“MULTIPURPOSE TRANSDUCERS NOW DO THE WORK THAT USED TO REQUIRE TWO OR MORE.”
“ALL-IN-ONE ’DUCERS”
Not so long ago, if you wanted to add side- and down-scanning sonar capabilities to your fish-finding arsenal, you needed at least two transducers: one for the depth-sounder function, and another for scanning features. That’s no longer the case, thanks to a new breed of multifunction transducers that combine a number of sonar elements into a single, compact unit.
Multipurpose transducers from major electronics brands such as Furuno, Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance, Raymarine and Simrad can save you money because one transducer does the work that used to require two or more. They are available in a variety of through-hull and transom-mount versions.
The latter style has proven most popular on boats under 30 feet in length, particularly because installation is simpler and doesn’t require cutting a large hole in the hull.
When networked with a compatible multifunction display or combo unit, these transducers provide a suite of fish- and structure-finding functions, including side-scan, down-scan and depth sounder, often with a choice of frequencies for each. What’s more, you can utilize more than one function at the same time, thus affording multiple perspectives simultaneously. Some systems also combine modes into a single integrated view. Let’s look at what you get in today’s transom-mount versions.
Sounder Modes
Multifunction models such as the 3-in-1 Active Imaging transom-mount transducer ($299) for Lowrance and Simrad MFDS include a depth-sounder element. “The 3-in-1 offers a number of frequencies,” says John Keizer, senior pro staffer for Lowrance in the Pacific Northwest. “There are 200 and 83 khz single frequencies, as well as high chirp and medium chirp.”
Garmin’s Ultra High Definition Clearvu GT54UHD transom-mount, all-in-one transducer ($349.99) offers a high-frequency (150 to 240 khz) chirp model for the Garmin Echomap Ultra 106SV, 126SV and others.
In another example, Raymarine’s RV-100 All-in-one Realvision 3D transom-mount transducer ($399.99)