A
Anonymous
Guest
Hello there. I could do with some advice to the setup and possible upgrade to my current NavNet v1 system.
I took over running a charter boat (2 years ago) that has the original NavNet system installed, when it was purchased new in 2004. I have had some good success but have always wondered about the original choice of transducer that was installed. From what I can make out it is either a Furuno 520-5PSD or a P319 Flushmount - all I know is that the owner of the boat told me it cost "less than €100" and these are the 2 models on offer on the website of the company that did the electronics fit out. My thinking is that having spent all the money on a top spec NavNet system, why put a €100 transducer on it? Its like ordering a Ferrari with faux leather seats!
My 600W transducer can only read the bottom down to about 140mtrs on a flat clam day, any swell or chop can reduce that to 100mtrs - this would be on the 200kHz setting. On the 50kHz setting it doesn't return a signal at that depth, well maybe only just. Settings are GAIN at 60%, SIGNAL LEVEL 1 and CLUTTER 9. Is this normal?? I have tried playing around with signal strength, gain and clutter but all that happens is I get either no bottom return or a screen full of blue lines and dots. I am able to mark bait clearly down to maybe 80mtrs if all the settings are as listed above, but never seem to mark individual fish, all I get is single pixel wide vertical lines that maybe red or orange at the top down to green or blue at the bottom - never seen the "boomerang" shape that I am used to seeing on friends boats when trolling over larger fish. So, 1 is the bottom detection range of maybe 140mtrs normal for this entry level 600W transducer, 2 if not, what can I do to improve the bottom detection range and 3 what can I do to improve larger fish target returns. I could use this info as I still have to fish for another 6 weeks before I haul out.
Next on to the possible upgrade.
I have been looking at the Airmar ss270w 1kW twin wide beam. From what I have read on other forums this is a great unit in shallow water but returns in deep water could be misleading because of the wide beam on 200kHz. So, a bit about where I fish, what for and local conditions. Target species are Big eye tuna (also Albacore and Skipjack) Blue and White Marin and Wahoo. We fish upto 6 miles from the island but most of our fishing is say between 2 and 4 miles from shore. our drop off is very close to the island and we can be fishing in 1000mtrs just 2 miles out. Wahoo fishing takes place in say upto 100mts of water, so that nice wide beam on 200kHz is looking great, but when out wide for tuna and marlin I am still really only looking for fish in the top 60mts of water - well, when using my current setup. What I am thinking is a strong transducer with wide beam returns will let me see bait and fish deep down over a large area. Bait (and then prey) moves up and down during the day - thinking big eye tuna here. If I mark bait with some solid fish returns around it in the morning, I can mark the possition and mabe return later in the day to see if it has moved up in the water column. Also we have 3 seamounts near to the island. all come up from 3000mtrs to between 300 and 90 mts beneath the surface. On my current setup I have been unable to locate them - thinking that nice wide beam would help find them. So my questions are, is the ss270w a good choice for my type of fishing and conditions, 2 would it fit onto my existing set up (BBFF1 Network Sounder)
Anyone with any first hand experience of the ss270w what to chip in feel free.
I took over running a charter boat (2 years ago) that has the original NavNet system installed, when it was purchased new in 2004. I have had some good success but have always wondered about the original choice of transducer that was installed. From what I can make out it is either a Furuno 520-5PSD or a P319 Flushmount - all I know is that the owner of the boat told me it cost "less than €100" and these are the 2 models on offer on the website of the company that did the electronics fit out. My thinking is that having spent all the money on a top spec NavNet system, why put a €100 transducer on it? Its like ordering a Ferrari with faux leather seats!
My 600W transducer can only read the bottom down to about 140mtrs on a flat clam day, any swell or chop can reduce that to 100mtrs - this would be on the 200kHz setting. On the 50kHz setting it doesn't return a signal at that depth, well maybe only just. Settings are GAIN at 60%, SIGNAL LEVEL 1 and CLUTTER 9. Is this normal?? I have tried playing around with signal strength, gain and clutter but all that happens is I get either no bottom return or a screen full of blue lines and dots. I am able to mark bait clearly down to maybe 80mtrs if all the settings are as listed above, but never seem to mark individual fish, all I get is single pixel wide vertical lines that maybe red or orange at the top down to green or blue at the bottom - never seen the "boomerang" shape that I am used to seeing on friends boats when trolling over larger fish. So, 1 is the bottom detection range of maybe 140mtrs normal for this entry level 600W transducer, 2 if not, what can I do to improve the bottom detection range and 3 what can I do to improve larger fish target returns. I could use this info as I still have to fish for another 6 weeks before I haul out.
Next on to the possible upgrade.
I have been looking at the Airmar ss270w 1kW twin wide beam. From what I have read on other forums this is a great unit in shallow water but returns in deep water could be misleading because of the wide beam on 200kHz. So, a bit about where I fish, what for and local conditions. Target species are Big eye tuna (also Albacore and Skipjack) Blue and White Marin and Wahoo. We fish upto 6 miles from the island but most of our fishing is say between 2 and 4 miles from shore. our drop off is very close to the island and we can be fishing in 1000mtrs just 2 miles out. Wahoo fishing takes place in say upto 100mts of water, so that nice wide beam on 200kHz is looking great, but when out wide for tuna and marlin I am still really only looking for fish in the top 60mts of water - well, when using my current setup. What I am thinking is a strong transducer with wide beam returns will let me see bait and fish deep down over a large area. Bait (and then prey) moves up and down during the day - thinking big eye tuna here. If I mark bait with some solid fish returns around it in the morning, I can mark the possition and mabe return later in the day to see if it has moved up in the water column. Also we have 3 seamounts near to the island. all come up from 3000mtrs to between 300 and 90 mts beneath the surface. On my current setup I have been unable to locate them - thinking that nice wide beam would help find them. So my questions are, is the ss270w a good choice for my type of fishing and conditions, 2 would it fit onto my existing set up (BBFF1 Network Sounder)
Anyone with any first hand experience of the ss270w what to chip in feel free.
