xducer for Garmin 545s

C

capz

New Member
Mar 11, 2007
336
Quincy, MA
Boat Info
Sea Ray 270DA, Garmin 545s
Engines
Merc 7.4L Bravo III
I just put my West Marine gift cards to use towards a Garmin 545s (thanks Santa!). I've been trying to figure the best way to install the transducer. According to my owners manual (Specific Info Manual). The stock shoot-through transducer is installed starboard side, under the engine near the transom. I found this in a section labeled "Hull cutouts". Could this mean the hull has a core that the signal cannot get through, so it cannot just be epoxied to the bilge floor? Also, will I need to get a Garmin transducer or are the connectors standard on all brands?
 
Capz,

The newer hulls have a interior core that hinders shoot thru transducers. I installed a Garmin 198C on my 2005 260 and decided to just go the transom route because of the core based hull.

Mike
 
mawyatt said:
Capz,

The newer hulls have a interior core that hinders shoot thru transducers. I installed a Garmin 198C on my 2005 260 and decided to just go the transom route because of the core based hull.

Mike
Click to expand...

Do you know if this applies to a 1999 260DA?
 
Thanks for the link and info. I'm sure it will work ok. I'm just a little confused as to why the factory needed to cut into the hull at all to install my current depth sounder. I may try and contact Sea Ray.
 
They put a hole in the hull because a thru-hull transducer just works better. I would think it rather cheesy to have a new boat with a shoot-through transducer.

I was under the impression that searay was using solid hulled boat bottoms these days. . .cored hulls have potential long term issues that I thought most good builders these days try to stay away from.
 
It's not a thru-hull transducer. There's nothing coming through the bottom of the boat. Unless I missed it. I haven't looked at it closely but the location in the manual is in a section called "Hull Cutouts". Pg. 34. Also in this section is the A/C, generator intakes and macerator thru-hull. Do they cut into only the inner hull so the shoot-through transducer sits within the fiberglass? Or is it just to angle it correctly?
 
When you buy the Garmin shoot-thru xducer, they recommend going to deep water and placing it in a baggie with water to determine if there is interference. If not, the mount is angled along with xducer... based on the angle of your hull, there are specific directions to ensure it is level.
 
I sent an email to Sea Ray to find out if my hull is cored and to see if it's ok to mount a shoot thru just in front of the engine. I got a response same day. Here's what I got back.

"You should be fine using a shoot thru transducer. That hull is not cored. The only thing in that area would be a bracing block glassed in for support where we would install any hardware or thru hull devices The blocks would be visible from the bilge."

Jerry Joyce
Customer Service Specialist
Sea Ray Boats, World Headquarters

I'm not sure what he means by bracing block but the only visible blocks in the bilge are the two on either side of the engine running from the transom to the bulkhead.

I'm going with the garmin shoot-thru. I'll test it in different spots. It's gonna be tough snaking the wire through the spaghetti mess in the bulkhead though. Any tips on that one or just a coat hanger and patience?
 
Also, does anyone think mounting in front of the engine may cause bad readings when on plane?
 
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