Airmar tranducer question on express boat...

[pablor]

Hi

I have an Airmar R199 with my furuno navnet. I have two questions.

1. I bought the boat used. It is a grady 360 express with triple outboards. The transducer was installed midship very close to the centerline of the boat just about equidistant from the bow and stern. I seem to lose bottom quite often. Changing from 50 to 200 hz on the furuno and viceversa most times gets it back. I have a feeling that when the boat is on plane, the ducer is too far forward getting air, thus losing bottom. Should I move it back near the stern?

2. My network sounder is a furuno bff1. It goes up to 1kw. The transducer is rated to 2kw. What am I missing by not having a propely matched echosounder and ducer? is it just the ability to read bottom at depths > 1000 ft?

Thanks in advance

Pablo

[jazzrockskier]

Pablo Go the www.airmar.com and look up your tranducer. Their website has info on where and how to install the transducers

[Questsportfishing]

and people wanting to see the bottom at warp speed! That was a joke... at what speed are you losing bottom and if it is flat are you loseing it? also does it stick down out of the boat? you should configure in the trips also on weight in the back while running the attitude of your rig vs a rig with just twins will have a different ride.

[getreel]

Does the ducer have a high speed fairing around it?

[Graceland]

Sounds pretty far forward to me. I had a buddy that bought an Albie 305 and his was about halfway on the hull also. He always lost bottom at cruise. Moved the transducer back on the hull and he sees just fine now. I have a 25 Carolina and use a thru hull also. Mine is about 4 ft off the transom and I have no problem seeing bottom. The location you pick should ensure the transducer is in the water when running, and also does not have any fittings that will disrupt water flow past the transducer.

As far as matching the transducer to the head, more power on the transducer is always good. I have a 600L which is a 350 watt head hooked to a 1 KW thru hull, and it does an excellent job.

[sclancy]

careful....you move that big 'ol transducer back farther and you risk creating turbulence around the props of 1 or more of the 3 outboards hanging off the back...

[pablor]

sorry I should have specified. airmar R199 is in-hull. Airmar recommends to install in the flat section of the hull in the aft 1/3 of the boat...

[yachtjim]

sorry I should have specified. airmar R199 is in-hull. Airmar recommends to install in the flat section of the hull in the aft 1/3 of the boat...

Sounds like you answered your own Q. I would definitely move it back. Is it possible the place where it currently is is the only place it will fit? Thats a big ducer! If you are able to find a place in back to fit it then try this - fill up a plastic bag with water, put the ducer in it, then move it around your bilge until you find a spot that works well at all speeds.