Transducer

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Well, I know most people here would rather not cut a hole in their hull for a thru-hull transducer....but for the record....

The best reliability I ever had with the sounder was mounted at the transom ... might go back there again

I have had both transom mount and thru-hull on multiple boats including both on my Mac. The thru-hull ducers have been the most reliable, never subject to heel, turbulence, etc. and I think this is what you will find in most transducer literature too. Unfortunately, my PO's dealer put a cheapo plastic transducer in the thru hull which gave out last year after almost 6 years of service. My last keelboat had a much higher quality bronze one that worked great for 7 years while I had the boat. I didn't feel like paying 400 some dollars for a bronze one when I could get a new fishfinder and transom mount ducer for about 250..so it was a financial decision. I'll be happy if I get several years out of it, but again, I don't expect it to be anywhere as reliable nor have the longevity of a high quality bronze unit like used on most big sailboats.

[Sloop John B]

Reliable? Sheeze.

I don't care if it registers 365' or 140', it's not relevant.

I need something cheap to go 'beep..beep..beep' when I am about crash upon a large rock to allow me enough time to say a little prayer to St. Barbara before I crash and sink to the depths of iniquity.

[James V]

Good luck, The depth sounder will only tell you the depth of where you have been. It will not tell you what is ahead of you or the pile, coral head, ect.. infront of you. A forward sonar will help only if you are looking at it every 15 sec or so (and you can read it).

On a plus point, The Mac's will not sink (not all the way).

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

My keelboat had the ducer up in the bow area so at least it was a few feet in front of the keel (giving a few extra milliseconds of warning). Of course, this would not work very well on a Mac since it would come out of the water and stop reading whenever you started planing. On the Mac, it is installed on the port side of center under the access area of the stern berth. This is obviously not in the ballast area since that is like two tubes in that area and not across the whole beam of the boat.