transducer which is better?

[salty pig]

i have 200khz 20deg transducer on there now  option is same type  or one with temp/speed   or one with  45 deg and 15 deg dual beam. which is better dual or the  single 20 deg ?

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Salty,

Unless you fish REAL deep water, you do not need the dual beam.

The temperature is a nice to have ... the speed is fairly useless. The paddle wheel is inaccurate and you have a gps anyway.

I would like to know the temp ... even if I had to get the speed paddle with it.

Good luck,

Ed

PS - Are you sure the transducer is broke ... they are usually all or nothing. If it detects bottom, it is working usually. The factory settings are usually bad so you may have to tweek them.

[salty pig]

Im going to reset the factory settings (button for it) and try that. I had the gain up to +5 and it just shows the bottom real dark. I had the fish signal beep but no fish on the screen when i had it set to no symbols. and the depth always flashes like its losing the signal and i have to manual set it to say 30 ft to see bottom.

 Guy said i should  put my hand over it and feel a clicking and hear it but i get nothing. worth a shot friend at west marine said i can return it.

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Salty,

OK ...

Are you planning on getting an AirMar transducer (if they have a repalcement for your unit)?

One thing to consider - Do not use wire ties when installing the transducer. They can damage the neutral shield.

Good luck,

Ed

[salty pig]

hmmmm was gonna go with garmin one didnt know u can mix those..... just hope it works i was on top of a school of blues feeding on bunker today and NOTHING!! drifted right over them!

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Salty,

If you have a friend that will let you try a new Garmin and return it if it does not work, that sounds reasonable to try.

Best wishes,

Ed

[salty pig]

one ? Ed those can be changed in water?? since im not taking the bracket off  just the transducer.

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Salty,

I do not know about how the Garmin transducer is mounted.

On my Lowrance, Raytheon and Furuno units they all needed to be out of the water as there were screws that needed to be properly sealed and attached to the transom.

Good luck ... if you need another set of hands, just ask.

Ed

[salty pig]

I reset the factory adjustment it looked better and i could see the bunker  under my boat at the dock   but when i left the dock and got out say  30ft it lost its auto function and i had to set it manually to see the bottom... Who knows ill try the new one tom HOPE i  dont have to take it off !!

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Salty,

Sorry about this question but ... do you have a picture of where you mounted the transducer?

Also, sorry if this was already asked ... was it working at all in the past?

Something to check is if the transducer is in "clear water" while moving. A picture would be worth a thousand words ...

Thanks,

Ed

[salty pig]

Dont know im usually alone when its moving.. it was on when i bought the boat so of course they going to say it worked fine..its on the rt side of the motor if ur lookin at the rear

[rb218]

Salty,
  Just one thought, before you take the old one off and install the new one try just hanging the new one off the back and see if it is working.  This may save you some work in case you find out it is not the transducer causing the problem.

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Salty,

Whether mounted on the starboard or port of the transom, the location matters.

I will look for a picture to post of the proper install location.

It may take a little while as I have some corporate things to attend to.

Best wishes,

Ed

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Salty,

A pdf of my installation manual for the Airmar is attached.

Please note Figure 5 on page 2. The transducer must be flush to the bottom of the hull (not the bracket for the transducer). It sometimes points straight down but a slight angle is desired.

If you are seeing the bottom and fish and then loosing the signal while at drift, your gain may be too high.

I run my center console at up to 40 mph and can see the bottom without losing the lock. That is how I find a lot of interesting places to fish.

Ed

[Pops Soul]

Hey Guys this is an intresting topic. I know myself I had to adjust my transducer a little lower in the mount, it is working better. I thought I ad a problem cause it seamed like my unit would be working find then after a while out in open water it would lose the bottom reading. The beginning of this season I got into some dirty water and lost a signal then ran into a friend on the water and he told me he was having the same problem. Does anyone else have a problem with their fish finder reading in dirty water? Is this the difference between a top of the line unit and a lower class unit? I attended a seminar presented by Ralph Kinsell (I'm pretty sure that was his name) He is a full time fisherman and a representative of one of the electronic companies. If I remember correctly he stated looking at your bottom finder from right to left the first inch of the picture is real time once it is past that first inch its history. I have tried playing with the manuel settings and have found with the type of fishing I do meaning I haven't used the unit in anything deeper then 80 ft of water I am better off leaveing things at the factory settings. Even locating wrecks and rockpiles. The only thing I will do his switch the page so I have a magnified section of the bottom along with the regular view. I have a Raytheon L365, which I would consider a cheapy unit.

[salty pig]

Thanks Ed i can see the bottom but when i go full throttle i lose it so im either at an angle too much or the bubbles are hitting. but i can set it manual when i stop. Just the depth will flash whatever like it lost a signal. Put my hand under it and i cant feel no dang click or pulse, think the guy pulling my leg.!