I have a lowrance Color fishfinder that is supposed to read to 3000 ft matched with a 50/200 Hz skimmer transducer- transom mount. It does ok in the bay but barely marks bottom in 300 ft at the canyon. It has not marked bait or fish in 120 ft depthsat the fingers. I have sent it back to Lowrance twice and replaced the transducer with no improvement.
I'm looking for recommendations on a sonar/transducer combo with proven abilities in these offshore pursuits. My boat (Fountain 31) is on a roller trailer which limits the thru hull options somewhat but not entirely. I'm wondering if the 600 watt in hull transducers that Raymarine and garmin can use are good enough or do I really need to go to the 1 -2kW transducers thru the hull.
Furuno, Raymarine, Garmin Northstar all seem to have good systems.
What do you guys use? What do the charter guys like?
I really do appreciate the help here. Bob

Bob:

Can your Lowrance drive a 1Kw transducer, some can? What model do you have?

kamikaze

LCX16i color finder/ gps. I'm not sure what options there werebesides the skimmer transducer that I have and the glue-In -hull pod. there may have been a bronze thru hull option but the kW rating is unsure and i'm not sure how compatible it is with trailering. Bob

The B 260 1000W Deucer by Airmar is huge but works great.You could go Shoot through with a 2000w puck deucer also.

---What fish finder and transducer do you run on the big boat.?

i'm using the garmin 3210 with a reg transom mount 500w transducer - works fine trolling sitting or running wfo

Bob:

Checking the Lowrance website it doesn’t look like your unit will drive a 1KW transducer (More power output = greater depth readings). So although I have heard good thing about the Airmar transducer recommended earlier, I would not expect much improvement if it was added to your current system. Suggest you try the following before you swap the unit out though.

1. Verify your current transducer is 50 KHz transmit capable, and head unit is configured to transmit 50 KHz signal (lower freq = better depth penetration). In my experience, I would expect a least 400-600 feet depth reading with a 600 RMS, 50 KHz signal and it doesn’t sound like you’re getting that.

Or

2. Get a depth/fish finder that is capable of generating a 1kw signal with a matching transducer. (I know Lowrance has a 1KW skimmer transducer, so although I hull is more prevalent in 1Kw configurations, it is not the only option available.)

Best of Luck

Kamikaze