New Finder Question - FCV620 and transducer

[ozscott]

Hi all,

I have come to the point where I am going to render my Garmin 178C combo (that works pretty well actualyl as a finder when poperly set up) just a GPS and want to go for a dedicated digital sounder. I have read a lot of helpful stuff on here and I think I would be hard pressed to go past the Furuno 620. Thanks to Honda to alerting me to the special at Capalaba on them - $1250 odd includnig bracket mount transom transducer 600w. Fishing the bay and a little offshore this should be nice (I dont fish super deep stuff).

When I bought my Vagabond someone had set up a place to mount a transducer inside the hull. Essentially in the bilge they had rubbed back the floor flowcoat to smooth glass - at a guess the hull would be 3/4 inch thick solid fiberglass at that point and angled at 21 degrees. They glassed in place a pvc pipe that would be 100mm accross with a top cone on it and room for the transucer cable to run out the side - it had an old round shape transducer inside and I took it out - I know whether they had oil/water or something in it and it wanst beded down - and was not connected to any head unit.

I have had a pretty good run with transom mount transducer for the Garmin at speed - its an Amair that Garmin use. My question is whether I would be better off using a transducer that would suit that inside floor type set up or just go the transom mount. My gut feeling is the trasnsom mount - does not have to shoot through that much glass (and you never know if that glass has a bubble or two in it to upset the apple cart...).

Also an alternative digital sounder for under $2k with transducer advice would be appreciated. I have seent the Raymarine ones in action and they look nice but my research seems to show that the Furono is better again at showing what is actually there even if the definition is not quite as flash as the small screen Raymarine's and that the Furuno with its knobs is dead easy to adjust on the fly.

Cheers and thanks

[Pazz01]

We upgraded to a 620 at Christmas for the 635L. Pretty happy with it at this stage although the weather has been terrible and have only used it 3-4 times. So we have not had a lot of time to play with it etc.

We have a thru hull transducer as we drilled a hole thru the bottom of the boat for the old transducer and mounted it with sigaflex. So the new one is in the same place. We get a pretty good reading at our cruising speed, but could be better. We have found so far that the weather conditions are affecting it. If it's calm its pretty good, light wind, it improves, then rough it is quite poor. So we need to adjust ours a little.

I think the 620 comes standard with a transom tranny, so it's not an additional cost. We had to pay an extra $80-100 I think for the thru hull. So go with the transom mount.

All in all, i think once you get use to using it will be a good one. Just takes time.

I couldn't recommend anything else.

Pazz

[MajesticMarine]

I am holding of recomending Raymarine at the moment. There has been a bit of turmoil within the company lately. Think Navman Northstar.

Have always been a massive fan of the Furuno brand.

Let me know if you would like me to source a unit for you at a great price.

[ozscott]

Thanks people. I am still in 2 minds a little as to whether to consider the Lowrance HDS5x - its a dedicated digital finder and use a wide angle 83 degree transucer for bay work - artifical reefs, coffee rock etc. I have been told by a dealer who sells both that the Lowrance has better shallow water performance irrespective of which ducer I use with it than the Furuno but over 50-60 metres the Furuno is best.....so if I were to fish mostly in the Bay then....??

Cheers

[bluefin59]

I fish the bay mostly and a little ofshore and have found the furuno a fantastic reliable sounder , it does have a little trouble under 5 ft but I just back the gain of a little problem solved. It has proven it's worth time and again without aproblem..... Matt

[honda900]

Ozscott,

try this for an in hull, to go with the furuno.

http://www.blueheronmarine.com/Furun...r-P79-10F-6566

or use the external 50/200 that comes with the furuno.


regards
Honda.

[ozscott]

Thanks Bluefin and Honda.\
\
Honda I really like the look of that, but I am worried about any bubbles or such in the glass that I cannot be aware of. I suppose you try it and if there is a constant 'fish' that takes up most of the screen that is the answer...
\
Bluefin is yours the transom mount?

Honda - is there much difference between a well set up transom mount and the in hull ducer?

Cheers

[GAD]

Hi Ozscott,
Got a raymarine c70 the 620 side x side and the 620 is the sh-t , hands down better sounder , C70 is just for nav now , which is sad as it is not a bad sounder but as I said the 620 is a better sounder .

Greg

[Cheech]

I have a 620 with a shoot through hull airmar. Very happy with it and hods at speed. If you are worried about bubbles, then move it a few inches if you do have problems. I connected mine to the hull using sicaflex so I could move it (which I had to do once). GAD, that is the first time I have ever heard anyone can the 620.

[ozscott]

thanks Cheech. I felt old reading GAD's post...but the hang of it and he is saying that the 620 sh1ts OVER the raymarine and that the ray is now only used for gps...like my garmin will be... love it!

[Cheech]

Got it. I missed the 'the'. I thought he was saying it was sh-t.

[dodgyone]

I am holding of recomending Raymarine at the moment. There has been a bit of turmoil within the company lately. Think Navman Northstar.

Have always been a massive fan of the Furuno brand.

Let me know if you would like me to source a unit for you at a great price.

I knew Raymarine was about to be taken over and heard that flir had bought them. Would think a company that manufactors night vision and heat sensing equipment should handle marine electronics ok.

[dodgyone]

Just relieved navico didn't have a chance to buy them to run into the ground

[buck66]

ozscott,
Just purchased and fitted a FCV620 and 520IHD(Airmar P79) in hull tranducer from Blue Heron Marine from the states for $960AUD plus postage. Fitted it in a 23 dead rise solid glass boat. Hooked the FCV620 NMEA 0183 up to a Raymarine A50 Plotter and can now use the FCV 620 to store and mark waypoints or to show GPS info. Excellent!

[honda900]

Thanks Bluefin and Honda.\
\
Honda I really like the look of that, but I am worried about any bubbles or such in the glass that I cannot be aware of. I suppose you try it and if there is a constant 'fish' that takes up most of the screen that is the answer...
\
Bluefin is yours the transom mount?

Honda - is there much difference between a well set up transom mount and the in hull ducer?

Cheers

OzScott,

I have a p79 in hull and a transom mount, (neither attached to a furuno), the in hull p79 is working better than the transom mount, I want to qualify this statement by saying on my hull, it may not suit all hulls but is working for me in most situations.

Regards
HOnda.