Can DownVision transducers be mounted inside a hull?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Can DownVision transducers be mounted inside a hull?

The power output of the high CHIRP (conical) sonar / DownVision transducers is relatively low in comparison to 600W, 1kW, and 2kW 50kHz/200kHz transducers and 1kW/2KW CHIRP transducers. When transmitting through a hull, a relatively large percentage (will vary per hull) of transmitted and returned energy will be lost in the exchange through the hull. This energy loss can be a fair challenge for the higher power transducers and a significant challenge when combined with the relatively low power output of high CHIRP (conical) sonar / DownVision transducers. Accordingly, Raymarine recommends that high CHIRP (conical) sonar / DownVision transducers used with Dragonfly fishfinders, ax8 MFDs, eSx8 MFDs, Axiom DV MFDs, and CP100 be installed such that the transducer will be in direct contact with the water. Raymarine neither recommends nor supports in-hull installation of high CHIRP (conical) sonar / DownVision transducers. For this reason, Raymarine offers transom mounted and thru-hull versions of the high CHIRP (conical) sonar / DownVision transducers.

CPT-S transducers are compatible with the above listed fishfinding products. For applications where a transom mounted transducer is not applicable and one is seeking a low profile transducer, it would be recommended that a CPT-S low profile thru-hull transducer be installed instead of a thru-hull DownVision transducer be considers. While the CPT-S transducer won't support DownVision imaging, it will support the same low power, high frequency CHIRP conical sonar imaging supported by a DownVision transducer. Accordingly, CPT-S transducers are a very good option for sailboats and cruisers.


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