Replacement for Lowrance 3500 depth finder…

just1time

Active Member
Jun 13, 2021
217
tOrOnTo, oN
Boat Info
2003 SeaRay 280 Sundancer
Engines
Twin Mercruiser Alpha Drives 4.3
6F259ED8-0F60-427E-AFC5-8EC54D6787E4.jpeg

My Lowrance 3500 display is missing lines. They are discontinued so looking for a replacement is impossible.
I want to replace it with this:
Faria Depth finder. Description says it comes with a transducer. will this work as a replacement?
 
Yes. Same gauge size. Was thinking of doing same with mine.

My 3500 goes wonky after 30 feet and I'll be dipped in doodoo if I can find the transducer.

Maybe I'll just put a raw water pressure gauge in the hole, instead, since I have the Garmin 974 installed, too
 
I think I would Prefer to put the new gauge and run the transducer without removing the old transducer. I probably will mount the new transducer close or next to the old one Just to avoid dealing with the stress of removing the old one. Am just not sure which option to get as I see there are three options;
- in hull
- thru hull
- transom

Any help appreciated.
 
The in hull / shoot thru is probably the best option if installed perfectly and there is a spot for it that is accessible.
 
When I replaced my dash panel, I bought the one without the hole for the Lowrance 3500. I already have two other depth gauges (the Raymarine one and a Tridata one) so the 3rd was redundant
 
I am all for following directions but I never do when it comes to the shoot through hull transducers. I just installed the exact unit you are looking at in my 1992 270 Weekender. Instead of the ethylene glycol filling of the cavity, etc. just fill the cavity with plumbers putty ensuring that there are no voids in the putty. I assume you will use the included Airmar P79. You can fix it in the hull temporarily with the putty and determine that it reads accurately. If it does glue it down with silicone as directed. Some of mine have been temporarily installed for years without issue. This unit works great and is consistent with the Garmin that is right beside it.
 
I am all for following directions but I never do when it comes to the shoot through hull transducers. I just installed the exact unit you are looking at in my 1992 270 Weekender. Instead of the ethylene glycol filling of the cavity, etc. just fill the cavity with plumbers putty ensuring that there are no voids in the putty. I assume you will use the included Airmar P79. You can fix it in the hull temporarily with the putty and determine that it reads accurately. If it does glue it down with silicone as directed. Some of mine have been temporarily installed for years without issue. This unit works great and is consistent with the Garmin that is right beside it.
I was actually thinking of replacing with the Faria 13795
721B246F-C5A9-4E34-8A18-77A8F3769D28.png
 
I am all for following directions but I never do when it comes to the shoot through hull transducers. I just installed the exact unit you are looking at in my 1992 270 Weekender. Instead of the ethylene glycol filling of the cavity, etc. just fill the cavity with plumbers putty ensuring that there are no voids in the putty. I assume you will use the included Airmar P79. You can fix it in the hull temporarily with the putty and determine that it reads accurately. If it does glue it down with silicone as directed. Some of mine have been temporarily installed for years without issue. This unit works great and is consistent with the Garmin that is right beside it.
Did you get the in-hill or thru-hill. I have been advised my 2003 280 DA is quipped with a thru-hill which I can unscrew and replace with a faria thru-hill posted above (I believe you are correct Cos I learned air max makes the transducers for all these companies).

Are you suggesting I can use a in-hull and simply glue it down? I rather not mess with removing the one equipped on the boat if I can work around it. I initially planned to get a in-hull and just glue it close to where the original one is. But most suggested I just remove the equipped one and get a thru-hull as it’s original to the boat.
 
I used the in-hull. My boat is a sterndrive Bravo II. This might not work with inboards or V-drives as the transducer needs water that is not aerated by underwater running gear. I have done this for 30 years in many boats
 
I used the in-hull. My boat is a sterndrive Bravo II. This might not work with inboards or V-drives as the transducer needs water that is not aerated by underwater running gear. I have done this for 30 years in many boats
I used the in-hull. My boat is a sterndrive Bravo II. This might not work with inboards or V-drives as the transducer needs water that is not aerated by underwater running gear. I have done this for 30 years in many boats
My
I used the in-hull. My boat is a sterndrive Bravo II. This might not work with inboards or V-drives as the transducer needs water that is not aerated by underwater running gear. I have done this for 30 years in many boats

My 2003 280DA is I/O. So is the in-hull not worth it? Should I continue the quest with a thru-hull replacement of the OEM thru-hull in place? thansk for your Input by the way. I really hated going through the season without a depth finder. And determined to make sure next boating season is not same. So I want to do this now that it’s out of the water.
 
If the boat is on the hard for the winter and the transducer is accessible it's just a personal choice of which job you want to do. I have had both and I don't think one performs better than the other. I doubt that there is much difference in price. Availability might be the deciding factor. I would be fine with either solution.
 
No problem. Good luck. Definitely worth the effort to get the sounder operating as it should.
 
Great Lakes Skipper has Lowrance 197khz transducers for $40. If they are the same as the originals, I can't say
 
Great Lakes Skipper has Lowrance 197khz transducers for $40. If they are the same as the originals, I can't say
Not worth it. The transducer is not the issue. It’s the display that’s the issue. Best to replace everything.
 

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