Electronics refit - 48 Viking Convertible Sportfish

[Wild Blue]

Hi Johnny Electron,

You've helped me out on my 35 Bertram with Furuno equipment in the past, thank you very much. I have a new boat, 48 Viking Sportfish and am getting ready for an electronics refit. I am favoring a Furuno buildout including:

2 - TZT24X
DRS25AX X class 6'
NAVpilot-711C
DFF3-UHD utilizing existing R599LH in hull xdcr
DFF3D with new 165T-B54 xdcr
DFF1-UHD
DT-800MSF
GP340
SC-33
2 - FI70
FA70

Have a few questions:
1) How does the DFF3D side scan compare to the TZT16 built in side scan in terms of range and coverage? The DFF3D states 120* port to stbd. What does the TZT16 do? DFF3D is rated at 800w, vs dual 150w xdrs for the TZT16? The DFF3D is 3 beam, port, stbd, and down. Does the TZT16 perform straight down?
2) I like the bottom discrimination function on my TZT2 in my old Bertram, and am interested in the DFF1-UHD for my Viking. Currently I have two in hull xdrs, a R599LH which I would use with the DFF3-UHD, and an R199. Will the R199 provide the bottom discrimination? If not, is there a xdcr that could replace the in hull R199 with bottom discrimination? I'd rather not drill another hole in the bottom. Would the 165T-50/200-SS260 combo xdcr for the DFF3D provide bottom discrimination?
3) Is there a tilted element version for the DT-800MSF?
4) Thoughts? I do everything from shallow water yellowtail to deep drop, swordfish, tuna, etc.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Johnny Electron]

The DFF1-UHD is no longer sold so you could consider the newer DFF1-UHD+ for that but I don't see a listed transducer you have planned for that.

A1) The DFF3D side-scan is no where near what a real side-scan offers as the transducer is not aimed out to the sides like the real side-scan. If you use the side-scan of the DFF1-UHD+ it will automatically replace the DFF3D side-scan features in the MFD. That is for good reason as the DFF3D side-scan is just "okay" but real side-scan is going to be a ton better. It is not possible to compare the 3D multi-beam with the internal fish finder of the TZT16x or the DFF1-UHD+ as they are too different from the 3D.

A2) You can never have bottom discrimination (BD) or Accufish (AF) from a transducer that shoots thru the hull. There is too much signal loss and distortions that happen with the hull. Plus R199 is a 2KW transducer that would go to something like the DFF3-UHD, not the DFF1-UHD or DFF1-UHD+.

A3) No but smart sensors are different as they are good for deadrise up to 22 degrees due to the wide beams.

A4) It sounds like you a on track to have a very nice system. Bottom discrimination if important will need to have a rated C/W transducer connected to something like the DFF1-UHD+. There are no CHIRP options for BD/AF. We the DFF1-UHD there was only ONE CHIRP option (B265LH) but that fish finder is no longer available. The engineers found that BD/AF work best with CW and they have decided to go all in for the extra performance offered by running suitable CW.

 

[Wild Blue]

Great, thanks for the reply.

RA1) Sounds like I might need to wait on the true side scan as I'm not ready for 2 more holes in the bottom this time around. But I will go with the DFF3D since the xdcr shaft is 2" and will fill the existing hole. So my next question on this topic is - can a 165T-50/200-SS260 xdcr be used for the multibeam (3) on the DFF3D, and also hook up to the DFF1-UHD+ for the BD/AF using the 50/200 elements? (if I understood the specs right)

RA2) Sounds like my R199 is pretty much useless. Maybe a spare.

RA3) So the DT-800MSF can be mounted flush on the hull, no fairing? My deadrise in that area is about 14*. That would be great since it is just for digital depth redundancy and temp. Plus, plugs another hole.

 

[Johnny Electron]

ARA1) Unfortunately the elements in the DFF3D combo transducer is not rated for BD/AF. It makes a good one transducer solution for running both a multi-beam and a fish finder but it is not suitable for the BD/AF.

ARA2) Yes a spare, unless you want to sell it off to someone.

ARA3) Yes the DT-800MSF (or the newer version 810) can be mounted flush and the beam would accommodate the 14 degree rise and still obtain a good digital depth.