263 Chase Through Hull Transducer

[SWFla Vic Grady]

New to me 99 263 Chase. Looking to replace the bottom machine. Which transducer should I get? There is currently an old Raymarine unit with an unknown through hull transfer.

 

[Hookup1]

Garmin Echomap series is a good place to start. They have bundles with transducers.

You could probably cut end of transducer and re-pin if all you want is a basic transducer. Usually have a tag somewhere with model number. Or your old unit may be able to tell you. Probably a 50/200khz which is ok .

If you are going to run the wire for a new transducer consider replacing transducer with CHIRP.

 

[SWFla Vic Grady]

Garmin Echomap series is a good place to start. They have bundles with transducers.

You could probably cut end of transducer and re-pin if all you want is a basic transducer. Usually have a tag somewhere with model number. Or your old unit may be able to tell you. Probably a 50/200khz which is ok .

If you are going to run the wire for a new transducer consider replacing transducer with CHIRP.

I am thinking I will replace the transducer. All my previous boats had transom mounted transducers. Looking at the through hull units there is a huge variance in cost. Primarily bottom fishing the Gulf of Mexico what are the most important factors when choosing a transducer?

 

[seasick]

I am thinking I will replace the transducer. All my previous boats had transom mounted transducers. Looking at the through hull units there is a huge variance in cost. Primarily bottom fishing the Gulf of Mexico what are the most important factors when choosing a transducer?

The factors vary depending on the application. For example, bottom fishing in 50 feet of water is a lot different than 350 feet In general you get what you pay for but you can also pay a lot more than you need to spend.

Chirp, sidescan and similar capabilities can be vey helpful but your MFD has to support those features. You may need higher power for your fishing but your head unit has to handle the power too.
But as mentioned, cost is a big factor, not just for the parts but also for the install.
There is no simple answer for what is best plan.
On another topic, I usually don't disagree with Hookup but... I don't recommend ever cutting and re connecting a newer model transducer cable

 

[Hookup1]

On another topic, I usually don't disagree with Hookup but... I don't recommend ever cutting and re connecting a newer model transducer cable

I'll even disagree with myself on that one! If a really basic sounder is all you are looking for and you can ID the old transducer as being a decent one then I might reuse it. (cut connector off and adapt it). Garmin sells an adaptor that I had to use on my M260 transducer and my B744. But it gets tricky sometimes between different manufactures like Garmin, Furuno and possibly RayMarine version of Airmar transducers. I did a full Garmin system upgrade last year and still use the old B744 triducer. Added a GT51M-TH too!

Adapter (8-pin Female to Wire Block) | Garmin

www.garmin.com

I don't like transom mount transducers. I don't want any more holes in my transom than necessary. I prefer the thru hulls and they work fine. The side scan transducers can be problematic - need two transducers or keel mount - so the hull doesn't block one side scan.

I know the Gulf is a shallow water fishery. So you really don't need a high power deep water sounder like you might need canyon fishing or tile fishing. Newer Garmin chart plotter models have sounder module built in. The Garmin units with 500 to 1000 watt are fine. Some offer with transducer bundled. Look at this one or buy wo/transducer and get a thru hull.

ECHOMAP™ UHD 94sv Chartplotter/Fishfinder Combo with GT54 Transducer and US Coastal G3 Charts | West Marine

Check out our ECHOMAP™ UHD 94sv Chartplotter/Fishfinder Combo with GT54 Transducer and US Coastal G3 Charts and more from West Marine!

www.westmarine.com

What is your dollar budget? How do you plan to mount the unit? How large a screen? What kind of fishing do you do? How does your present sounder help your fishing? Are you interested in side-scan? Where is present transducer mounted? Is there a model # tag on tor do you know what it is? Knowing your use case helps others to guide you.

 

[SkunkBoat]

You are not asking enough questions or giving enough info to properly respond.
"bottom machine". is that a black box sonar or is it also your chartplotter and GPS?

A picture of the thru hull would help. It is probably an older Airmar bronze thruhull like a B45 or a B744. You can look at them on the Airmar site and see the dimensions to figure out what you have. IMO, start fresh. Transducers lose sensitivity over time and that one is 23 years old. It is probably a 50/200 kHz traditional CW 600w transducer. I doubt you have a 1000w or 2000w Airmar. They are very big.https://www.airmar.com/productinfo.html?category=MT&name=Marine Transducers

What electronics are currently onboard? MDFs/sonar box/radar. Brand. Age. screen size. do they work? do you like them?
Are you thinking of replacing them. Does replacing the "bottom machine" mean replacing the chartplotter/MFD? Are you getting radar? That matters when you commit to an MFD and a brand.

If you are relpacing a Multifunction display sonar/chartplotter combo, all of your choices now have 1000w CHIRP sonar and many have sidescan/sidevu. They can run an old CW transducer but why not get one that lets you use what you paid good money for? IMO, sidescan is a great thing to have for bottom fishing (wrecks/reefs). I have it now would not be without it.