Pocket/ThruHull Transducer Mount

J

jason808

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New guy here.
I am almost the proud new owner of a 2020 Adventure 208. Hopefully paperwork should go through next week:)
I like to troll for ono, mahimahi, and ahi. I have limited extra money to outfit the boat, and am going to focus on an autopilot and good sonar.
I was looking at furuno dff3d and it requires either a pocket mount transducer or one with a high speed fairing.

Has anyone tried to install either types on a boat this size? any recommendations on if it is feasible?
I figured the pocket transducer would be the best because it will be flush with the hull and not interfere with the trailer.
I was not sure if there is an access hatch to install one on the 208.

Thanks!
 

Doc Stressor

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You are going to need a good glass guy if you want to install a pocket mount transducer on a 208. They are designed for boats that already have a pocket installed in the hull that allows the transducer to be glassed in.

That leaves you with either a through-hull transducer installed at the keel or a transom mount option. If you want a CHIRP combo transducer rather than a fixed frequency, you need to go with the keel-mounted model. I wouldn't worry about trailering with a keel-mounted bronze or stainless transducer. They are stronger than the hull.

https://www.furunousa.com/-/media/s...als/public_manuals/dff3d_transducer_guide.pdf
 

SkunkBoat

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Mounting a fairing on the keel will probably affect flow to your single motor
They do have a Transom mount version that can be mouted between motor and trim tab

You say you are on a budget. That sonar is a black box. It only provides 165khz @ about 800W (from what I read quickly)
You'll also need an MFD that supports it.
You'll get more bang for your buck if you get the MFD with built-in 1kw 50/200khz sonar and then get a multi-element transducer that supports the 165khz 3d and 50/200khz -1 kw traditional
Their brouchure lists such a combo in Transom mount
There are guys on this site using the big transom mount like the TM265 with good results.

My advice is think about it and research it as a combination of MFD(s), chartplotter ,sonar, autopilot, radar
Make sure Furuno is going to be your choice for all. Really think out the transducer/frequencies/power rating(watts) because there are dizzying possibilities and you need the one that matches the sonar(s).

All of the brands are good but one of them is going to seem more intuitive to you...

Try to find a store that lets you play with them. I spent a few trips to west marine , changed my mind on what I thought I wanted. I went with Garmin 12" touch screen that I had not even been thinking of...
 

Doc Stressor

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All of the DFF3D transducers require the DFF3D black box to get Furuno's long-range 3D display. This is like an order of magnitude beyond what anybody else has available. It is a commercial-level product that is likely overkill for a 208 unless he plans to do a lot of deep-dropping or canyon fishing. He would need a compatible Furuno MFD like the TX series, the DFF3D box, and a compatible transducer (need to decide if CHIRP is necessary or add a second transducer). My friend just went all Furuno with his new World Cat and it cost him over $15,000 including radar.

Here is the thing: A basic fishfinder with side scan will accomplish 99% of most people's needs for a lot less money. Because they are focused on the high end, Furuno doesn't make a simple side scan unit. You need to go to the DFF3D to be able to see around your boat. It's an amazing unit, but it costs a ton.
 
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jason808

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Thanks! Definitely seems a fairing block will not work. So I either have to flush mount and make a pocket or go to a different system. I do not want to spend all that money and get a transom mount.

I had a garmin echomap UHD on my last small boat(12 feet), and a Lowrance 15 years ago on a center console.
The garmin is ok, but not super stoked about it. I was looking into Furuno because the main use, but they are not in a store I can go to over here.

The pockettransducer I am looking at is this one

It is approximately 12” L X 5” W X 3.5” H.
Does anyone know if there is room in the Adventure 208 for something this size to be flush mounted?

Here is furuno doing it on a much bogger boat.

If I can find a glasser to do it, the goal will be
12” tz3 with dff3d and autopilot.

Any one else find a transducer/head unit they really like for finding bait and figuring out whether they are trolling right over fish that are not biting:) I will be in 200-1000feet of water but only care about the top 200 feet.

Thanks again!