Ms. Magoo Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 Getting ready to upgrade my electronics on my 2015 2400. Boat is used in shallow waters of Tampa bay. I am only looking at Garmin Units and would like the new transducer to add side scan. Any suggestions? Will one transducer work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanjj Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 I have the Garmin 94SV with side view / clear view etc and it works fantastic...and yes, ..one transducer . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms. Magoo Posted August 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 What transducer are you running? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanjj Posted September 1, 2021 Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 I’m using the one that came with the unit. Here is a pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms. Magoo Posted September 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 Thanks I was looking at installing a thru hull transducer but not sure if that is wise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin-addict Posted September 1, 2021 Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 39 minutes ago, Ms. Magoo said: Thanks I was looking at installing a thru hull transducer but not sure if that is wise. Thru Hull is really not needed but placement of it is important. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanjj Posted September 1, 2021 Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 2 hours ago, Ms. Magoo said: Thanks I was looking at installing a thru hull transducer but not sure if that is wise. I’ll only repeat what my Daddy told me about 30 years ago. I was installing a thru hull on my 20’ Boston Whaler Outrage and he looked under the boat as I just about to start drilling with the hole saw. He said “ Son, the two places you NEVER drill a hole are the roof of your house and the bottom of your boat. “ I’ve never forgotten that....unless there is absolutely no other alternative....I still live by his words of wisdom. JJ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms. Magoo Posted September 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 Thanks for the advice. I am now leaning to a 1243 with a GT56 transom mount transducer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted September 1, 2021 Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 I would not consider a Garmin anymore...I was a GARMIN owner for 18 years...I went SIMRAD and now to Lowrance to run the FMT chip...they are significantly more accurate and if you are going to run any shallow water areas I would definitely run anything but GARMIN due to FMT not being able to run on it. dc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanjj Posted September 2, 2021 Report Share Posted September 2, 2021 15 hours ago, Ms. Magoo said: Thanks for the advice. I am now leaning to a 1243 with a GT56 transom mount transducer You can see where mine is mounted in pic above, it works great , very clear with no “ noise” or false depth readings at all speeds. My unit does have the preloaded Blue Chart g3 maps and they are very accurate. The clear vu and side vu scan are also very high definition and you can clearly see out both sides of boat. The fish and bait that hang around structure such as dock pilings, bridge support post, etc. are also very clear. One note : I did have to buy the Garmin Transducer Spray Shield because water was spraying up the transom and splashing on motor and back deck. Not a lot of water, but enough to be aggravating in the winter. The simple spray shield eliminated all spray and was an easy install. You can actually see the shield in the picture sitting on top of transducer and pushedup against the transom. I looked up the 1243 with GT56 and it looks like the spray shield is included. 👍 i hope this helps. JJ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanjj Posted September 2, 2021 Report Share Posted September 2, 2021 17 hours ago, Wanaflatsfish said: I would not consider a Garmin anymore...I was a GARMIN owner for 18 years...I went SIMRAD and now to Lowrance to run the FMT chip...they are significantly more accurate and if you are going to run any shallow water areas I would definitely run anything but GARMIN due to FMT not being able to run on it. dc Wanna.... I am not familiar with the FMT chip mainly because I fish Ga and South Carolina waters....I do understand the usage on the Florida Marine Tracking....but, currently I’m happy with the service that my Garmin provides. I do however totally agree that Simrad makes some very good high quality units. I’m just a simple South Georgia fisherman that doesn’t require a lot of electronics to get to my fishing areas. If I lived down in Florida, I would certainly look into the FMT. Because Florida has so many more licensed fisherman and registered boats I’m sure the big companies will cater more products for them because of marketing.....Georgia doesn’t have anywhere near the amount of coastline that Florida does. Thanks buddy, JJ 👍🎣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 9 hours ago, fishmanjj said: I do understand the usage on the Florida Marine Tracking.. Google it....it's transforming shallow water fishing...in a good and bad way....I fished Chokoloskee for 15 years with my Garmins... I have owned a 3210, the 740, and the 741xs....did they work..yes, offshore, the 3210 was great for sounding the reefs (on my PF22); the 740 was probably one of the better units and most accurate....but, the 741xs was horrible..every time we'd be within 50 feet of the mangroves, it would have you in mangroves and not in the water... The SIMRAD is probably the tops and fastest processor when it first came out; however, now that the lowrance is upgrading it's units, their processors have become very robust and you need a fast processor when running the FMT as you are running a red line track at cruise, and if you stray in some areas, you literally will be up on an oyster bar in the back country..... The advantage of the FMT is it has opened up many areas to fisherman that has only been run by guides with local knowledge.. Garmin is a world class company - nearly every airline has Garmin GPS and aviation guidance....large ocean going freighters are Garmin equipped...I just think that for the inshore fisherman who wants to use the open platform for mapping - the NAVICO, Simrad, and lowrance are the better choice. DC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drummer Posted September 5, 2021 Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 I run Lowrance Live 12 and 9. Active imaging transducer, transom mount skimmer. I am happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolinadrifter Posted September 5, 2021 Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 Honest question. Do you guys using the Florida Marine Tracks feel as if some of the adventure has been lost while searching new areas for fish? It has got to piss off longtime guides and fisherman who learned it through years of exploration. I’m up here in SC so no FMT for us. I grew up fishing and learning the creeks with my dad in a Jon boat. His depth finder for the longest time was a 4ft boat paddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted September 5, 2021 Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 5 hours ago, Carolinadrifter said: Do you guys using the Florida Marine Tracks feel as if some of the adventure has been lost while searching new areas for fish? For me, the FMT has allowed me to explore some areas that were not accessible based upon my Garmin...I had my own tracks for over 10 years....but, it does provide guidance to new areas I did not normally fish....examples are: areas of White Water Bay, out front in Flamingo, in and around the river mouths of the Harney, Rodgers, LostMan, etc. The FMT takes you along known routes but you still have explore well off the routes to get to fishing spots.. It's a useful tool....but, it has added many more people into the shallow water game - at least for now.... It's not really a "fish finder or something with spots"...it just takes you across areas to allow you go out and back safely. There really is not many spots that I have fished where the FMT has allowed me to stop and catch fish...well, to be honest....I can't seem to catch fish anymore...it's more like a Saturday boat ride DC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoak352 Posted January 5, 2022 Report Share Posted January 5, 2022 Do you want to be able to read bottom while causing speed? If so then you need to go through-hull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin-addict Posted January 5, 2022 Report Share Posted January 5, 2022 11 hours ago, Smoak352 said: Do you want to be able to read bottom while causing speed? If so then you need to go through-hull. Sorry, not true it’s all in the placement of the transducer. Every boat I have owned has had readable speed/bottom at any speed be it transom mount or in hull. Have been on boats where thru hulls have lost bottom/speed at certain speeds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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