pyro
Active Member
- Dec 4, 2018
- 287
- Boat Info
- 2008 Sundancer 290
- Engines
- Twin 5.0L MPI Bravo III
Kohler 5ecd
Hi,
I'm looking for some recommendations on depth transducers. I have a twin I/O boat that I am debating getting a Raymarine Axiom MFD. However I am unsure what to do about depth transducers. Depth is probably the most important gauge I have on the boat since I'm in shallow waters and pull up to beaches frequently.
First what I have currently. I have the standard Mercury Smartcraft through-hull transducer which is really just a Airmar customized for Smartcraft connection. It is installed in center of boat in engine compartment. The Smartcraft gauges show depth but is not convenient to view. It also does not seem to be all that reliable. It will show dashes ~10% of the time even standing still. It can take anywhere from seconds to 5 minutes to come back to life. I actually just removed it as I was planning to rebed the housing due to a small leak.
I also have an older Garmin 400c Fishfinder with an in-hull transducer. This is what I rely on for depth. It has a 4" screen. I don't fish, and I don't know why PO installed this. Perhaps because the Smartcraft through-hull wasn't reliable.
I would like to get an Axiom and move my current Raymarine setup to where the 400c is and remove the 400c. But I am hesitant to rely on the Smartcraft gauge.
So I've been looking at a Raymarine CPT-S which is a Chirp based sonar. It's an older model and wasn't even designed for use with the Axiom. It requires an adapter. It doesn't have any of the more fancy Downvision or RealVision or any of the other fancy sonar features. But it is the only ~2.5" circular through hull transducer that will fit easily fit. The other option is to a RV100 stern mount for nearly the same cost which has all the fancy features that I don't need but may be cool to view once in a while. I also read this doesn't work well at cruising speed. However I can't find much info about how reliable a stern mount transducer is with twin IOs.
So given that background, I'm looking for any recommendations anyone may have.
Thanks!
I'm looking for some recommendations on depth transducers. I have a twin I/O boat that I am debating getting a Raymarine Axiom MFD. However I am unsure what to do about depth transducers. Depth is probably the most important gauge I have on the boat since I'm in shallow waters and pull up to beaches frequently.
First what I have currently. I have the standard Mercury Smartcraft through-hull transducer which is really just a Airmar customized for Smartcraft connection. It is installed in center of boat in engine compartment. The Smartcraft gauges show depth but is not convenient to view. It also does not seem to be all that reliable. It will show dashes ~10% of the time even standing still. It can take anywhere from seconds to 5 minutes to come back to life. I actually just removed it as I was planning to rebed the housing due to a small leak.
I also have an older Garmin 400c Fishfinder with an in-hull transducer. This is what I rely on for depth. It has a 4" screen. I don't fish, and I don't know why PO installed this. Perhaps because the Smartcraft through-hull wasn't reliable.
I would like to get an Axiom and move my current Raymarine setup to where the 400c is and remove the 400c. But I am hesitant to rely on the Smartcraft gauge.
So I've been looking at a Raymarine CPT-S which is a Chirp based sonar. It's an older model and wasn't even designed for use with the Axiom. It requires an adapter. It doesn't have any of the more fancy Downvision or RealVision or any of the other fancy sonar features. But it is the only ~2.5" circular through hull transducer that will fit easily fit. The other option is to a RV100 stern mount for nearly the same cost which has all the fancy features that I don't need but may be cool to view once in a while. I also read this doesn't work well at cruising speed. However I can't find much info about how reliable a stern mount transducer is with twin IOs.
So given that background, I'm looking for any recommendations anyone may have.
Thanks!