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Random Quote: Only two times I'll fish, if I'm alone or with somebody.....
If you want to be educated about transducers, call Gem Electronics and ask for Bob. I spent 20 minutes on the phone with him Friday. I believe the B260 is the one that is the top of the line. $569 without fairing block.
843-394-3565
Be real careful here and don't trust the part numbers shown on the Furuno site. They are showing two different transducers, which look very much the same, as having the same number. One of those two transducers is better suited to shallow water (up to about 500 feet they claim, but I'd say a little less than that) and the other for deeper water.
Both transudcers are being offereed in either in-hull mount or as a thru hull (without speed and tempertaure). One of them is being offered with temperature sensing capability, but it on the in-hull version - which is utterly senseless.
The two models are the 256 and the 260. The 256 is the one for shallow water use and the 260 for deeper water.
Internally they are quite different. The 256 uses 4 transducer samed-size elements. It is my understanding that two of them are devoted to 200 kHz use and the other two are devoted to 50 kHz use. By contrast the 260 uses eithe elements, one larger element for 200 kHz use and seven much smaller elements for 50 kHz use.
Both transducers have a much narrower cone angle than you might be used with with standard transducers. The standard transducer in its various mounting schemes has cone angles of 45 and 12 degrees for 50 and 200 kHz repectively. By contrast the 256 and 260 transducers have cone angles of 19 degrees for 50 kHz and 6 degrees for 200 kHz. It is claimed that his narrowing of the focus of the sound energy results in much deeper capability.
There also seems to be some question as to the prices of these things. When I first looked at them, just a few weeks ago, I was getting price quotes that varied between $89 and $750. The $89 versions of course were the standard transducers in the self leveling tube they are now selling them with for in hull mounting. A number of quotes I got were in the $325 range. Those I suspect were M-256 transducers and didn't include the mounting tank, which costs about a hundred and a quarter more Finally on the top end the expensive ones are the 260's and Gem had it in the M260 version for $626 with the mountin tank. It is my understanding that when they have the "B" in their part number you are looking at the thru hull version. They are also either making or are going to make a transom mount for the 256 at least. I simply can not immagine anyone, and I mean absolutly anyone, mounting one of these things on their transom.
Both of these, the 256 and the 260, are very large transducers. It is very difficult to immagine one of these things being used external to the hull except on relatively large boats. I could not immagine one on any trailered boat.
Anyway I bought one (M260) a week and a half ago and mounted it. The M- is the in hull mount and I pulled a thru hull and glassed the hole shut to do it. I have every reason in the world to expect that this in-hull will give me a dramatically improved picture of the bottom, that it will give greatly improved fish finding ability in medium and shallow depth water, will actually operate in shallower water than the thru hull did, and increase the maximum depth of my 582L by 1,000 feet. That is what I expect of it.
Oh, they are child's play to install too. Mine went in so easily that I didn't stop to take pictures while I was doing it, even though I sort of had it in my mind that I would take them.
AC man as I said in previous posts to you, I'd recommend the B260 with diplexer. Its what I run on same machine. I would have it flush mounted in where the factory does along the keel or offset a little. That's how mine is and it paints an awesome pic in any depth. Been killing grouper in 30-40 ft off Hernando, and the shallow water performance is second to none. Bought mine from Sigma for $495. Email for info. dobrow@mindspring.com, Good luck..D2
I'm curious, why would you prefer to go to the expense or trouble to glass a thru-hull in when the manufacturer tells us there is no appreciable loss encountered by mounting the same transducer in hull? I've been an absolute advocate of thru-hull transducers for years myself, but if I can get the same improved performance from an in hull mount rather than going to the trouble of glass on in I'll take the in-hull every time. Don't get me wrong, I'm no stranger to glass work and for the most part I actually enjoy doing it, but give me choice like that and I'll take the lazy mans way out.
Thom
I have a Hydra Sports 28CC, it has a glued down bilge line that would made that a worse choice in my case. My sounder is a 1KW so I could have if it was a typical constructed boat. My suggestion to AC is because most factory mounted Contender tranny are flushed through on keel just ahead of transom. If he already had that to grind out, the pocket could likely be modified to accommodate the new tranny as he will have to get glass work either way. I could not be happier though with the B260.
D2
Thanks for the replies.I was thinking of going with the shoot-thru if there was no appreciable loss of detail and power.For one,I could leave the old thru-hll in there and save the $500-$600 in glass work,and two,I don't know if I trust someone to cut the old one out and install the new one.One other thing,Can the new thru-hull be mounted in the center of the V.Due to its size,it looks like it would take a substantial flat area formed into the bottom of the hull.I don't know if this is a legitimate concern or not.Thanks
You can mount the shoot-thru right on the centerline. That is what I did. I went to the extra step of first grinding out the glass in my hull bottom until it was nearly through and then reglassing that small section. I only did that because I didn't trust my hull not to have air bubbles. You don't have to do it.
You need a space that is 6"x9" that you can get enough access to to clean it up real well, and I think sanding the surface to at least a rough smoothness is desirable. Even in a cramped space this isn't all that hard. This may not show you much, but here one is right on the centerline. Notice that a chunk was cut out of the bottom of the storage area where I have my access. I cut that hole 10 years ago when I installed the first thru hull in this boat. It too was right on the centerline. If you choose not to put it on the centerline the hull angle can be up to 30 degrees. You just cut the holding tank to match your hull.
AC, I have the M 260 on my 582L in a contender, The detail is incredible and the install is a snap.
the boat is in st.pete if you want to take a peek.
For a price on it locally, call fathoms @ 727-865-7530 ask for John,Frank or Brian
AC, I have the M 260 on my 582L in a contender, The detail is incredible and the install is a snap.
the boat is in st.pete if you want to take a peek.
For a price on it locally, call fathoms @ 727-865-7530 ask for John,Frank or Brian
Dan
Thom-Yes no prob installing the M260 in the center of the keel,I was referring to the problems one might occur,if any, installing the thru hull model (B 260) in the center of the keel due to its size.I was wondering if the large area that would have to be flatened out on the bottom of the hull could cause a problem?
On the Contenders? Is the transducer mounted flush to outside of the keel or mounted inside the bilge shooting through the glass. I just got a Raymarine 1250 sonar and I'm deciding whether to go with a shoot thru the hull transducer, or bronze transducer mounted fluash to the outside of the keel or letting the full thickness of the transducers sit outside of the boat.
Well,after talking to Gem Electronics,I decided on the B-260 thru hull.Gem said the M-260 shoot thru will probably be better than the thru hull I have now,but due to the thickness of my hull,they did not recomend it.Gem said hulls over 1 inch thick start to lose performance with the shoot thru.The hull on my 36 Contender is a solid 2.5 inches thick,so for me it was a no brainer.The hull does get thiner as you move up from the keel,but it is still very thick.Thanks again for the help.
dmartin-I Talked to Contender today.They said do NOT install ducer outside the hull with fairing block.Shoot thru on the 25 is fine,but a glassed in flush thru hull is the best choice.
I cuurenlty use a transom mount transducer in the bilge shooting thru the glass on a 25 Contender. I use fresh water for the coupling medium and get a good view of the bottom at 42 mph (WOT on my boat). I tested the transducer by dropping it in the water outside the hull and compared to the shoot thru the glass situation, I could not see any difference other than surface clutter. I was in 60 feet, so it may differ in deep water. I have been able to read down to 1,000 at trolling speed with my jury rigged transducer.
I am not looking forward to cutting a hole in the keel big enough to glass in a bronze thru hull transducer, but if it will help me find grouper, I'll do what I have to!
DSquared-Just got your email.Thanks for the input and for your help in the past.I appreciate it.I called your guy at Boat Doctor,he is knowledgeable and helpful,but your right,he is pricey,and triple other prices I got..He told me about your boat.Ouch! Also talked to Sigma, very good people as well.
dmartin-The new 1KW shoot thru will be fine on your boat,and a snap to install.My hull is thicker and already has the hole,so thats what I will stick with.Either way,the 260 series ducer is far,far better than the others.
AC mine was difficult due to a bilge liner that had to be cut out and rebuilt to get to hull. Yours would be a lot easier than mine as you have clean access, and the basic hole is there, as well as the fact there would be no building the fairing in as mine is in pix. It was high, but well worth the peace of mind of a water tight install with plenty of strength in glass.
Good luck D2
Its some sort of airconditioning part that I bought on E-Bay a couple of years ago. Basically its a 2.5 gallon stainless steel tank that I use as a pressure tank for my wash down system. It saves pump cycling.
1 KW Ducer...Thru-Hull vs Shoot thru. 
Also talked to Sigma, very good people as well.
