Transom Mount : Attached to the back (transom) of boat hull
PROS
- Good for tailered boats
- Easy to install & remove
- Good performance at boat speeds below 30
knots (34 mph)
- Can be used with any hull material
CONS
- Will not work on vessels with an inboard
engine
- Not recommended for sailboatds because of
excessive heeling
- Will not work on stepped hull
Thru-Hull: Installed in a hole drilled through the hull
PROS
- Works with any engine type: inboard,
outboard, or I/O
- Works for power and sailboats
- There are thru-hull transducers for every hull
material
CONS
- Plastic thru-hull housing might crack on
wodden boats due to wood swelling
- Bronze thru-hull housing might cause corrision
on aluminum & stainless stell boats
In-Hull : Installed inside a boat hull against the bottom & sends its signal through the hull
PROS
- No need to drill through the vessel, no drag
- Boat can be trailered without damaging transducer
- No exposure to marine growth
- Can be installed and serviced with vessel in water
- Great high-speed as long as water flow below the transducer is "clean" (no turbulence)
- Works on engine type: inboard, outboard, and I/O when installed over solid fiberglass
- Performs well on both power and sailboats
CONS
- Not recommended for metal, wood, & cored fiberglass hulls
- Chances of signal loss by transmitting through hull
Kayak In-Hul : Attaches to the inside of a Kayak, against the bottom and sends its signal though the hull.
PROS
- No need to drill into the vessel
- No drag, protects transducer from rocks when launching
- Will not catch on weeds or marine vegetation
- Easily to remove transducers
CONS
- Not recommended for metal or wooden vessels
- Slight loss of signal by transmitting through hull
- Recommends flat section for best sealing
against boat
Trolling Motor: Attaches either to the shaft or below the body of a trolling motor
PROS
- Provides sonar /Content/images/fos/garmin/transducers/v4 from the bow, right below where you are fishing
- Easy to install and remove, no need to drill into hull
- Stores with trolling motor when lifted out of water
CONS
- May not be optimum direction in currents or windy conditions
- Hangs low in the water, it's vulnerable to hitting submerged objects
Traditional HD-ID™ Sonar
Traditional sonar that is available on Garmin fishfinders. HD-ID sonar transmits two frequencies, generally either 77/200 kHz or 50/200 kHz. Our echoMAP and GPSMAP chartplotter/sonar combos have Traditional HD-ID sonar built in.
CHIRP Sonar
CHIRP sonar transmits a sweep of many frequencies within a long duration pulse. The equivalent sound energy is hundreds of times greater, resulting in more energy on target. This provides huge advantages in detail, resolution and accuracy at much greater depths. CHIRP is built into our GPSMAP chartplotter/sonar combos
Panoptix™
Panoptix™ all-seeing sonar is unlike anything you've ever seen on the water. Use the Panoptix Forward or Down transducer with a compatible Garmin GPSMAP unit to see all around your boat in real-time. You can see fish in the water column in 3-D. You can also see your bait cast into the water and watch it as you reel it in. You can see fish swimming in front of or below your boat. You can even see them chase your lure.
DownVü Scanning Sonar
This high-frequency sonar gives you a clearer picture of what's below your boat, by producing a more detailed representation of objects, structure and fish. DownVü with CHIRP technology takes it one step further, producing an ultra-clear page with even more detail. DownVü scanning sonar is built into our echoMAP combos, and DownVü scanning sonar with CHIRP technology is built into our GPSMAP combos.
SideVü Scanning Sonar
SideVü shows you what is happening to the sides of your boat. An excellent way of finding structures and fish. SideVü with CHIRP technology provides an even more detailed and higher resolution image of what is beneath the surface. SideVü scanning sonar is built into our echoMAP sv combos, and SideVü scanning sonar with CHIRP technology is built into our GPSMAP combos.
Trolling Motors
A stepped hull contains a notch (or step) that runs crosswise across the boat hull & helps the boat generate more lift at higher speeds. If the transducer is mounted after the notch, the notch creates cavitation & will interfere with sonar returns. For this reason, the transducer should be mounted in front of the notch, closer to the front of the boat.
Cored Hull
A cored hull refers to a hull with a void between the 2 layers of hull material. Sonar cannot transmit through that void.
Deadrise Angle
The deadrise angle is the angle between the horizontal line of the water and your boat's hull.
Installation
To obtain the best possible performance, install all transducers according to the included installation instructions. If you experience difficulty during the installation, call Garmin at 1-800-800-1020, or seek the advice of a professional installer.