Transducer question for Furuno FCV600L

[Ed]

I recently bought a Furuno FCV600L and at the time I purchased it, I went with the in-hull puck transducer. Now, the local expert tells me that the in-hull pucks "SUCK" and that I should return it and get the transom mount transducer. He says they suck because the even the best boats have void in the layups (true to some extent, but I am sure I can find a 3inchby3inch spot in my bilge that is solid without any air pockets and is away from the intake for the bait well)which will cause interference and he also said air bubbles caused from the hull slicing through the waves will also cause interference.

I opted to get the in-hull puck for 2 reasons. First, none of my old transom mounted fishfinders never worked above 20mph or so and I like to at least have some sort of depth reading when I am buzzing around. The second reason why I opted for the puck for the Furuno unit, was that I also have a Garmin 188C combo GPS/color sounding unit that came with the transom mount transducer. I just installed the Garmin ducer on teh transom halfway between the engine and the chine. I tried to keep it far enough away from both the engine and the port trimtab. I figured I would keep the Garmin on 50kHz and keep the Furuno on 200kHZ and between the Garmin's transom mount ducer and the Furuno's in hull puck ducer I would always have both fish finding sensitivity and high-speed depth readings.

Does anyone have a Furuno in-hull puck in their boat? What are the pro's & con's of this unit?

By the way, my boat is a 1991 Mako 231. Solid fiberglass hull with a couple of lifting strakes on either side of the keel, trimtabs on teh transom and a 225 Suzuki EFI.

[SECF3114M73J]

First off,you'll get more turbulance at the transom than you will farther forward, as long as your bottom is smooth. Take a ride out to water about 50 ft. deep, move the transducer around the bilge until you find a spot where it works. You can do this by just plugging into your F/F and dropping the ducer into the bilge thru your access,that way if it doesn't work out you'll be able to return it.

[Ed]

SECF-

That's just what I thought....much more turbulence at the transom with engine, tabs, etc.

I will take your advice and try ducer unmounted in 50 feet of water and will mark best spot with grease pencil.

I will let you know how I make out.

Thanks-

Ed

[FELLOW-SHIP]

I have the 600L and used the brass through hull ducer with the speed and temp works great and I get readings going 35 MPH with no problem. If you want your 600L to do what it’s capabilities are go with the through hull ducer with the 50/200 khz cost is about $200. Most guys are intimated in putting a large hole in the bottom of their boats. But that’s the way to go to get your best results. I cut out a hole the size of the entire ducer (football shape) out of the center line of the bottom of the boat about 3 ‘ from the transom. I flush mounted the ducer and used fiberglass with epoxy to build up a frame on the inside of the hull to keep it in tack, solid, and dry I used 4200 to seat it. I don’t get any cavitations since it is flush with the hull and since it is on the center line it is reading directly down not on a 20 degree angle. What you need to do is go buy a double six pack of Budweiser drink a few and then start the job the buds will help in the fear factor of “CUTTING A BIG HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR BOAT”.
Fellow-Ship [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[jw]

Ed,
The hot new lick these days is a wet box in hull installation. Airmar, the company that makes everyones transducers got the buggs out it .
I have now experience with this install but a friend of mine install electronics for a living and say it work great eeven with the monster transducers on my big boat.
I think you would laminate a fiberglass box in the bilge area , then fill the box with mineral oil, then install the transducer.
I hope this points you in the right direction.
JW

[Reel Smoker]

If you play with it and find a good area to shoot thru it should work fine.Thru hull is always better but id rather have in hull puck to transom mount.I installed a puck (Garmin 188 screen still delaminates) but as far as reading the bottom its great.Like you I use my Furuno thru hull to look for fish and the Garmin while im runnin. Airmar makes a puck for Garmin dont know if they have for Furuno that the puck is screwed down in a sealed plastic housing filled with mineral oil that you can calibrate according to the angle of you hull.I think their website is AIRMAR .COM,you might want to check it out. RS.

[Ed]

Thanks gents-

I ran the boat today with the Garmin 188c transom mounted ducer in place and it sucked. I followed all of the directions to the T except I mounted it on the port side because that is where previous owner drilled hole in transom to pass transducer cable through. Garmin recommends starboard side because of the way prop spins.

Anyway, to make a long story short. I am going to remove Garmin transom ducer, and reinstall in bilge.

I did a few test spots today in bilge for Furuno 600 in-hull puck and it seemed to work pretty good. I wanted to re-read directions etc. before I mount it permanently.

I'll keep you posted.

Ed

[SECF3114M73J]

ED, put down a big spooge of 4200 and seat the ducer down firmly, that's all there is too it.

[other tom]

Ed, Fellowship has the idea. I don't know if I showed it to you on the Whitewater, but thats essentially what I did too. With the brass football 'ducer, I get great depth when swordfishing in 1500', and can read at speed (until above 50 when the transom is not really in the water anyways). Plus , less turbulence sent down stream to the props, less caviatation, less drag and you can't punch it back through the hull when trailering. Cut the football shaped hole, and glass it in flush.

[TUGBOAT]

Ed Please keep Me in tune with this setup !!
I'm putting a Garmin depth transom mount,Furuno PUCK in the bilge.I have NO hole yet I only want to do this once also !I was told to us clear silicone to mount in the bilge not white ??
Scream'n Reels' [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]