Hi folks,
I am going to add a gps plotter/depth sounder combo in the spring.
probably a raymarine a50d
http://www.raymarine.com/default.asp...on=2&page=1863

I am curious what people recommend for transducers.
i had a transom on my last boat and it lost signal regularly.
also developed leaks in the screw holes after a few years.

thru hull has to be easier to install and won't leak, costs more

how do they perform

I've had both, and I would say the thru hull is much much better. Very easy to install, and no maintenance. I find that they don't give you as many faulty readings as the rear mounted type.

Dont do either-!

Transom mounts blow, through hulls compromise your boat-

If you arent fishing, or dont need a bottom track at 500FT- but are looking to get a reading on a shallow area, just have it shoot through the bottom of the hull. It works fine no compromises. (none work at speed)

Just glass it in so there is no air under it and you'll be ok.

I just did that with My Furuno MFD-8 system

Uncle Dave

LaveyCraft 2750 Ilmor 710
LaveyCraft 20.8 sebring 406

All the goodies fewer holes.



"Uncle"

I'm curious why you would spend the money on the a50d? I don't have experience and am just thinking of looking, but you can get something like the Garmin GPSMAP 525s with transducer and pre-loaded maps/sat images for about $625?!

640X480 display, etc.... I could be missing something, but I don't see the difference in these other than an extra $1100 bucks!

Again, I hope to be educated here - I'm no expert, just a deal seeker!

I like the idea of glassing the sounder to the bottom inside.... no holes is a good thing!

If I was not clear in my first post... I agree w/ Uncle Dave....shoot it thru the hull. Those are the best. Holes in the boat only can lead to 1 thing!!!!!!!

thanx for the feedback guys, looks like inhull transducer is the way to go, no holes.
i was looking at the raymarine a50d as it was the first one i noticed that had a gps plotter and fishfinder in the same unit.
can do either/or or split screen. i need both where i use my boat, sometimes ocean and sometimes shallow lakes.

i will look at some other brands before making a purchase,
local boat show coming up!!!!

I have used Shoot thru the hull transducers for years without problem. NOTE the bottom has to be solid fiberglas... No cored bottoms.

The transducer is susceptible to water turbulence caused by props and other appendages. So,put the transducer in a plastic bag filled with water, and Lay it on the bottom of the hull. When you find a place on the hull that gives you good consistent readings epoxy the transducer in place. Remember when you are WOT not much of the stern is in the water so MAKE SURE you get good consistent readings at speed! The transducer needs to be as vertical as possible. Otherwise you have side scanning sonar so be careful. I have seen depictions of thru hull transducers mounted on a sort of fairing to get them vertical but I don't think that method would work very well shooting though the extra mass. I have also seen advertisements for shoot thru transducers mounted in an oil filled fairing. That sounds like it would work if it doesn't leak. I have always just accepted the small inaccuracy generated by mounting at an angle. I calculate that with a 22 deg deadrise and the transducer mounted 1 foot from the keel, in 3 feet of water you would be indicating 3 1/2 feet (actually 43 3/4"). Close enough for government work.

RJR's advice is supplying sound true advice.

However - You can still do it with a cored bottom, but you must carve out the core in the area where the ducer will sit.

If you do this you must insure that area retains water integrity or obviously over time the core could rot as water will gravitate to the depression youve ground into your boat.

Its' an much easier if you are starting from scratch for sure, but still quite do-able.

Good luck.

Uncle Dave.

Here's how I did it....

See the little depression of carved out balsa.....

Uncle Dave