Which Furuno/Tranny Combo for Westernport bay?

Sickrat
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Which Furuno/Tranny Combo for Westernport bay?

Post by Sickrat » Thu Nov 01, 2018 4:52 pm

Hi all,

It's come time to update my Lowrance Elite-5 (base model) and install a new fish finder (It's not that great and I'm over it).
I mainly fish for Snapper, Gummys and Whiting, and it's going on 4.8m Savage Streaker (I don't do any deep-water stuff in Bass Strait etc).

I'm looking at Furuno (as I'm told they're very good), but what Furuno and Transducer combo should I get for Westernport Bay?
I just would like something that would work reliably well and that I can sound fish at speed with (but not cost the Earth at the same time).

Cheers!

fishnut
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Re: Which Furuno/Tranny Combo for Westernport bay?

Post by fishnut » Thu Nov 01, 2018 8:13 pm

Im no expert but you have to spend a lot of coin for one to sound fish at speed
The commercial boats use very pricey units

Sickrat
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Re: Which Furuno/Tranny Combo for Westernport bay?

Post by Sickrat » Thu Nov 01, 2018 8:22 pm

Thanks fishnut - I’m looking to spend about $2k-$3k if that helps?

cobby
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Re: Which Furuno/Tranny Combo for Westernport bay?

Post by cobby » Thu Nov 01, 2018 8:25 pm

You won't sound fish at speed in Westernport, no matter the unit or tranny. And any including what you currently have should sound up the bottom and any structure. If not your setup is wrong and no amount of money on new gear will fix that.

To answer your question, FCV-628 with an Airmar p66 transducer is the cheapest and effective combo

Redhunter
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Re: Which Furuno/Tranny Combo for Westernport bay?

Post by Redhunter » Thu Nov 01, 2018 8:27 pm

20 odd metres plus at speed? "Tell him he's dreamin'!" kind-of springs to mind mate. Depth is one thing, but sounding fish at speed is a different thing. I'm no expert, but assuming units are setup correctly, the slower you go the better the image, and the interpretation is up to the operator. Transducers can only scan so quick.

Sickrat
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Re: Which Furuno/Tranny Combo for Westernport bay?

Post by Sickrat » Thu Nov 01, 2018 11:29 pm

Thanks gents!
cobby wrote:You won't sound fish at speed in Westernport, no matter the unit or tranny. And any including what you currently have should sound up the bottom and any structure. If not your setup is wrong and no amount of money on new gear will fix that.
I agree that there’s an issue with my transducer placement/setup. It can sound bottom and structure just, but it can’t sound fish too well (at troll speed or anchor) no matter what settings I use.

Will the Furuno with P66 be a big improvement or not really?

rb85
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Re: Which Furuno/Tranny Combo for Westernport bay?

Post by rb85 » Fri Nov 02, 2018 4:05 am

P66 is a good transducer for Westernport. Decent beam low frequency transducer.

Nude up
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Re: Which Furuno/Tranny Combo for Westernport bay?

Post by Nude up » Fri Nov 02, 2018 4:22 am

I have a furuno 587 with two transducers fitted to my boat airmar p66 and an airmar 175sswh 1kw. In ppb with the 1kw thro hull tx i can sound fish at 50kph its an amazing transducer but the cost is prohibitive around $2300. in westernport due to the higher oxygen and turbidity in the water i still get a great bottom picture but it struggles with fish at speed but great at low speed. the best is the 50hz in westernport.
all round the airmar p66 will be great.

frozenpod
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Re: Which Furuno/Tranny Combo for Westernport bay?

Post by frozenpod » Fri Nov 02, 2018 7:33 am

P66 is the best value for money and works great in ppb but a 1kw transducer is well worth it for wpb.

I would also be looking at getting a chirp system as they are better particularly when sounding with typical wpb water.

If positioned and setup properly you can sound fish at speed with a 1kw transducer.

Mattblack
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Re: Which Furuno/Tranny Combo for Westernport bay?

Post by Mattblack » Fri Nov 02, 2018 8:19 am

Is Furuno the Rolls Royce of the sounders or something? Are they better quality or better technology?

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