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Transducers
& Sensors
for Our Fish Finders
PSICOMPANY.COM
offers an extremely wide
range of matched, high performance, high speed transducers for
its various depth sounders. There are transducers for virtually
every type and size of boat -- sail boats, large power boats,
"trailerables" and more. There are also separate sensors you
can install that will read your boat speed and the surface water
temperature. Fact is, our selection of transducers is so broad
that it is impractical to list them all here.
For a complete run-down, you should
Call 1-800-826-2907 Ext. 260
We can recommend the best type of transducer for your boat;
we will make sure it matches your sounder; and he can help you
install both your transducer and your sounder. For do-it-yourselfers,
installation instructions are available for all our transducers.
To help make your transducer selection easier, we have provided
a general guide to the basic types of transducers along with
a brief description of where and how to install each.
TRANSOM MOUNT TRANSDUCERS
As the name indicates,
this style of transducer mounts on the transom. The best mounting
location is at the bottom of the transom with the face (bottom)
of the transducer on a nearly horizontal plane, as shown in
these two diagrams. Installation is best accomplished while
the boat is out of the water.
The objective
in mounting this style of transducer is to keep the face of
the transducer in the water -- whether the boat is at rest or
underway -- while minimizing the amount of transducer protruding
below the bottom of the boat -- as illustrated here.
It is important
to minimize the turbulence and aeration around the transducer.
Consequently, you should avoid locating the transducer along
strakes, behind thru-hull fittings or other hull irregularities
that may disturb the water flowing across the transducer face.
Transom mount
transducers are often used on trailerable boats, as the location
does not usually interfere with the trailer bunks, rollers,
struts and other objects on a boat trailer. This style of transducer
is also used on boats that cannot easily accommodate a thru-hull
fitting on the bottom of the boat.
THRU-HULL TRANSDUCERS
When properly
installed, this type of transducer offers better performance
and fish detection than any other style. As the name implies,
it does require drilling or cutting a hole in bottom of your
boat. For this reason, installation should be undertaken while
the boat is in dry dock.
The location of
the transducer depends on the type of hull, as shown in these
diagrams for displacement and planing power boats as well as
fin keel and full keel sail boats.
When mounting
on a deadrise angle -- such as shown on a full keel sail boat
-- a special "fairing block" is required, so that the face of
the transducer lays on a horizontal plane.
As with any other
transducers, thru-hull types should be mounted where they will
be continuously immersed in undisturbed water. Objects than
can disturb the water flow around a thru-hull transducer include
strakes, fittings, keels and propeller wash.
To eliminate potential
leaks, it's essential to apply a liberal amount of a quality
bedding compound -- one that can stand up to continuous immersion
-- around the transducer's stem and fittings on both the inside
and outside.
"SHOOT THRU" TRANSDUCERS
This type of transducer
fastens inside the boat hull, transmitting and receiving signals
through the hull material, as shown in this illustration. This
works only through fiberglass and is how "shoot thru" or "in-hole"
transducers get their name. This style does not require cutting
a hole in the bottom of the boat. As with other transducers,
location is critical to performance. Typically, a flat section
in the aft bilge area is the best spot, although you may need
to experiment to find the best location. The latest in hull
transducers, the P-79® allows you to compensate for the boats
dead-rise angle.
Not all boats
are well suited to shoot-thru style transducers. On smaller
boats, for example, there is often a layer of foam flotation
material between the deck and the hull. Shooting through the
foam seriously hampers performance. In such cases, another type
of transducer -- such as a transom-mount -- is more practical.
There are a number
of methods for securing a shoot-thru style transducer. Some
can be bolted on. Some are designed to be fiberglassed or epoxied
into place.
Still others require
a special interior enclosure that completely encapsulates the
transducer in fluid
such as castor oil.
We can help you
decide on the installation method that best suits your needs!
SPEED & TEMPERATURE
SENSORS
All Furuno echo
sounders will display boat speed and surface water temperature,
when connected with the proper sensors. In fact, some Furuno
transducers -- ones known as "multi-sensors" -- have built-in
speed and temperature sensors.
Most transducers,
however, handle only echo sounding/fish-finding. To read boat
speed and water temperature, a separate sensor is required.
These sensors come in two styles: transom mount and thru-hull
(shown here).
Like transom mount
transducers, transom mount speed/temperature sensors mount at
the bottom of
the transom. They should be mounted just low enough to allow
water flowing off the bottom of the
boat to turn a speed-sensing paddle wheel.
As with thru-hull
transducers, thru-hull speed/temperature sensors require cutting
a hole in the
bottom of the boat, as shown. These sensors do not need to mounted
on a horizontal plane.
They can be installed on a dead-rise angle without a fairing
block.
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