Older Transducers - Use and Replacement

[Mambo]

Hi Mates -
I have a couple of Airmar transducers on the boat which were not functional when I started to sail it. I am not sure if they are functional or not (it may be the upstream components which were fried).

Questions:

1. Is it possible to test the transducers independantly (i.e., in a shop) or only after a new system is in place on board?

2. The triducer in the fairing block looks like a pretty expensive bugger, is it possibel to replace only the transducer and not the block? If so, can this be done while in the water or must the boat be hauled?

3. There is a Raymarine SHS box and a gyro compass on one of the forward bulkheads (which was presumably used for MARPA with the old RC70 system). I am planning to install a garmin MFD with radar. Will the RM SHS work for Garmin MARPA purposes or should I just pull it?

4. What is the fluxgate compass required for: Radar overlay? a RADAR perimeter alarm? MARPA?

4. Would you lend me some money? -)

Thanks!!!
-M

[capt_douglas]

Call Airmar, probably basic tests
Call Raymarine - they'll have the answers
No

[Pete7]

Arimar used to have a really good website which gave details of sounders and the manufacturers. However, it seems to be being redirected elsewhere 10 minutes ago wanting to download a nasty virus, so tread carefully.

However, why were the control heads fried? lightening?

I would be tempted to start again with transducers because so many have different frequencies and wiring.

Pete

[Mambo]

Thanks Pete -

Yeah - indirect lightening apperently took out a couple of pieces of equipment while others remained functional. I never had the chance to check these particular transducers or the SHS box. All told, repacement of the questionable items total nearly $2K . . . so it seems worth a bit of effort to see what works and what doesn't.

If I knew that a new garmin system (without a new fluxgate compass) could do a radar overlay and a perimeter alarm (but not MARPA bearings and colision info) I'd be a lot more content ripping out the old stuff and moving forward.

Thanks.
-M

[generationz]

Theres also this transducer chart which I use.

It matches fishfinders and the relevant airmar model. Quite useful really.

Originally Posted by Pete7

Arimar used to have a really good website which gave details of sounders and the manufacturers. However, it seems to be being redirected elsewhere 10 minutes ago wanting to download a nasty virus, so tread carefully.

However, why were the control heads fried? lightening?

I would be tempted to start again with transducers because so many have different frequencies and wiring.

Pete