Replacing 2001 era ST60 Tridata transducers.

dtfeld

dtfeld

Water Contrails
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Jun 5, 2016
5,551
Milton, GA
Boat Info
410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
Engines
Cat 3126 V-Drives
My 2001 era ST60 Tridata does a good job with depth and temperature, but the speed sensor is shot and the LCD is starting to brown out. I’d like to update to new N2K connected Transducers and get rid of the ST60 to free up panel space, and not have to replace the thru hulls.

The speed and temp are an easy upgrade as the B120 thru hull will accommodate a newer ST800 transducer, but that leaves me needing the ST60 for depth.

The depth transducer and thru hull have been more difficult to identify. I think the thru hull is a b17 (bronze with flapper valve), and Gemeco thinks a DST800 will fit, but Its not clear from emailing back and forth. If the DST800 will fit, I can get all 3 pcs if data from 1 sensor and leave the blanking plug in the B120 thru hull.

Can anybody confirm what Thru hull and depth transducer was typically shipped/installed with That era ST60 Tridata and any success in upgrading? Both transducers look like the one I circled...have a stainless split ring though the top and held down by plastic threaded ring. The depth transducer is removable, not hard mounted.

screen shots from the Raymarine manual...

30E3CD91-21CC-4109-B879-A4E484EE8A84.jpeg
0A96DD1B-EFF7-4ED4-AD70-6D02AED20A83.jpeg
 
Not sure if this helps or not, but it does look like it will fit. I also have this transducer as a replacement and it did fit. But I do not know what the original one was.
  • Hole Diameter:
    • 51 mm or 2"
    • Stainless steel housing in metal hull—57 mm or 2-1/4"
http://www.airmar.com/productdescription.html?id=110

EDIT: BTW this will show up in a NMEA2000 device list as a DST200.
 
There is a guy on Ebay that sells replacement screens for the Tridata. We just did our depth display. Works great. You can still use GPS for more accurate speed.
 
bahamabreisus said:
There is a guy on Ebay that sells replacement screens for the Tridata. We just did our depth display. Works great. You can still use GPS for more accurate speed.
Click to expand...

I replaced the autopilot screen and it looked awesome. However, I was told the ST60 screen is not replaceable. Is that incorrect?

Regardless, I'm working towards a new dash layout that likely has a 7 or 9 inch axiom in the dash, so the ST60 is coming out.

The transducers will need to be updated.
 
dtfeld said:
I replaced the autopilot screen and it looked awesome. However, I was told the ST60 screen is not replaceable. Is that incorrect?

Regardless, I'm working towards a new dash layout that likely has a 7 or 9 inch axiom in the dash, so the ST60 is coming out.

The transducers will need to be updated.
Click to expand...
I would be interested in the autopilot screen. Where did you get it?
 
dtfeld said:
I replaced the autopilot screen and it looked awesome. However, I was told the ST60 screen is not replaceable. Is that incorrect?

Regardless, I'm working towards a new dash layout that likely has a 7 or 9 inch axiom in the dash, so the ST60 is coming out.

The transducers will need to be updated.
Click to expand...
Not sure about that screen, we need to do the auto pilot also. Good luck with your project.
 
David, If it's any help, I just replaced the ST transducer in the retractable housing. Raymarine ST800-P120 (E26031). Your boat should be similar. I didn't need depth since I already have 3D transducers into an RVX1000 black box. I had heard the digital versions had some issues so I stayed with the analogue NMEA 0183 version which goes to an iTC-5. I also have a transom mount depth transducer into the iTC-5 also. The data is converted analogue to digital by the iTC-5 and then goes to an i70S. It allows
P8150896.JPG
me a quick reference while underway. The photo above shows the i70S beside the VHF. You will love the Axiom screens!
You could certainly go with the DTS-800 and it should fit perfectly into the housing and then be able to use the NMEA2000 model. It would cable directly into your Ray STng system. Just read up on it first.
 
I installed two DT800's over the past couple years and just replaced the thru hull portion with the one that came with it rather then take a chance on not matching them up correctly.

Word of caution though, the temp feature on these transducers are known for failing within about a year. One of mine has already done so and lots of complaints online regarding this. Unfortunately, there are not really any other options.

I replaced my ST60 with a Maretron DSM410 which scrolls through all of my N2K data.
 
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The reason I started looking at this is I upgraded to an Evolution. Between a Raymarine rebate and points with BOE, it was a pretty good deal. The only thing not working was TWS, so I thought I'd tackle this transducer (it hasn't worked since I've owned the boat).

One annoyance is that the Axiom internal GPS isnt very good (SOG jumps around) and my speed thru water (TWS) isnt working, making the AP work a little harder than it needs to. In additional to getting the speed transducer working, I need to add a RS150 external GPS (on the list) to really fine tune this setup.

I'm leaning towards just replacing speed and temp transducer with a new wired version for the time being and leaving the ST60, to be replaced by an iTC-5 eventually. I have read about the temp sensor issues on the DST800's and at $300-400 a pop, I'm not sure that's robust enough for the money. The current temperature and bottom depth reading are spot and and if I can get the speed reading working, I'll be a happy camper.

However, at least I have the upgrade path figured out.
 
Okay, I'll throw another option at you. What about the AR200 rather than the RS150? It opens you up to gyro stabilized GPS/GLONASS readings and allows for incorporation of a camera like a CAM210 or 220 for ClearCruise augmented reality. See below:
 

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Jaws said:
Okay, I'll throw another option at you. What about the AR200 rather than the RS150? It opens you up to gyro stabilized GPS/GLONASS readings and allows for incorporation of a camera like a CAM210 or 220 for ClearCruise augmented reality. See below:
Click to expand...

Great minds think alike!! I was going to do this, but times being what they are, I'm just going with the RS150 for now. The rebate will cover the cost of the RS150, and I don't see adding a camera for a while...

However, my STW and SOG should be accurate!!!
 
Here's a problem with the iTC-5 idea. I think you have to have a i70 instrument in the system in order to calibrate the sensors via the iTC-5. I'll have to read a little more but I dont think this can be accomplished via the Axiom MFD. I'll have to confirm with Raymarine.

Unfortunately, that puts me right back to the DST800 Nema2000 and it seems that just not as robust a transducer...
 
dtfeld said:
Here's a problem with the iTC-5 idea. I think you have to have a i70 instrument in the system in order to calibrate the sensors via the iTC-5. I'll have to read a little more but I dont think this can be accomplished via the Axiom MFD. I'll have to confirm with Raymarine.

Unfortunately, that puts me right back to the DST800 Nema2000 and it seems that just not as robust a transducer...
Click to expand...
I believe you are correct, you need the i70S in order to calibrate the transducers. I'm using two pieces of NMEA0183 equipment converted through the iTC-5. If you get the NMEA2000 compatible DTS800 then it's not a problem because you connect that directly to your SeaTalkng (NMEA2000) backbone.
There are three reasons why I didn't do that: 1) I had heard about the issues with the digital DTS800, 2) I really like a separate STW (on the i70S) reading not just SOG (on the MFD) because we boat in a high current river, and 3) I already had a redundant transom mounted transducer connected to my previous Classic "E" screens because the DSM300 was notoriously inaccurate. I began to value that when backing into a wall slip where the bottom came up abruptly behind the props, where a traditional mount doesn't give you any warning. It was hooked to my Tridata before switching out to the Axiom system. So yes, it's a bit over-built but it all works well. The new Raymarine system has been great after the first season of use.
 
Update on ST60 LCD replacements...

I had contacted gaugesaver a couple months back, and the ST60 would have to be disassembled to see if the LCD could be restored. I'd guess probably not. I have not been able to find a replacement LCD for it either. Probably have to upgrade to an i50 tridata display or again, "upgrade" to a DST800
 
@Jaws I agree with you 100% on your analysis. I think I'll be keeping the ST60 system with separate ST and D transducers for a while. The STW reading is useful for determining your actual speed.

I'll have to look, but if the ST60 LCD dies, I think the i50 is a direct replacement.

I also have a B60 20 degree transducer that was originally wired to a DSM300, and I have now wired directly to my Axiom via an adaptor cable. It is a PITA. It seems to pick up thermocline and other issues, but does not always see the bottom...or fish or anything else for that matter.
 
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i50 Tridata will indeed take the analog transducers and output onto the SeatalkNg network. Only downside, this doesnt match up asthetically with the latest generation of Raymarine, but would give the istruments 20 more years of useful life.

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