*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: Bullshipper Heavy fishin line: If they're dopes, then feed Žem the rope"
I've had the Furuno LS6100 for about a month, and have had many of the same troubles posted here (garbage at top of screen, etc). So, I'm going to sell it on ebay and pickup the Garmin 240 Blue. In reading the previous posts on this subject, I think Bertram mentioned that the transducer for the LS6100 (Airmar Model P66) can also be used for the Garmin 240 Blue. This would be fantastic, as I really don't want to go through dragging wires again (and pulling the boat, etc).
I checked the Airmar site, and sure enough, the chart says that the Garmin 240 Blue can use the P66 transom mount transducer (w/ speed & temp).
However, I contacted Garmin and the return customer service email stated:
<em>"Unfortunately, the connections are entirely different for the 240 Blue to
the transducer than what you currently have. GARMIN does not make any
adaptors to make this connection possible."</em>
Is this correct? It seems not to be correct from what I've read here and seen from the Airmar site. Does Airmar possibly make this adapter? Any help is greatly appreciated - I really wanna get the LS6100 off my boat!
Try Gem Electronics (843-394-3565) down in Charleston, SC. They are the US distributor for Airmar marine products. I have found them to be very helpful. I suspect if you give them a call, they can make up whatever patch cable you need (if it can be done - and they will know that too).
on airmars websight they have an adapter page that enable you to get an adapter to make your transducer work if you have trouble call airmar direct they will give you the proper info
but as the previous post stated the adapter can be made to ! for sure
Bertram
PS Ill check for you, I did this not long ago and cant remember actually what I did
Best of luck BT. I really want to make mine work so.....
I pulled my transducer last night and all I can say is shame on me.
I bought my boat used, the previous owner was less than good at keeping debris out of the bilge, thought I had it all cleaned out.
I had epoxied a transom mount ducer in the bilge in the right spot per Hydra Sport. First run, good results, second run, tuned it and got great results. Decided to pour on some more epoxy to secure the success I was having. That's where I went wrong....
After pulling the form I had made to keep the epoxy from running around, and pulling the ducer, I found that I had not gotten a great bond on my first pour, some crap had gotten under the face of the ducer and was epoxied in place when I made my second pour - which was when I started getting my false readings. My bad.
I am installing an Airmar 520-IHD tonight to avoid any of these problems in the future.
Heard back from Airmar. They make an adaptor, and said to call Gem Electronics (which I was about to do, thanks StreamWeaver24). Garmin wrote back again after I responded saying I was sure there was an adaptor; and basically, they said "GARMIN doesn't make an adaptor to accomplish what you need." Which is absolutely true, they just never mentioned that Airmar did. No biggie.
good deal super unit isn't it hard to believe the difference dont get me wrong furuno makes a da-n good unbit it's just that the garmin in my opinion is easier to set-up easier to see last but not leaste has more power by the way did airmar get you the adapter? "Bucktales
The unit is awesome. Furuno, by all accounts, seems to make great stuff.... but man, this Garmin blows the LS6100 away! Thanks again for the info on the adaptor, I ordered it from Gem Electronics and got it in a few days.
Bucktales... I too ditched a 6100 before even installing it. I had my 240 Blue out this past weekend and while I am VERY awkward with it I think the resolution is the best I've seen in a mid priced unit. I am still VERY confused with its operation. Its not the units fault... its mine.. I am a bumbling incompetent when it comes to modern technology...... bob
i have a 160 blue. can anyone tell what the differance is between the 160 and the 240. i am sure the screen size is differant. is unit as good. any info will be apprecated. thanks
The 160 and 240 have identical electronics, case and picture size. The only difference is the the number of picture elements (PEL) shown on the screen. The 240, with more PEL is quite a bit sharper and easier to look at.
Am i the last person on this board that is still playing with the LS6100????
In any event, i connected the NMEA to my Garmin 180 GPSMAP, so i can store waypoints in the fishfinder itself. Pretty cool feature. This white noise at the water line is still there but aside from that what are the problems with the unit? I'm still using the transom triducer and its reading fine at my cruising speed of about 25 knots. It lost a bottom LINE (picture) few times when it got bumpy but the depth was still being displayed as numbers in the bottom left corner. Of course i've yet to mark any fish but i attribute that to the lack of it.
As far as shallow water performance goes i think the shallowest it can see is about 6 feet. Anything above that - forget it.
I'm all for switching to a better machine ONLY if there's a big enough reason. So far i don't think i'll be switching to the Garmin unit just yet.
when i first got my garmin 160 blue i wasnt happy with it. because it lost bottom in less than 3 feet. but it never looses bottom at full speed (38 mph)in 40 feet of water. it also marks fish if it is in the fish symbol mode. i now learned more about setting up the adjustments and it reads the bottom in 1.5 ft of water. i use less power in sensitivity and run it in the 200 MGH. mode. At 30 MPH it will even show fish when we go over them.
Capt Komp me too. I have one under a hardtop and it really has good detail etc. Shows depth up to 30 mph .. And it gave me great detail on a wreck at 120 feet. I want to use that waypoint feature on it soon. For its low price its a winner.. knock on wood..teak.. composite
The problems I had with the Furuno LS6100 were the garbage near the top of the screen and losing the bottom (or atleast getting something very innacurate) anywhere shallower than 7 or 8 feet. IMHO, The Garmin 240 Blue marks fish and bottom just as well, has a much easier screen to read in glare, and still finds the bottom at 3 feet!
I'm strongly considering a Furuno LS4100 or 6100 unit with a shoot through the hull ducer. What depth can you Garmin 240 Blue boys read down to? Anybody using a shroot through ducer? Thanks GM
Garmin 240 Blue Help (Bye bye Furuno LS6100...) 
