Tuna Cat
05-05-2009, 01:58 PM
I want to upgrade my fish finder and transducer, but first wanted to get some input from the members from Tidal Fish.
I currently have old Furuno 582L with 600w transom mount transducer taken from my first boat and transferred to my Glacier Bay Catamaran in 2005.
I have a Northstar 6000i chartplotter and thought I wanted to integrate new sounder, but found out unit is not 100% compatible with B164 Airmar transducer due to the wiring output on the Northstar 491 blackbox. Originally, went with the Northstar because it was the biggest screen I could fit in the 2004 dash without major work. Turns out even though 491 blackbox is 600w/1000w and transducer is the same, the unit defaults to 600w due to wiring output. That is the reason I am asking about the m260 if I go that route.
I think I have narrowed it down to two options:
1. Stick with Northstar blackbox and install M260 shoot thru the hull and install separate temp. Use split screen on 6000i for monitor. Seems like may be more installation work than second option.
2. Go to the Furuno 585 8.4" digital and use the B164 low profile Airmar thru hull transducer and forget about the integration. I would have 10" chart plotter and 8.4" sounder.
Concern:
I have been told the Furuno 585 is a superior sounder. Question, cut a hole in the boat for what some say is a superior sounder or go with Northstar blackbox and M260 and integrate system?
One more piece of information, I also have a Furuno radar purchased in 2005 with new boat.
What do you guys think?
I currently have old Furuno 582L with 600w transom mount transducer taken from my first boat and transferred to my Glacier Bay Catamaran in 2005.
I have a Northstar 6000i chartplotter and thought I wanted to integrate new sounder, but found out unit is not 100% compatible with B164 Airmar transducer due to the wiring output on the Northstar 491 blackbox. Originally, went with the Northstar because it was the biggest screen I could fit in the 2004 dash without major work. Turns out even though 491 blackbox is 600w/1000w and transducer is the same, the unit defaults to 600w due to wiring output. That is the reason I am asking about the m260 if I go that route.
I think I have narrowed it down to two options:
1. Stick with Northstar blackbox and install M260 shoot thru the hull and install separate temp. Use split screen on 6000i for monitor. Seems like may be more installation work than second option.
2. Go to the Furuno 585 8.4" digital and use the B164 low profile Airmar thru hull transducer and forget about the integration. I would have 10" chart plotter and 8.4" sounder.
Concern:
I have been told the Furuno 585 is a superior sounder. Question, cut a hole in the boat for what some say is a superior sounder or go with Northstar blackbox and M260 and integrate system?
One more piece of information, I also have a Furuno radar purchased in 2005 with new boat.
What do you guys think?