330 Express - New Transducer

[mg1826]

I currently have an Airmar in hull transducer in my 330 Express and I want to install a Garmin B175 1kw thru hull. For those that have done it, what degree B175 did you use?

 

[wspitler]

Airmar makes Garmin transducers. I believe mine is 12 degrees, but it depends on where in the hole your transducer is located. If your previous transducer is visible it will tell you on the top how many degrees it is. Airmar has a cross reference chart that shows you the different part numbers for identical transducers, all of which are manufactured by Airmar. It is not too hard to measure the dead rise of your hull where your transducer is located. My 330 transducer is an Airmar/Garmin located just forward of the generator and is a 12° angle. If your transducer is located further forward you may have a higher angled transducer. I seem to remember the next higher angle is 20°. Those transducers are designed to accommodate a range of angles not just one.

 

[SkunkBoat]

Is the existing Airmar an IN hull or Thru Hull? Do you year 330 have "transducer flats", flat areas for mounting bronze thru hulls without needing a fairing block?

Your hull is 19.5 degree at the transom. Higher as you go forward. Edit: the newest 330 is 20 deg at the transom. I thought they were less. They might vary by year but not by much. They are all closer to 20 than 12.

If you have a flat and its wide enough, you can mount a 0 deg B175 there.
Otherwize, if you mount on the slope, you need a 20 degree B175.
The B175 is a single chanel CHIRP. It comes in Low, medium, high, or High&wide

If you have transducer flats, and your sonar is CHIRP, Dual channel, then IMO you should use a B275LHW

 

[mg1826]

Is the existing Airmar an IN hull or Thru Hull? Do you year 330 have "transducer flats", flat areas for mounting bronze thru hulls without needing a fairing block?

Your hull is 19.5 degree at the transom. Higher as you go forward. Edit: the newest 330 is 20 deg at the transom. I thought they were less. They might vary by year but not by much. They are all closer to 20 than 12.

If you have a flat and its wide enough, you can mount a 0 deg B175 there.
Otherwize, if you mount on the slope, you need a 20 degree B175.
The B175 is a single chanel CHIRP. It comes in Low, medium, high, or High&wide

If you have transducer flats, and your sonar is CHIRP, Dual channel, then IMO you should use a B275LHW

Thanks so much for the info. I have a 2007 330 Express that is still shrink wrapped. She currently has an IN hull transducer that has a massive amount of 4200 and caulking all around it. I may just leave it and look for a place to put a THRU hull.

 

[SkunkBoat]

Is the IN hull a big yellow tub? Which sonar(s) do you have?

 

[mg1826]

Yes it’s the one in the yellow box with the black top. I attached a few pics of it.

 

[mg1826]

And I’m currently running 2 Garmin 5212’s but would like to upgrade to Garmin 8612’s at some point.

 

[wspitler]

And I’m currently running 2 Garmin 5212’s but would like to upgrade to Garmin 8612’s at some point.

My 2007 330 does not have a transducer flat. Those 5212s do not have built-in sonar. You must have another box which is a sonar hub probably a GSD 22 or 24 for driving the transducer. Whether it is chirp or not depends on your sonar hub not your 5212s. Before you buy another transducer look into the heart of the system which is your sonar hub. make sure the transducer is compatible with the existing or a new sonar hub that you purchase. Assuming you keep your 5212s you will link them to the sonar with the Garmin net work. I recently replaced two 5212s with two Garmin 1243 XSV and drive the original 1K transducer and a new transom mount transducer with side scan (GT 56TM). The 1243 XSV’s have built-in sonar and do not require a separate sonar hub. I have one MFD driving each transducer and can view either on either screen. I am extremely happy with the results of both and the side scan is particularly detailed. Pic attached.

 

[SkunkBoat]

I'm pretty sure that 5212s did not have a built in sonar. You must have a GSD-22 or a GSD-24 somewhere.
They are old school dual channel 50/200khz "Tradional CW (Continuous Wave) sonars. They were capable of driving 2KW transducers. The GSD24 is much better than the 22.
You transducer is probably an M260, which was a pretty good 'ducer at the time. Are you having trouble with your sonar?

You CANNOT use the CHIRP properties of a B175 unless you get a new CHIRP sonar. Its a waste of money without a new sonar. And its only a single channel 'ducer.

You can get dual-channel CHIRP built-in in an 8612xsv. You could then replace the M260 with an M265LM https://www.airmar.com/productdescription.html?id=67
It would drop right into the tub you have. Boom..Done... No holes to drill. Much better transducer solution for you.
However, you would not get the new sidescan function with an M265 (or a B175 for that matter). You can add a transom mount GT51 thru GT56 or get a Thru Hull GT51.

 

[SkunkBoat]

Those 5212s do not have built-in sonar. You must have another box which is a sonar hub probably a GSD 22 or 24 for driving the transducer. Whether it is chirp or not depends on your sonar hub not your 5212s. Before you buy another transducer look into the heart of the system which is your sonar hub. make sure the transducer is compatible with the existing or a new sonar hub that you purchase. Assuming you keep your 5212s you will link them to the sonar with the Garmin net work. I recently replaced two 5 212s with two Garmin 1243 XSV and drive the original 1K transducer and a new transom mount transducer with side scan (GT 56TM). The 1243 XSV’s have built-in sonar and do not require a separate sonar hub. I have one MFD driving each transducer and can view either on either screen. I am extremely happy with the results of both and the side scan is particularly detailed. Pic attached.

damn, you were faster than me...

 

[wspitler]

With regard to angles, I purchased my boat 12 years ago with preinstalled electronics, dual 5212s and GSD 22 sonar. The transducer is a 12 degree, which, according to Airmar will accommodate up to 15°. The 20° transducer will accommodate 16 to 24 I believe. Seeing where you have your current transducer is essentially the same longitudinal place as mine near the seacock providing water to the generator and air conditioner. Mine works great and I don’t believe the dead rise is near 20° in that location. I seem to remember checking it when I was also considering upgrading my transducer. However I highly recommend the transom mount and surprisingly, the lower units make a little or no difference in sidescan.

 

[wspitler]

damn, you were faster than me...

Great minds! Sorry

 

[SkunkBoat]

evrything I know about Grady deadrise is that only the Coastal Explorers (16 Deg) are less than 19 deg at the transom.