Furuno sounder
I have been doing a bit of research before buying a new sounder and seem to be getting conflicting info about my choice of unit and transducer.
I had decided to go with a Furuno FCV 295 unit and an R299 or R399 in-hull 3kw transducer. According to the USA Furuno people these transducers are suited to the FCV 295's because the R299/R399 has a bandwidth that covers a continuous frequency spectrum, next generation fishfinders utilizing Furuno Free Synthesizer (FFS) technology can be made “tunable”, so fishermen can “dial-in” the best frequency for the target fish species or conditions.
So I contacted Taylor Marine here in Perth and they proceeded to tell me that these transducers are incompatible with the FCV 295 sounders? They went on to say that they were happy to sell me the package but accepted no responsibillity if it didnt work.
I need to stick to an in-hull transducer as the through hull units in the 3kw range are bloody huge and not suited to a trailer boat.
At present I run an FCV 585 with a 1kw in-hull transducer that works fine up to 38kts............I just want to fish deeper.
Has anyone had this FCV 295 & 3kw in-hull tranny combo in their boat or know of anyone who did...........maybe Ryan or someone has had experience with it?
I find it strange that Furuno USA recommends the combo and Taylor Marine says it wont work.
Cheers
Mick
.thumbnail.jpg "First goldband for the tinny")
Andy
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 08/10/05
furuno
i am fitting a fcv 295 next week with a 3kw in hull transducer. its either the R229 or R399 im not 100% sure. it is going in a 28ft bertram and needs modifications to the boat to house the transducer. how big is your boat. these transducers are big. almost the size of a carton of stubbies.
redrocket
Posts: 12
Date Joined: 01/09/09
Hi, Sorry to jump in on
Hi,
Sorry to jump in on the bandwagon but I have decided that I am going to get a 295. I have been told from a guy in the states that the tunable transducers will work with the 295. Question for you if you dont mind where are you buying your unit states or local. Who are you getting to install it?
thanks for your input.
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
I know the chaps Taylor
I know the chaps Taylor Marine very well and if they say it is not the right one for the unit, then seldom are they wrong.
Dave and his team go regularly to Japan to Furuno head office for training and I'm of the view they have some times a better understanding of what units go best in our waters than the Yanks have.
That unit you looking at is a favorite of the cray boys and Taylor Marine has fitted out many cray, commercial fishing boat etc with them, so Ask Dirk for his view and Reece, they know their beans.
I'm going again with a FCV585 with a commercial CA50/200-1T
http://www.furunousa.com/products/productdetail.aspx?product=CA50%2f200-1T&category=Products+%3a+Transducers+%3a+Transducers+w%2fo+Speed+%26+Temp
This was recommended by TM boys on the last tub and gave excellent results.
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Wreckless
Posts: 92
Date Joined: 02/11/09
FCV 295
Since I posted this I found a little more info from users in the USA and they seem to be real impressed with the combo. Taylor marine said that they have only sold this combo once to a fisherman and they couldn't get the unit to work at all....even at rest - sounds to me like an installation issue. I have dealt with them before and yes they seem to know their beans but I am almost positive that they are behind the times with this one. The advise I got from Airmar is that these transducers were designed specifically for these new tunable sounders, in particular the Furuno 295, 1150 and 1200's. They also work with some other brands like Raymarine etc.
Andy - Yep they are big alright - 436 x 223 x 241 and 25kg. I recon I can shoe horn it into my 26' Keywest.
Redrocket - The price I got from Taylor Marine was $10,300 unfitted. The price I got off the net from the USA was around $5,500 inc shipping. I fitted my last unit so I will fit this one as well; but I beleive Ryan Tipthorp from Oceanside Tackle fits the units but I'm not shure.
Tony - I'm replacing my current unit which is a FCV585 with a commercial CA50/200-1T. I have been really happy with it right up till I went out to 400m and it kinda works but not well enough really.
Mick
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
Mick, you fishing a lot
Mick, you fishing a lot deeper than I would, so I see your need for max depth clarity. Good luck with the unit and tranny and let us know how it goes?
cheers
Tony
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Furuno!
Mick,
I use Furuno gear all the time but that tech spec stuff on tranys and suitability in new models I tell ppl to talk to Taylor Marine. Rhyss, Christo & Dave are some go to ppl and i trust what they say as they havnt steered me wrong ever!
Sorry i cant be of more help, I sell mainly recreational units @ Oceanside and dont do any instalation!
No doubt your on the right track there with the FCV 295, just gotta sort out the tranys......all the best!
Wreckless
Posts: 92
Date Joined: 02/11/09
Thank's all
I'll see how I go in the next few months..........probably do the swap in winter and go for the 295 with R399.
Let you know the outcome.
Cheers
Mick
Wreckless
Posts: 92
Date Joined: 02/11/09
I forgot
Andy,
You seem to be the pioneer here so I am really keen to know how you get on. I am leaning toward the R399 because it will run at 28khz.
You can call me if you like; my mobile is 041 793 2944
Mick
Andy
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 08/10/05
wreckless
I have just had a look at the transducer. its the R399. My customer bought it from a company in townsville who have apparently fitted a few of these packages. Just waiting for some glass work to be done to mount the tranny.
Wreckless
Posts: 92
Date Joined: 02/11/09
Andy
As I said I am pretty keen to see how it pans out........any chance of having a look when it's fitted?
These tranny's have no plug on the cable and I havent wired up one before...there are tap settings for this unit on the Airmar site but I dont even know where to buy the plug.........are you wiring it up yourself?
Mick
Andy
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 08/10/05
plug
there is no facility on the unit for a plug. the bare wires are mounted on a buzz board inside the unit. i am fitting the unit and tranny, someone from the company the unit was bought from are setting it up. i fitted another 295 last week but with a 1kw transom transducer.
Wreckless
Posts: 92
Date Joined: 02/11/09
No wonder I cant find a plug add
No wonder I cant find a plug add
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
Well today I had to choose
Well today I had to choose between a trip to the dentist for a new crown on a tooth I broke on Friday and a Sounder,
oh boy that FCV 295 I picked up looks good ( I went in wanting to pick up a FCV 585 and they said no stock till next week, so I said...ok give me the big brother...lol now to tell the wife when she gets home!!! :-O),
Now anyone got some good soup recipes for me till I can afford the dentist again...lol
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Wreckless
Posts: 92
Date Joined: 02/11/09
Well done
Good to see a bloke that has his priorities in order!
What Transducer are you going to run Tony?
Mick
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
sticking with the 1kw
sticking with the 1kw 50/200-1T rubber unit for now, as the Berty hulls are too thick for a shoot through tranny to get good bottom detail. It will be transom mounted on a bracket like I did before on the last tub. I'm a believer in wet-faced units.
But I will be adding a second 3kw 38hz rubber unit later, also wet-face installed on a retractable bracket for the slow deep stuff. You seldom need the high detail stuff at speed and at low speeds under 6 knots you can use a big not so stream lined box on the end of a strong pole, many deep sea trawler boys do this with the primary tranny being stream lined and then have drop-down big unit for their detail stuff.
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Wreckless
Posts: 92
Date Joined: 02/11/09
Got a call today
from another fishwrecked member (Marble) who has a 295 in his PM 26'. He is running 2 in-hull trannies in wet boxes - a Furuno 200B-8B 2kw unit and a Furuno 50B-9B 1kw unit. He got the gear at Taylor marine and had it fitted elsewhere
Says that he is impressed with the combo and the cost was not huge; around $500 each unit. I know another bloke that had an older 25 Berty and in-hull tranny that worked fine. Fished with him back of Rotto in 40-90m water - he just stuck it inside the hull on a blob of silicone.
Andy (top of page) is fitting an in-hull unit into a 28' Berty - waiting to see how that goes.
Cheers
Mick
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
started to play around with
started to play around with where to put the sounder on the dash and came up with a bit of a problem,!!!
it's a lot bigger than I thought it was...lol, and with the laptop as well on the dash, no room for anything!!!
Anyone know where I can get a stainless steel wall mount arm to put the unit on? So I can move it out of the cabin door way when not in use. The kind the bank tellers use.
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
The_Wanderer
Posts: 735
Date Joined: 24/09/08
PM Dean his dad is running
PM Dean his dad is running a a 295 in a 650 Northshore.
Wreckless
Posts: 92
Date Joined: 02/11/09
You might
have to get one of the stainless steel marine fabricators to make you something up Tony. I know there is one in Malaga
Rosco
Posts: 454
Date Joined: 20/11/07
FCV 585
Did you get rid of the tank Tony? Your 585 is working a treat on my little tub. Thanks again for the bargain
Rosco
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
Rosco, the "tank" allie tub
Rosco, the "tank" allie tub went up in flames... :(
it had an argument with it's battery charger and lost!
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Dirt
Posts: 463
Date Joined: 04/03/10
HEY GUYS IM NEW TO THIS
HEY GUYS IM NEW TO THIS FORUMN AND AM LOOKING AT FITTING THE 295 IN MY CARRIBEAN REEF RUNNER,IVE BEEN QUOTED $3950 FOR THE UNIT AND $1150 FOR DUAL TRANSDUCERS FROM TAILOR MARINE SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
IS THERE ANY DISADVANTAGE IN BYING THE UNIT FROM THE STATES AS THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE PRICE DIFFERENCE,EVERY CENT COUNTS AS I ALSO WANT TO FIT OUTRIGGERS AND AN ELECTRIC ANCHOR WINCH AS WELL
NOT SURE WETHER TO GO WET BOX OR TRANSOM MOUNT
DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW MUCH TO GET THE WET BOX INSTALLED AND WHERE
WHERE IS A GOOD PLACE TO GET THE UNIT AND TRANSDUCERS SET UP
ANY TIME HELPING ME OUT WOULD BE GREATLEY APPRECIATED
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
mate if you buy from the USA
mate if you buy from the USA you have no local support and warranty.
secondly you support the local economy.
I bought mine from Taylor Marine,
as for th wet box, I'm not a fan of them on small boats, but some are. big issue is the hull thickness and getting a spot with clean water under it.
I went the wet-face route and a custom transom mount bracket.
but each to his own and ask around if any on the east coast have the same set up as you need, they run a lot of that type of set-up for deep water marlin and looking for bait-schools
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Here is a pro tip, take the
Here is a pro tip, take the caps lock off, ALL CAPS MEANS YOU'RE YELLING OK?
Its a tough one, you can forget local support on a US-purchased unit and warranty returns are to the US in the event of problems.
If you have the bucks, buy local and save the heartache.