolina Skiff DVL
water in hull...transducer leak ? Ruined boat?
A True Story...unfortunate, but typical
This is a narrated thread from a boating forum. The gentleman owns a new 2010 Carolina Skiff and has encountered a problem. The "problem" is that he knew about SternMate. We expect there were sleepless nights, a whole lot of aggravation and now installation damage expense he had liklely not counted on...not to mention miserable sounding performance from excellent electronics. Unfortunately, transducer installation experiences such as this are commonplace. We trust that his "local guy" is familiar with SternMate.
clk the image
There is an abundance of advice on "how to drill holes" in YOUR boat hull.
It is amazing how so many will actually follow it and will skip right over All the Warnings
When your dealer offers to install your transom transducer, ask him for his written liability statement. You'll quickly learn how likely he will have lost all interest.
It Doesn't Have to Happen to You
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This gentleman had an idea in a home improvement store..."found a corner segment of white vinyl roof gutter and, he says, " the light went on".
Nanticoke Maritime LLC SternMate R&D Test Boat
Carolina Skiff 16DLX (clk image to enlarge)
Transducer Installation FACTS
Plastics are derived as a petroleum byproduct...of course they are oily or waxy, particularly the poly plastics
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