What inhull transducer for lowrance hds8
Hi all just had the new atomix hardtop fitted out with trim tabs and a hds8 but because of the tight space on the back of the boat the transducer doesn't have much room for adjustment and any speeds over 10knts the hds doesn't read bottom I'm looking at getting a new transducer fitted inside the hull while I'm away at work this stint but just looking for recommendations I don't think a wet box will fit in the hull as it's a tight squeez trying to work through the hatch door but what are some of my other options would a normal transducer stuck to the inside of the hull give as good a reading. Does the lowrance support a 1kw transducer or should I just get the original transducer fitted to inside of the hull. I've heard a lot of people talk of the airmar ??? Transducer would this suit the lowrance any advice is much appreciated as I am planning on spending a bit of coin on it and I want the best picture possible. Oh it's a fiberglass hull and I usually fish 40-100m but plan on fishing deeper later so I want something that I won't be needing to upgrade. Thanks
Play hard fish harder
strike_zone
Posts: 403
Date Joined: 09/09/10
set up
mate if your losing bottom at only 10 knots you havent got it set up properly mine still works over 30 knots and yes a 1kw tranny will fit airmar is the brand
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Some hulls, you just can't
Some hulls, you just can't get that clean water you need for a tranny mount.
Your options are in-hull (aka wetbox) or thru hull, there is a big jump in both price and size between the 600w unit and the bigger 1kw ones. I always feel a bit dirty about thru-hull in any boat.
In-hull you're looking at the P79 for a cheapie, or M260. The little one will give you much better flexibility of placement, but if you go the big one, a custom wetbox will save you some space.
I'd give the P79 some serious consideration, its cheap and easy to fit. The big ones are better, but my personal opinion is that 1kW on a lowrance is a bit of a waste of time. I have seen the same tranny plugged from a HDS10 to a Furuno FCV-585 on the same boat and the difference is great. There will always be some guy that tells you about the special secret squirrel settings on the lowrance, but if the settings are so good, why are they a secret?
If you go the big one also great, you can swap it between the lowrance and Furuno just by swapping a pigtail cable, or redoing a plug.
biggerfish
Posts: 669
Date Joined: 02/03/09
Cheers strikezone I've had a
Cheers strikezone I've had a look at tranny and I can't move it down anymore otherwise the bracket will sit under the hull and if I move tranny down on the bracket it will be too low and I can't move bracket higher cause it hits on motor bracket already what can I adjust on unit to make it read better from the manual it says u need the tranny to be sitting halWayf at the hull line but this isn't possible where it's fitted
Play hard fish harder
strike_zone
Posts: 403
Date Joined: 09/09/10
bummer that
maybe the in hull is the way to go then and till the hds units are easy to set up you just need to spend a lttle while to learn how to use it most people just dont set some time aside to learn how to drive there units the 585 is a great unit but the lowrance is just as good if not better as it uses newer broadband digital sonar as furuno still runs on older sonar technology
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
I'd be happy to be surprised
I'd be happy to be surprised by seeing a lowrance outperform the Furuno, just never seen it done on any boat I've been on. I've been there while some of the guys spent the time tweaking, and neither of us have been really satisified with the results. I just find it a bit hard to take when guys selling them say there are special settings that make them better, especially when I know they run Furuno themselves ;)
No denying the current Furuno series is a bit long in the tooth, but back when they came out lowrance were probably wearing short pants and playing with marbles!
I'm told some new Furuno offerings will be out over the next year.
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
I'm with you Till,having
I'm with you Till,
having seen many sounders perform like royal kings in " perfect conditions " for the adds, then average on boats.
I am still to be impressed by a HD10 set up against a well set up FCV585.
Never mind the FCV295 or 1100 units.
I think we need to remember lowrance like hummingbird and other concentrate on the huge USA fresh water and shallow fishing market.
But I am always willing to be proven wrong
.
What you say we do a back to back Holden vs Ford style test?
both on Airmar 1kw trannies mounted on same boat....?????????
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
biggerfish
Posts: 669
Date Joined: 02/03/09
Cheers for the info guys not
Cheers for the info guys not doing a furuno lowrance comparison I already know furuno is the better sounder but as they don't do a gps sounder combo yet I went the lowrance. The bigger sonar are talking about till does that need a wet box or can u install it without don't think there's enough room for wet box cheers
Play hard fish harder
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
The P79 will fit anywhere,
The P79 will fit anywhere, the M260 is 221l x 152w x 207h but I think Lamby saved himself some space with a custom wetbox out of fiberglass over the big yellow job the units come with.
Lamby
Posts: 3145
Date Joined: 04/08/09
correct
correct
Tim
Posts: 2497
Date Joined: 26/09/06
Thru Hull
If you don't have the room for a wetbox maybe something like this
http://www.thegpsstore.com/Lowrance-B164-20-1kw-Bronze-Low-Profile-Thru-hull-Transducer-with-Temp-P2310.aspx
Just means drilling a 90 odd mm hole in your hull.
Other way is to mount it like a transom mount off an angle bracket on the back of the boat. Less of a worry than drilling a big hole.
Tomcat
Posts: 614
Date Joined: 24/02/11
M260
M260 works fine I still have one in hull to suit hds but not cutting hull open again for a few hundred bucks
greasemonkey
Posts: 112
Date Joined: 08/05/09
Can anyone tell me
Can anyone tell me what the difference would be in a P79 over a standard transducer stuck down to the inside of the hull . And also where you guys buy your Airmar gear from .
Cheers
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
i got my m260 from all boats
i got my m260 from all boats in wangarra, i was looking at buying online until they matched the price when you include the shipping cost from the states.
worth a try.
still havent got out deep with it yet...hang on a minute.....still havent got out at all....f*#!#!*^* weather
Tomcat
Posts: 614
Date Joined: 24/02/11
Tranni
WMJ marine are good very reliable
yellow and black
Posts: 65
Date Joined: 11/08/09
m260 the go
mine reads spot on at any speed /hooked up to a hds7 and is the best thing i have done on my boat ,make the room
greasemonkey
Posts: 112
Date Joined: 08/05/09
Thanks for the info
I will give them a call . Does anyone know if these units will work on a 525CDF . The standard 600w transducer appears to be the same . I am not after the 1 KW unit , I am just sick of loosing bottom at anything over 20kph and cant be bothered playing with the transducer positioning any more.
Cheers