Marco Flamingo
Guru
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2020
- Messages
- 1,177
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- CHiTON
- Vessel Make
- Tung Hwa Clipper 30
My thru-hull transducer is dead. It is an older Airmar bronze with a fairing and is connected to a Garmin GPSmap. That connection requires a Garmin specific interface. Speed through water and temperature had never worked and the depth was only reliable under 35', spotty up to 85' unless going slow, with an occasional deeper reading. My backup, an ancient DataMarine depth sounder, gives consistent readings up to 900', but doesn't interface with the Garmin MFD.
Airmar apparently doesn't make a new model thru-hull that fits our existing fairing. Two boatyards said that, if installing a similar model, it is very likely that the old fairing will have to be ground off and a complete new unit fit. That would require fabricating a new fairing block. $1,200 for the new similar transducer and $1,200 for haul, labor, possible 3 days in the yard.
A well reviewed Garmin/Airmar in-hull transducer is $170. It doesn't have a speed paddlewheel (which we don't need) or a temperature sensor (which we don't need) or any fancy fish-finding capability (which we don't need). I read that a transducer with a fairing may provide better readings on larger vessels (>35') at higher speeds, again something that I don't think we need.
Installation of the in-hull looks to be a DIY afternoon. The in-hull transducer can be tested pre-installation by dropping it into a bag of water against the proposed hull position. Seems fool proof.
Is there something that I'm missing by not spending the time, hassle, and extra $2,000?
Airmar apparently doesn't make a new model thru-hull that fits our existing fairing. Two boatyards said that, if installing a similar model, it is very likely that the old fairing will have to be ground off and a complete new unit fit. That would require fabricating a new fairing block. $1,200 for the new similar transducer and $1,200 for haul, labor, possible 3 days in the yard.
A well reviewed Garmin/Airmar in-hull transducer is $170. It doesn't have a speed paddlewheel (which we don't need) or a temperature sensor (which we don't need) or any fancy fish-finding capability (which we don't need). I read that a transducer with a fairing may provide better readings on larger vessels (>35') at higher speeds, again something that I don't think we need.
Installation of the in-hull looks to be a DIY afternoon. The in-hull transducer can be tested pre-installation by dropping it into a bag of water against the proposed hull position. Seems fool proof.
Is there something that I'm missing by not spending the time, hassle, and extra $2,000?