[CA] [CA11] Locating RV-220 Transducer

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Bradfish,

This hull definitely poses some challenges and you may want to consider enlisting a Certified Raymarine Installer who is familiar with RealVisionâ„¢ transducers and such hulls for the installation. Given our choice, the recommendation would be to install the transducers in the location presently occupied by the water pickups (as long as the transducers will not aerate the props) and to consider moving the water pick-ups inboard or outboard of the transducers. There is some overlap in coverage by the transducers, the amount of which will be dependent upon the hull's deadrise and the distance which the transducers will be separated. Where such overlap does not occur, an blind spot will occur, which will be widest at shallow depths and will decrease as the water depth increases.

Given the deadrise (13 degrees as indicated by one Internet source), it would be recommended that a RealVision™ (RV) 3D Thru-Hull Transducer, 12°, split-pair be installed. The maximum distance that the RV transducers may be separated is a little less than seven feet. As the hull features a skeg, it would be recommended the transducers be located away from the skeg to prevent exposure to aerated / turbulent water (see the recommendation above). The same may occur if the transducer is installed behind aft of a thru-hull such as a water intake. This condition may adversely affect fishfinder performance when the vessel is operating at planing speeds, and will typically manifest itself in loss of bottom. RV transducers feature an AHRS to permit the RV processing to compensate for vessel motion. As the AHRS is a magnetic north seeking device, performance of such compensation may be adversely affected by installation of the RV transducer in close proximity iron (ex. engine blocks, skegs (varies based upon construction), etc.) and other sources of magnetism. AHRS compensation may be disabled should the installation locations for the transducers place them too close to a source of strong magnetic fields.

Please additionally note that I generally recommend that either a 1kW CHIRP transducer(s) or a 50kHz/200kHz transducer be installed to support tracking bottom at planing speed and to support operation in depths greater than may be supported by RV transducers.