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General Spearfishing & Diving Discussion This is where you post to discuss general spearfishing topics that could apply to any region. |
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09-17-2006, 07:28 PM | #1 |
Adam Wilson
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 402
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Bottom Machine Question
Anybody using the Ray marine A 65 bottom finder w/ a transom mounted transducer? wondering if we will be able to read bottom @ speed with this setup before breaking off $1800. We run a 26' Mako with an older analog finder and can't read at speeds over 10 m.p.h. Would be nice to read at speeds of 30-40 m.p.h.
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09-17-2006, 07:30 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Melboring, Florida
Posts: 7,353
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
tranducer power and placement has a lot to do with how well you read at speed. what is the power rating of the transducer? Is it a thru hull, or transom mount?
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09-17-2006, 07:30 PM | #3 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Plant City
Age: 58
Posts: 8,539
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
Quote:
Your transducer is probably not mounted right. |
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09-17-2006, 08:28 PM | #4 |
No Bananas!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 4,750
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
Right, it is probably mounted in an incorrect position and picking up interference.
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09-17-2006, 08:29 PM | #5 |
Adam Wilson
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 402
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
Mounted according to the directions, with no interference in front of it i.e. high speed pick-ups or live well discharges, but the unit we are using now is over 10 years old. We are hoping the newer digital technology along with higher 500 watt power output will solve our problem. Is anybody else reading bottom @ higher speeds with a similar hull design and transom mount transducer?
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09-17-2006, 09:00 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Melboring, Florida
Posts: 7,353
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
If you really want to read at speed, I'd go with a bit higher power than 500W. It may work at 500W, I'm just saying as we have been using a 1kw transducer which gives ABSOLUTELY no problems. Also, a transom mount transducer allows you do make adjustments which can significantly help.
Also make absolutely sure you have a clean transition from the boat hull surface to the trandsducer. Even the slightest obstruction can cau se interference, trap bubbles, and ruin the performance of the ducer. I'm sure you'll find the new technology to perform better, as long you have mounted it correctly. |
09-17-2006, 09:13 PM | #7 |
Adam Wilson
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 402
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
We know the 1,000 watt works better. just trying to avoid the $1,000 price tag of the Ray Marine M260. And the one we are looking at is 600 watts, not 500 if that makes any difference. The salesperson claims the standard 600 watt " will read bottom at 80m.p.h." but you can imagine how much we trust that guys opinion If anybody else is readin @ speed, what boat? and what bottom finder/ transducer? thanks for the input already, gotta love spearboard, thanks guys.
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09-17-2006, 10:50 PM | #8 |
"Shizzit Stirrer"
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Odessa, FL
Age: 55
Posts: 883
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
Mine is a 600 watt and reads the pretty good at 53mph. However, it is a thru hull set up. (Hole in hull of boat, not glued to bottom of hull). If I remember my correctly, my last boat had a 600 watt transom mount and it read pretty good in the mid 40's. You do not need the 1kw if you can't afford it.
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09-18-2006, 07:34 AM | #9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 84
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
My mako has a 600wt transom mount . it is mounted properly, but doesn't read bottom after 25mph. Why do you want to it read at a much faster speed. I would think you would find alot of false readings. Imo
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09-18-2006, 01:32 PM | #10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Bartow/Crystal River
Age: 72
Posts: 36
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
CB...I've got an A-65 on my contender and love it. Tropica Marine recommended the transom mount, but I opted for a "shoot thru" the hull transducer. I've had great experience with it at all speeds. I have a "thru hull" furuno mounted on my big boat and for all practical purposes, I can't tell the difference. Most of the water I dive is less than 60'...cfh
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09-18-2006, 01:51 PM | #11 |
Adam Wilson
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 402
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
BD, what hull design is your boat & what size?
Mako 23, we usually cruise around 35 m.p.h. and on calm seas can run over 40. it's real nice to find new ledges while cruising to our next dive spot. We know it can be done very accurately. We were turned onto the ray marine a- 65 by our buddy. He runs a 31 cape horn and is constantly finding new ledges and hard bottom running 50 m.p.h between spots. I was on his boat watching the finder while he drove and we marked and dived on 2 new spots in one day. In my opinion if you aren't reading bottom while cruising you are really missing out on alot of new dive spots. I'm tired of wondering " what kind of great bottom are we driving right over and past?" But we definitely love our 77' mako, rides better than most newer 30 footers WS, My buddy with the cape horn also uses the "in-hull" model with much success and we are starting to think this may be the way to go. doesn't seem like much positive feedback on transom mounts at speed. What is the wattage on your in-hull model? |
09-18-2006, 02:37 PM | #12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Plant City
Age: 58
Posts: 8,539
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
I had a Furuno 600L with a transom mount transducer, and it will read at all speeds, even up to 50 MPH, which I rearely do, as my boat only has 12 degree deadrise.
Then I bought a Furuno 1850 WDF and used the same transducer and it does just as well as the 600L. I also have a Garmin 3210c with the blackbox sounder with a transom mounted transducer, it works just as well at speed as the Furuno, if I run them on different frequencies, I can run them both at the same time. For the wattage, the RMS watts will be what you want to look at. |
09-18-2006, 02:41 PM | #13 |
Memeber What?
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: In the Middle of Fl
Posts: 3,797
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
I dont know if this helps or not but my last boat had Raymarine Bottom machine, it used a TM ducer @ 600 watts. we usually ran 25 -35 and read the bottom with no troubles. Current boat is using a JFC FF50 bottom machine before teardown, it it also read at cruise speed with no troubles. BOTH ducers looked excaclty the same except for the connectors, an AIRMAR p23. When the boat is rebuilt it will be using the 1.2kW that I bought just before teardown & it is a through the hull not a shoot through the hull.
Take a look at some of these. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Rayma...mZ320027744795 |
09-18-2006, 08:02 PM | #14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 84
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
I Purchased the 1000Kw Thru-hull , but exchanged it for the transom 600w. I didn't have a good place to mount it with the gas tank in the way. I'm wondering if any one has had any luck w/shoot through-hull style the boat is a 78' and the glass is thick.
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09-18-2006, 09:40 PM | #15 | |
"Shizzit Stirrer"
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Odessa, FL
Age: 55
Posts: 883
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Re: Bottom Machine Question
Quote:
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