Replacing transducer?

[Nosnibor]

Hello, long time no post. I was thinking about getting one of those gramin combo units that come with a transducer. The stock one is VERY inaccurate. I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with swapping them out? I have heard that the jet stream can mess with the transducer if placed on the back but if I just want a general accurate depth reading does it even matter where it's placed? Thanks for any info.

 

[JPass]

What does the manual for the new unit recommend? Our 2012 210 SE has a depth finder and it is quite accurate.

When we installed a new depth finder in our previous boat the directions said to place it as close to the center line of the boat as possible and forward of the running gear to avoid any interference.

I'd say anywhere in front of the intake grate should be enough. You should be able to test this by placing the transducer in a ziplock bag of water and placing it in various places of the hull to see how she reads. Once you're satisfied with the readings, you mark the spot and mount the transducer in a bed of epoxy or something similar.

If you're just going to hang a unit off the transom, it should be pretty straight forward. Test it first, then mount.

 

[Nosnibor]

What does the manual for the new unit recommend? Our 2012 210 SE has a depth finder and it is quite accurate.

When we installed a new depth finder in our previous boat the directions said to place it as close to the center line of the boat as possible and forward of the running gear to avoid any interference.

I'd say anywhere in front of the intake grate should be enough. You should be able to test this by placing the transducer in a ziplock bag of water and placing it in various places of the hull to see how she reads. Once you're satisfied with the readings, you mark the spot and mount the transducer in a bed of epoxy or something similar.

If you're just going to hang a unit off the transom, it should be pretty straight forward. Test it first, then mount.

Thanks for the reply. I honestly have no idea what I'm going to be doing for this thing. I'm pretty noob to those types of things. I may end up just having someone else install it. I just wanted to make sure it would even work. My 2012 Challengers depth finder is way off...and slightly annoying. It can say 2 feet and I jump in and the water is nearly over my head. It also constantly beeps while I'm driving saying 0 feet.

 

[JPass]

Were you planning on replacing the stock unit with a new stock transducer or are you going with an entire new stand alone unit?

 

[JPass]

Have you checked to see if the current transducer is seated properly? If it is coming loose from the hull or any of the bedding disbonded, then you may be able to remove it, clean up the unit and the hull, and remount it.

 

[Nosnibor]

Were you planning on replacing the stock unit with a new stock transducer or are you going with an entire new stand alone unit?

I think a new unit. The Garmin combo I'm looking at comes with a transducer. So mainly I was wondering if simply replacing it would would. I don't even really know what they look like.

 

[JPass]

So mainly I was wondering if simply replacing it would would.

Are you saying you're thinking of just swapping the OEM transducer with the new Garmin transducer? I have no idea if the Garmin would communicate with the stock Seadoo brain.

If you're going to simply install the new transducer and head unit, then it should be pretty straight forward. Test it first, then mount it permanently once you've confirmed it's working properly. You could always remove the OEM transducer and mount the Garmin in it's place and then wire up the rest of the Garmin unit up to the dash.

 

[Premix]

You could always remove the OEM transducer and mount the Garmin in it's place and then wire up the rest of the Garmin unit up to the dash.

Garmin sells, what looks to be, the same in-hull transducer, but you'd have to splice the Sea-Doo connector onto it.

I did a little research and guys carefully silicone transom-mount transducers inside the hull without having to buy the actual in-hull transducer. I will likely be doing this with a Garmin 43dv in the Spring.

 

[rcguy]

If you place the transducer inside the hull you will lose the water temperature feature of the Garmin or Lowrance and I believe the accuracy of the other unit functions.

 

[JPass]

Just for clarification, when I said to swap the transducer and wire it up to the dash, I meant wiring it up to the new Garmin unit mounted somewhere up on or near the dash, not splicing it into the stock speedo / display.

 

[Nosnibor]

Just for clarification, when I said to swap the transducer and wire it up to the dash, I meant wiring it up to the new Garmin unit mounted somewhere up on or near the dash, not splicing it into the stock speedo / display.

Right, What I was thinking about doing is completely disconnecting what I have and replacing it with something like Premix said. I want the unit and the new transducer. I guess I just don't know what they even look like and if it will be fine with our boat. The people at west marine were telling me they have issues with jet boats.

 

[Premix]

I think it would be difficult to choose a mounting location for transom mounting. In-hull makes sense, but the location is less than ideal.