Raymarine Transducers VS Other Brands

[GMac7]

Hi All,

Hoping I could get some feedback on the various transducers available within the market. I'm refitting the electronics on my boat with new Raymarine gear. I've decided on the C127 with built in sonar (rated to 600W)

Here's my dilemma: Raymarine offers a few different plug and play 600W transducers compatible with the deadrise of my boat. I plan to do most of my fishing in and around Cape Cod Bay and the islands for bass/blues/cod/etc, with a few scattered BFT trips here and there. Do I need to upgrade to a separate unit and pair it with a 1KW transducer, or is 600W enough?

Also, how are Raymarine's transducers compared to other brands such as Airmar? I believe with an adapter cord, I can connect any transducer to the machine.

Thanks in advance!

[DonV]

I'm not positive, however I think Airmar makes their transducers, as well as most of the other sounders'. I have a B164 Airmar which has the Raymarine connectors. The B164 also comes with the other manufactures connectors Garmin, etc. I'm very happy with the 1000w DSM paired with the B164. To let you know I have the old technology (C120), not the new CHIRP. The new stuff, even as nice as it is, is out of my price range. Way out.....

[flyingfrizzle]

Im still learning on the electronics myself but many use Airmar with different brand units. The 1000w b160 works well on the older units and I have read lots of positives about them. The big new thing that everyone is talking about is the new chirp units, if you are upgrading now the time to get the latest and greatest. The Airmar b265 is a chirp capable transducer but cost around $1800. Lots of good reading about them on "that other site". Some have switched back and some love their new chirp units but from what I have read the chirp units will do everything the older units will and then some. You just got to switch settings back and forth.

[DonV]

Hey Frizz, don't forget to add in the cost of the CHIRP capable MFD at a smooth $5,000+

That's a major ouch!!

[GMac7]

Thanks guys. I'm with Don. The CHIRP finders seem pretty sweet, but they're out of my price range as the package price increases quickly when adding CHIRP technology. I'm really struggling with the power needed for the transducer, as deeper water requires more power for accurate readings. I'm just not sure if its needed for the fishing I do on a regular basis.

Either of you have any firsthand experience with the 600KW vs 1KW?

[CHANCE1234]

No need for the 1KW if fishing in around or near cape cod. That's all I have ever fished on the cape and that's from Barnstable flats out to the regal sword and BB tuna fishing in over 400 feet of water.

[GMac7]

Perfect. Thanks Chance. I was already leaning that way, but this helps solidify my thinking. All brands have similar performance?

[Caymanboy]

Most all transducers for most all Electronics brands are made by Airmar.
Only difference being the plug for brand specific.

[Fr. Frank]

To cut through the fog of ignorance....

• All oem Raymarine, B&G, Lowrance, and Simrad transducers are made by Airmar.
• 80% plus of Garmin, Humminbird, and Furuno oem transducers are also made by Airmar.
• Of American-made fishfinders, only Humminbird and Furuno make some of their their own transducers, and then only for some smaller or commercial sonar units.
• Garmin, Si-tex and Furuno all also buy a small number of transducers from Nantong Saiyang Electronics of Jiangsu, China.
• Furuno also sources commercial 'ducers from Kongsberg Maritime of Kongsberg, Norway
• Saiyang and Kongsberg transducers can be purchased for most of the above companies' machines, but you may have to get the appropriate connector and connect the pin-outs yourself

Also, a MFD with CHiRP technology is much less expensive than you think.
A Raymarine a68 5" MFD with touchscreen, Wi-fi, and including a CHiRP capable CT100 transom-mount transducer is under $1090 complete from West Marine. Add in the Navionics Gold 2D chart for $190, and you're at $1280 plus tax on the whole bundle, and it's pretty sweet.

[GMac7]

Thanks for the feedback. Good to know.

Is CHIRP so impressive it's seriously worth the extra dough? I haven't gone fishing on a boat equipped with CHIRP downvision.