Tranny options for HDS: 83/200, 50/200, AirmarP66

[deckie]

Need to pick up a small combo sounder and thought i'd give the gen2 HDS a go.

Its for shallow estuary/close offshore to only 60m depth, water quality varies dramatically from filthy tidal to clear estuary...am looking for best bottom 2-3m definiton and seperation fish/bottom mainly in average 10-15m...plus i obviously want to hold bottom at moderate planing speed.

Anyone see an advatage in the airmar instead of the Lowrance 50/200 transom mount or not worth bothering for shallow work ?

Also wondering if the Lowr 50/200 transom mount is still a better option to the 83/200 for these depths...any improvement at speed ?

Can u get the smaller HDS without a tranny ?..then fit the airmar ?

Any help appreciated
thanx Steve

[wags on the water]

I've just upgraded from a Lowrance LCX 110c to a HDS 10 Gen2 running the same 50/200 tm transducer and to say I am impressed is an understatement. It still read the bottom well at 400m. No need for the 1kw 'ducer just yet.

[deckie]

Sounds good Wags, these are only small trannies tho and will be in 50-60ish metres tops. the supplied skimmer type transom trannys are only 250W ( both 80/200 and 50/200 i think ???) but the P66 airmars are a 600W 50/200.
Do u reckon the extra power will be any help with detail in shallow water ? Would've thought the 80/200 is the norm for shallow work but trying to work out if these HDS units would read even better with the 50/200 option or even an airmar transom mount in shallowish water.

[Dicktracey]

I replaced my 83/200 with a 50/200 huge difference with both clarity and resolution. Boat Is getting some mods ATM and we needed to fill a hole in hull that didn't need to be there do rather than fill it with glass we are using brass
Hang on buying a new HDS mate have had a heads up a new touch screen is on its way as Mike said the gen2 10 is great but I'm sure they will be cheaper real soon.
Dick
Ps:have a 83/200 & 50/200 available if you pick up a head unit
50/200 lowrance is 600w

[Moonlighter]

There is alway a lot of discussion about the standard Lowrance 83/200 and 50/200 transducers and then the benchmark P66 Airmar.

The consensus of the real experts on sites like THT (guys like Gil Travis "Semperfishing" on THT" who know about transducer design is that the standard ones are ok, the 83/200 for shallow water to about 60 m, but that the Airmar P66 is built better, is significantly more sensitive as it has better components, and outlasts the standard ones many times over. keeps on keeping on, for longer. Its regarded as the benchmark in 600W transducers.

Transducers do lose sensitivity over time, although many people are not aware of that.

You can get the P66's online from the Us for about $100 plus delivery.

I use one on my HDS 5 and it was noticeably Clearer and better def than the 50/200.

Cheers

ML

[wags on the water]

Sounds good Wags, these are only small trannies tho and will be in 50-60ish metres tops. the supplied skimmer type transom trannys are only 250W ( both 80/200 and 50/200 i think ???) but the P66 airmars are a 600W 50/200.
Do u reckon the extra power will be any help with detail in shallow water ? Would've thought the 80/200 is the norm for shallow work but trying to work out if these HDS units would read even better with the 50/200 option or even an airmar transom mount in shallowish water.

ML and DT have pretty much summed it up.

[deckie]

I replaced my 83/200 with a 50/200 huge difference with both clarity and resolution. Boat Is getting some mods ATM and we needed to fill a hole in hull that didn't need to be there do rather than fill it with glass we are using brass
Hang on buying a new HDS mate have had a heads up a new touch screen is on its way as Mike said the gen2 10 is great but I'm sure they will be cheaper real soon.
Dick
Ps:have a 83/200 & 50/200 available if you pick up a head unit
50/200 lowrance is 600w

Ahhh ok. For some reason i thought the stock 50/200 skimmer that u can get with them was a 250W same as the 83/200.
Sounds like even for the shallower stuff this one will do its still a bit of an advantage over the 83/200.

Dont really like the idea of touch screen anyway, no advantage to me in the slightest, especially coz this one is just a small unit needed. Got no doubt it'll push the prices of the current ones down coz people like latest tech...but i;d rather fiddle with knobs dials and buttons anyway. Tx for the heads up.

[deckie]

There is alway a lot of discussion about the standard Lowrance 83/200 and 50/200 transducers and then the benchmark P66 Airmar.

The consensus of the real experts on sites like THT (guys like Gil Travis "Semperfishing" on THT" who know about transducer design is that the standard ones are ok, the 83/200 for shallow water to about 60 m, but that the Airmar P66 is built better, is significantly more sensitive as it has better components, and outlasts the standard ones many times over. keeps on keeping on, for longer. Its regarded as the benchmark in 600W transducers.

Transducers do lose sensitivity over time, although many people are not aware of that.

You can get the P66's online from the Us for about $100 plus delivery.

I use one on my HDS 5 and it was noticeably Clearer and better def than the 50/200.

Cheers

ML

hmmmmm sounds like you;ve pretty much made my mind up. Its only a small rig and no need for anythign big or fancy, but the airmar for a small upgrade i thought might just provide much better results. I figure its as much about the tranny as the brand these days.
Will look for a small HDS without a tranny and grab the airmar for it.

Tx for all your help guys.