Another Fish Finder Question

[BassBlaster]

Hopefully my last one!!

I posted the other day about this unit...

https://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/Compact-Sonar-Fishfinders/M68C-SMap/

I plan to mount this one on the front deck because thats where I'll be spending the majority of my time on the boat.

Today I purchased this one...

https://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/Compact-Sonar-Fishfinders/X-4/

I only purchased this one because I found it online. A guy had purchased it 2 months ago and sold his boat before he installed it. I got it for half price and its still in the box. To good to pass up!! I plan to mount this one on the back so the person fishing back there can also see depth and structure and because I got such a good deal on it, I may as well use it!!

My question is this. Ive never installed 2 FF's on a boat allthough I have noticed that many bass boats have one in front and back. I assume, I'll mount the stock Skimmer transducer on the back of the transom for the X-4 and order the trolling motor transducer for the M68C. Is there a problem with interferance when running 2 FF's? Does anyone know if I have a choice of transducers when I purchase the M68C? I didnt see anything on the site other than prices for the transducers. I know the last Hummingbird I purchased, I sent them the stock transducer and they sent me a trolling motor transducer, no charge. I have no experience with Lowrance.

Thanks for any help guys!!

 

[Wallijig]

I talked to sales guy when I got mine. He told me depends on depth of water. shallow water I should have no issues, but deeoer water chances are pretty good. So far i have had not issues,but do not fish over 20' of water.

I have 2 made by Lowrance also.

He also told me to check manuals see what freq. they each run at that would determine it.

 

[BassBlaster]

I also wont be fishing many places with water deeper than 20'. I just checked both units and both of them are 200kHz frequency.

 

[Bugpac]

Ideally i prefer a skimmer transducer mounted in trolling motor Armour.

 

[BassBlaster]

Ideally i prefer a skimmer transducer mounted in trolling motor Armour.

So, I'm basically a noob when it comes to FF's. Are you saying to mount the skimmer transducer to the trolling motor via some kinda bracket rather than buy a trolling motor transducer? What are the advantages of that?

I'm considering the Humminbird 385ci now which is bascially the equivelent to the Lowrance I posted. Its 100 bucks more but if I'm going to have to spend 70 bucks more to have the proper transducer, I may as well spend 30 more and have one that will take map cards. I know Humminbird will trade out transducers with you and I cant get an answer from Lowrance if they do that.

Also, I have been checking out some of the units with down imaging. The detail just looks sweet. Being a structure fisherman I can definately see the advantages of that. I'm going to break my budget if I purchase a unit with down imaging and GPS so of the two, which one is more valuable? I can see positives to having both but I just cant make it happen right now. Help me out guys!!

 

[BassBlaster]

Is this what your talking about?

www.transducerarmor.com/

I like it!!

 

[BassBlaster]

Bump......anyone else with any suggestions. I'm ready to order while Gander Mountain has a promo going on. They are the only ones that seem to have it in stock on they currently are running a promo with $20 off every $100 spent plus free shipping.

 

[Wallijig]

Bump......anyone else with any suggestions. I'm ready to order while Gander Mountain has a promo going on. They are the only ones that seem to have it in stock on they currently are running a promo with $20 off every $100 spent plus free shipping.

I seen Cabelas in MItchell, SD got some in about month ago. They come with deep water transducer though. If remember right they had them priced at $219.

 

[BassBlaster]

What do you mean by deep water transducer?

 

[Bugpac]

sorry i been busy, this is what i have and love it. It doesn't use the transducer bolt, it just sandwiches it in with two rubber pads, so a broke transducer mount still works fine, they make them for just about every ducer on the market, bass pro carrys them as well.

https://www.transducershieldandsaver.com/home/components/com_virtuemart/show_image_in_imgtag.php?filename=resized%2FSSC_1_4bd879f9b78d0_150x150.png&newxsize=150&newysize=150&fileout=

 

[Wallijig]

What do you mean by deep water transducer?

It has narrower cone angle which is typically used for deeper water.
Here's from Lowarnce site:
Cone Angle
A transducer's cone angle determines its coverage area of the underwater world. The wider the cone angle, the greater the area that's covered. We offer a variety of 200 kHz transducers with either a wide (20°) or narrow (12°) cone angle. The 50 kHz transducers come with a 35° cone angle. The dual-frequency transducers come with both a narrow (12°) 200 kHz and a wide (35°) 50 kHz cone angles. And the dual-search transducers come with both a narrow (12°) 200 kHz and a wide (35°) 83 kHz cone angles.

Generally, use a wide cone angle for fishing shallow to medium depths. The narrow cone penetrates to deeper depths, but shows less fish and structure due to its narrow beam.

The depth capability of your sonar units depends on its transmitter power, receiver, sensitivity, frequency, transducer and transducer installation. Other things that effect depth capability are: water conditions and type(all sonars will show deeper depth readings in fresh water than salt) and bottom conditions.