transducer info

[wakina]

I am considering the purchase of an Airmar P66-BL 600W 50/200 kHz Transom Mount Triducer for my HDS 5X sonar! I believe it is the equivalent of the B60 thru the hull model. I just cannot fathom the thought of cutting a 2 & 1/8" hole in the bottom of my boat so I am leaning toward the transom mounted version.

Are the Airmar transducers that much better than the junk that is bundled with the HDS units as a package and marketed by Lowrance/Simrad? By buying a better transducer maybe I can realize more of the potential this HDS 5X unit is supposed to provide and not have to spend the bucks for another stand alone sonar. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

[Madd Matt]

I am considering the purchase of an Airmar P66-BL 600W 50/200 kHz Transom Mount Triducer for my HDS 5X sonar! I believe it is the equivalent of the B60 thru the hull model. I just cannot fathom the thought of cutting a 2 & 1/8" hole in the bottom of my boat so I am leaning toward the transom mounted version.

Are the Airmar transducers that much better than the junk that is bundled with the HDS units as a package and marketed by Lowrance/Simrad? By buying a better transducer maybe I can realize more of the potential this HDS 5X unit is supposed to provide and not have to spend the bucks for another stand alone sonar. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Wakina. I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination. But here is what I will tell you. Using the transom mounted transducer on your HDS unit is like hooking rabbit ear antenna up inside your home to the latest 72" LED Ultra High Def $5,000 TV and trying to watch a channel broadcast 50 miles away with more static and "snow" noise in the screen than color... Then bragging about having a Ultra High Def TV.

The air bubbles produced by the transom of the boat and the noise and garbage that they pick up is more of an issue than the quality of the transducer itself. You don't even need to ask or worry about the quality of the transducer if you are going to put in off the transom.

My 2 cents. Drill the hole. It's not that hard and it is very easy to make sure the integrity of the hull is in tact. I use marine tex epoxy and fill the entire hole around the transducer with it. It is probably the most solid 2.125" in the bottom of my boat.

-Matt

[walleye2go]

Yep... drill the hole. Measure several times then drill the pilot hole and make sure it's going to work out then drill the big hole. No big deal lol

Greg

[Madd Matt]

Yep... drill the hole. Measure several times then drill the pilot hole and make sure it's going to work out then drill the big hole. No big deal lol

Greg

The first time you do it, take the boat out of the water first. It is easier that way.