Transducers
A good transducer is the heart and soul of your fishfinder! Incorporating some of the latest transducer technology, such as alternating or spectrum scanning transmitters or the use of 1000-watt in-hull or transom mount units, will allow incredible depth finder performance.
There are 4 main transducer models available, defined by how they are mounted on your vessel: Thru-Hull, Shoot-thru-hull (most often used for fiberglass hulls), transom-mount (best suited to trailerable size vessels) and portable transducers. The best transducer for you will depend a lot on your budget, boat type, shape and hull material and the fishing conditions it will be used in. Ideally a transducer needs to 'look' directly down and be mounted so that clean, turbulence-free water passes over its face.
Which is the Best Transducer for My Boat?
Hull Material Considerations:
Hull Material | Recommended Transducer Type |
Aluminium Hull (Tinny) | Transom Mount or Plastic Thru Hull |
Wooden Hull | Transom Mount or Bronze Thru Hull |
Fiberglass Hull | Transom Mount, Thru Hull (Bronze or plastic), Shoot Thru Hull/In-Hull |
Transducer Do's and Dont's:
- Plastic housings are recommended for fibreglass or metal hulls only. Never mount a plastic thru-hull housing in a wooden hull since swelling of the wood may overstress the plastic causing it to fracture.
- Bronze housings are recommended for fibreglass or wood hulls only. Never mount a bronze housing in a metal hull as electrolysis will occur.
- Never install a thru-hull transducer & leave the boat in the water unchecked for several days.
- Never use solvents on the transducer's face or the plastic housing.
- Always site the transducer so that external noise is minimised. Possible sources include air bubbles, propellers, generators, other echosounders.
- Transducer surfaces that can be painted must use a water based antifouling.
With the range of transducers available, selection can appear confusing and with the next generation of Lowrance Transducers and Airmar Broadband/CHIRP transducers arriving in-store – the definition will astound you! So speak with the marine electronics
Lowrance HST-DFSBL 50/200KHz T/M Deep Water Transducer
RRP: $359.99
NOW: $332.00
Simrad xSonic SS60 Stainless Steel 50/200kHz Thru Hull Transducer - 20°
RRP: $569.00
NOW: $533.00
Lowrance HST-WSBL 83/200KHz T/M Shallow Water Transducer
RRP: $246.99
NOW: $237.00
Simrad Lowrance TM165H-W Wide Beam 600W T/M xSonic Transducer
RRP: $886.99
NOW: $790.00
Lowrance/Simrad Active Imaging 3-in-1 Transducer
RRP: $387.99
NOW: $339.00
StructureScan 3D
RRP: $1,550.99
NOW: $1,329.00
Lowrance/Simrad TM260 1kw T/M Xsonic Transducer - inc. 10m cable, bracket & 9pin plug
RRP: $1,629.00
NOW: $1,525.00
Lowrance/Simrad Airmar SS175H-W CHIRP Transducer
From: RRP $2,218.99
$1,999.00
Lowrance/Simrad TM275LH-W CHIRP Transducer
RRP: $2,769.00
NOW: $2,493.00