Transducers

[John Jones]

I wonder if you can disable the wheel, and use the gps for speed.

Yep.  Just don't plug it in.  GPS speed will be available whether the paddle wheel is connected or not.

[fmaster360]

I've read the in hull transducers aren't a good picking up fish... Any validity to that?

[seabob4]

Carl,
If you want, you can read almost anything about everything!  And they'll all be right!!

[fmaster360]

Hahah! Good point.

[Circle Hooked]

Carl in my little Panga I have a regular transom mount ducer mounted in the hull with clear silicon, I put a bunch down and mashed the ducer into it, thats it and it picks up fish great.

[wingtime]

Carl your going to like the 541 combo unit.  Who had the good online price?

Keep in mind as you gain speed the sonar signal will degrade and the depth may become inaccurate.  If you are getting the dual frequency transducer the 200 khz is for higher resolution in shallower depth.  The 50 khz is a lower resolution for greater depth.   I doubt your going to be in water deep enough around her for that to matter much.

[Circle Hooked]

Carl your going to like the 541 combo unit.

I agree I bought the 541 chartplotter only with the blue chart built in (that's a must have)  back in Feb and I love it, I already have the a Garmin 400 fish finder so I didn't need the combo.

[John Jones]

Keep in mind as you gain speed the sonar signal will degrade and the depth may become inaccurate.

I will have to disagree.  It's all about installation no matter where it's installed.  If the transducer is in clean water with no bubbles and angled properly it will read correctly.  If one doesn't read at speed then it's angled incorrectly or something is giving it bubbles.

[fmaster360]

I bought the stuff from Ultimate Passage. Cheapest place I could find. It'll be here Thursday, so I'm going to rip the old one out in the morning, Marine Tex the holes, and hopefully install the Garmin next Tuesday and take it out Wednesday or Thursday. Any of you guys ever go out during the week?

[Capt Matt]

This time of year I go out everyday  lol
Capt matt

[DOCREED]

I have a transom mounted transducer on my 250 CCP.  It works great.  Like anything else it must be installed properl;y to work properly.  When you install it,  Make sure the flat bottom of the transducer is level with the bottom.  If it protrudes below the hull it will cause turb. and the FF will lose the bottom when you start moving.

[Boston_FB]

One other related question for you all.  I installed a transom mounted transducer last season and it worked great.  However, at the end of a season on a mooring it was covered with barnacles.  What type of anti-fouling treatment should I apply this season to prevent those buggers from hitching a ride??

Thanks

[GoneFission]

One other related question for you all.  I installed a transom mounted transducer last season and it worked great.  However, at the end of a season on a mooring it was covered with barnacles.  What type of anti-fouling treatment should I apply this season to prevent those buggers from hitching a ride??
Thanks

You can paint the whole thing with the same paint you use on your hull.  Some folks don't like to paint the underside where the beam comes through, but I've never had a problem with that.  The old Coppercoat had a lot of metal in it and you would not want to use that, but most bottom paint today won't make a difference.  Paint the cable also to keep some of those strange aquatic animals from eating on it.  

[Boston_FB]

Cap,

Thanks so much for the advice.  I was reluctant to take that step without some guidance.

Smooth Sailing!

Adam

[John Jones]

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... 3&id=28012

"No solvents to worry about.
The water-based formula will not attack the transducer face like some solvent based bottom paints."