Transducer Location

[jwag956]

My old datamarine dart finally bit the dust and am looking to replace it. I have a NMEA2000 Garmin and an old hawkeye depthsounder in addition - but I sort of like the idea of speed-through-water and an independent, analog instrument. Looking at the DST-800 and Raymarine I50. The I50 will transmit to my N2K network - so I get the best of both worlds.

Question - the DST-800 allows for up to a 22degree deadrise. My current thru-hulls are all mounted in the port or starboard 'bay' (in front of the engines) - where my measuring show a deadrise of 20 and up to 30 degrees (one of the depth sounders was mounted with a faring block).

Have people mounted these sensors in what I would call the bilge (under the wood cat walk?) Pictures?

Oh - feel free to comment on whether it's even worth the triple redundant depth or the value of speed-through-water

 

[High Wire]

You could add an Airmar shoot through the hull transducer (P79) that can be NMEA 2k or 0183 and will read out on a modern multi function display. I don’t see any value in through the water speed.

 

[Figment]

FWIW an electronics installer recently offhand-commented that a shoot through hull transducer wouldn't shoot through my 1980 hull.... he's tried and failed on other GB of similar vintage. (maybe 1990 is different)


I'm also considering changing over to a triducer, partially because some of the crew like knowing the water temperature, partially because these modern very comprehensive instrumentation/nav systems seem to benefit from getting as many input sources as possible, but mostly because I tend to cruise in some heavy currents and over the years I've found it very useful to be able to compare speed through water with SOG to determine if I should be hiding behind that big rock up ahead or if I should find deep water.


I plan to do a fairing block, not messing with the keel.

 

[jwag956]

Thanks - wasn't actually considering a 'shoot thru the hull'. The triducer I am looking at - associated with the Raymarine I50 is the DST-800 - which at least for the plastic version strongly advises against a faring block due to exposure under the hull - what models of triducer have you been looking at?

 

[Endeavor GB 32]

We have a 1992 32 GB, had a second depth unit installed with a inside-the-hull transducer, and it works great. I am not sure of the model, the sounder head is a Furuno and I think that it's an Airmar transducer. Looks like the P79 from the Airmar website. It is mounted just to starboard of the rear of the engine. FWIW we have had a number of boats with speed through the water paddle wheels (including our current boat) and I would have traded any of those units for a single rum drink. Good luck!
Regards,
Scott