Best Transducer for 260 DA

[markr113]

Any comments if a through hull is better than a transom mount for this size boat. I am planning to install a Garmin 535s. The through hulls for the Garmin include 200/50Khz 12/45 dgree bronze unit versus a 200Khz 12 degree bronze unit. Which would you recommend regarding the through hulls and would you choose one of these over the transom mount?
Thanks!

 

[FourGone]

Mark,
You might want to consider a "shoot thru the hull" option with the Garmin transducer. No new holes below the waterline. I have some pix and a description in some of my other posts.

It works great in my 260 DA.:thumbsup: A few minor mods on the old 260DA

Mine is a 178C that has the dual range transducer.

 

[markr113]

I really appreciate your response and this is what I am going to do. Thanks for the information!
Mark

 

[Nehalennia]

The reason I went with the transom mounted unit was that it will display the temperature. I didn't get the model with the paddle wheel for speed, but I did think the water temp was a neat feature.

 

[Coral Reefer]

Nehalennia:

I agree, I have the transom mounted transducer and it is great to know the sea temperature, and also, I find that the miles per hour wheel is more accurate at slow speeds than the standard spedo in the dash.

markr113:

Have you looked into getting a Raymarine C-70? It fits nicely on the dash.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I could be wrong here, but I do not think the size of the boat effects which transducer you go with. My guess is it's more related to hull design and outboards versus straight/v-drives. The "turbulance" of the water behind the boats probably effects the reading on a transom mounted one.

 

[FourGone]

So if it is a GPS sounder, do you need the paddlewheel for speed? In some of our BC Coast waters we can get tidal currents that can run from 3 to 6 knots between islands and channels - so GPS gives actual speed over ground.

I'm going to check this weekend, but I think I get temperature readings with my inhull mounted transducer.

 

[Nehalennia]

So if it is a GPS sounder, do you need the paddlewheel for speed? In some of our BC Coast waters we can get tidal currents that can run from 3 to 6 knots between islands and channels - so GPS gives actual speed over ground.

I'm going to check this weekend, but I think I get temperature readings with my inhull mounted transducer.

You will get the temp readings because that is the type of transducer you mounted in your epoxy bed, but it may be insulated from the fiberglass and heated from the engine compartment.

The paddlewheel will give you the speed through the water for those times you are in the currents you're speaking of. Great for fishing, but SOG will be derived from the GPS.

 

[FourGone]

So if it is a GPS sounder, do you need the paddlewheel for speed? In some of our BC Coast waters we can get tidal currents that can run from 3 to 6 knots between islands and channels - so GPS gives actual speed over ground.

I'm going to check this weekend, but I think I get temperature readings with my inhull mounted transducer.

So after the a major washdown we took the first run of '08 on Saturday. Yes the transducer measures water temperature in my configuration, BUT its not accurate. After an hour of running it was reading close to air temp (and we had a really hot weekend -pushing past 70 here in the Canadian west coast!) I interpret this to mean the trandsucer is picking up engine heat in the bilge.

So if accurate water temp is a dominant critria, then my install method would not be the best option.

As for the sounder and fishfinder functions, I get a more consistent result than when this system was transom mounted on my last boat. Due primarily to less turbulence when on plane.

Hope my input helps you a bit.