Transducer Help
 

I'm going to be enclosing the transom this year and installing a Potter Bracket [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

I will be eliminating the transom mount transducer. I have a older Sitex CVS106 in perfect condition. It is only a 200 RMS Output. The transducer is 120kHz. It is supposed to read to 1280ft but I lose it approx 800ft. Mike at Wildfire Marine is suggesting I cut a space in the center PVC stringer and glass in a transducer in the bilge.
I have several questions [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

1.Can I use my existing transom mount transducer?

2.Anyone have experience with installing one in a mineral oil bath verus epoxy to the hull?
3. I hear talk about the Airmar high performance transducers and will they work with my machine.

Bottom line is should I keep this older machine or suck it up and spring for a new one ? [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
Anyone have experience with these issues? Thanks for the advise [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ January 17, 2004, 09:49 PM: Message edited by: capt chuck steele ]

Re: Transducer Help
 

I have two Airmar mineral oil transducers in the bilge of my Mako. One is for my Furuno fcv600L and works excellent. The other is for my Garmin 188C GPS/Sounder combo unit and I have not had a chance to use it yet.

If memory serves me correctly, the directions said to mount them about 4-6 inches left or right of the center line (not on it) and about 1-2 feet from the transom.

I used Clear Lifeseal to adhere the ducers to the bilge. Unlike silicone, it is resistant to the mineral oil, it is also less brittle than epoxy and more forgiving than 5200 (if they ever needed to be moved or adjusted).

Good luck.

Ed

Re: Transducer Help
 

Hi Chuck
Why not just leave the unit on the transom?
Bill

Re: Transducer Help
 

After having both thru hull (with fairing block) and transom mount styles I prefer the transom mount. IMO the transom mount works just as good as the thru hull and you dont have to cut a hole in the bottom of boat. I've never used the oil bath in the bilge method so I cant comment on that except you will not be able to get water temp. The transom mount should work with the potter bracket. If done right you dont have to drill holes in the transom. Epoxy a mounting pad were the transducer is to be placed and just screw into that.

Strick

Re: Transducer Help
 

I agree with Strick,
I had the bronze thru hull on the 23 with the huge fairing block and got rid of it and installed the transom mount ducer insted. I didn't
see any degration in perfomance at all, just less drag and turburlance.

Re: Transducer Help
 

I bought the Lowrance X19 color for the project 23 and would prefer to shoot it through the hull. I'm not a huge fishherman, but how much are you giving by blowing off the temperature function?

Re: Transducer Help
 

"...I bought the Lowrance X19 color for the project 23 and would prefer to shoot it through the hull. I'm not a huge fishherman, but how much are you giving by blowing off the temperature function?..."

Otto,

Just my wee little opinion, but based on WHERE you are, and your admitted lack of fanaticism about fishing, I doubt you are giving up much.

For the more fanatical, temperature breaks often make reels sing [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Transducer Help
 

Otto-

Even if you go with the shoot-thru-the hull type transducer, you can still get temperature readings with most fishfinders with a seperate temp. sensor. The benefit of this is that your fishing finding/bottom sounding will work at all speeds and you can still find out water temp if needed.

-Ed-

Re: Transducer Help
 

Mark & Ed,

Thanks for the replies. I found the accessory discussed:

Temperature sensor. Includes MY-4X adapter: TS-1X Part #99-50 $49.95

You guys are good!

Re: Transducer Help
 

Capt Chuck I like Ed installed a shoot thru hull for my 188C it sits in a cup which I 5200 and actually its just filled with water at the moment because I had a charter and did'nt have any mineral water ,and it works great marks fish with the H2O in it.That machine you have is a good one you might want to check with Air Mar and see if they make a ducer that works with that machine.

Ed, how long have you had your 188c? Have you had any problem with the screen. I've had to send mine back twice and its delaminating again know.I love the unit but this problem really sucks. RS.

Re: Transducer Help
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Capt., I suggest you suck it up and buy a new one. That's what I did.
My Seacraft came with an inexpensive Humminbird 300 RMS, 200 kHz FF with transom mount. The transom mount broke, so I put the 'ducer in the bilge in a PVC pipe with mineral oil. I also experimented with an old King 920 unit (120 kHz, 200 RMS) that had worked very well as a TM on my other boat.
Results: the King failed at all but the highest gain settings in over 50 feet of water.
The Humminbird works well in 50 to 80 feet and easily holds bottom to 40 MPH in under 50 ft. The Humminbird just does not perform very well (target separation, pixels, etc), though the in hull transducer setup is very good.

Sooo... I bought a Garmin 320C, and intend on an in-hull, shoot thru installation.

Re: Transducer Help
 

Thank you everyone for responding. I appreciate all the advise. Considering that the temp sensor on the ducer has quit, I might sell the machine because of it's age and spring for a new one with more power. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

I have not made a final decision on the mineral bath or thru hull option yet [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Re: Transducer Help
 

Reel Smoker-

I bought the unit in the fall of 2002, but only started using it last summer. No problems with screen delaminations for me. However, our season is much shorter and much cooler than yours.

Has Garmin been replacing the unit free of charge or just fixing it? If I were you, I would get on the phone with them and tell them you're a charter captain in the keys and if they dont solve this problem once in for all, you'll tell all your friends and clients that Garmin products arent good.

The only problem I had withthe unit was the original transom mount ducer. With all the prop wash and trim tab interference on the stern of my Mako, I couldnt get any readings so I switched to the shoot thru the hull unit.

Re: Transducer Help
 

You can get a bronze thru hull and glass it in flush with the keel. I have been doing installs this way for 15 years with good results. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Transducer Help
 

Hi Don

Thanks for the come-back [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
I think your right with the thru hull deal but should I keep this machine considering it is only 200 watts rms and a few years old (like me)? or spring for higher power coupled with the
50/200 dual ducer [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: Transducer Help
 

Capt. Chuck,
Just my two cents, but go with a new color LCD unit. My father has a CVS102 color CRT, and while it works great, it's old, and very big and bulky. You need a lot of space for these units. I went with the Furuno LS6100 monochrome for my Seabird, but I would have gone with the color FCV600L if I had the extra $. I think you'd be much happier with a new color sounder with the 50/200 'ducer.

Re: Transducer Help
 

Scott M

Thanks and I think your right on target [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Besides costs, how about that 582L ? I like the 600 watts and a little bigger screen feature as I do the deep drop deal for Tilefish and Yelloweye on occasions (650'- 800'). I'm just starting to look at the FURUNOS. It appears that the new LCD's produce a picture of equal quality as my old CVS106 CRT and as you mentioned a lot less space? [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: Transducer Help
 

Very nice machine .... does well in sunlight also. A lot of the "canyon" boats around here use them ..but I'll admit to being biased towards Furuno FF's and Radar [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img].. there are a whole lot of other machines out there too...

Re: Transducer Help
 

The 582L is excellent machine, I use it for finding ridges and caynons swordfishing in deeper water. Very dependable!