Airmar P66 T/D for Lowrance

[perchjerker]

Just got my new t/d in the mail.

Wholley Cow the thing is a monster!! Almost as long as a Bird SI t/d

Looks great. Cant wait to install it and see how it works!

[Gale Johnson]

Mine works great, i did have to put some plastic sheer pins in it because i broke off the clips that hold it down so it kept popping up in rough water or at high speed

It shows really nice marks

[jimirjr]

You will love the AIRMAR vs older Lowrance transducers....

[perchjerker]

thanks for the comments

I am doing some electrical work on the boat (2 new starting batteries, rewiring some of the mess the previous owner made) and decided to temporarily hook up the sounder to make sure the new t/d worked.

Last trip out my old one went dead. It was about 6 years old. Was not ticking and when I looked for it in the sonar menu, it showed "unknown transducer" was selected. I tried to change it but it kept going back to that.

So I figured (hoped) it was the t/d not that sonar crapping out.

I plugged it the Airmar in just to see if I was right and it works. The signal return looks very different than the old one just holding the t/d in my hand.

At least I know it works and can get back to my wiring work

[CSH Kucinski]

Originally Posted by jimirjr

You will love the AIRMAR vs older Lowrance transducers....

jimirjr,

I was at our local outdoor show yesterday and a local captain who was giving a seminar recommended that everyone in the room replace their current transducer with an Airmar P66 one. He was adamant about it! Said the difference is night and day when fishing in all depths of water for walleye. He even showed pictures of a standard transducer vs. the Airmar on his RayMarine unit and there was a significant difference.

Now he has me thinking about replacing the stock transducer that came with my HDS 10 with the P66. What unit do you have? Is there any specific insight you can share other than the fact that you love before I pull the trigger on one? Anyone else with HDS units have any specifics that they can share? Any drawbacks or limitations with the P66? Appreciate it in advance!

[Yamagator]

I replaced my stock Lowrance HDS 5 transducer with the Airmar P66 and am very happy with it. The stock transducer would lose bottom constantly even at a dead stop. The Airmar never loses bottom - trolling or running at 30 mph. Some say the Airmar is for deep water only but I fish 40 feet and less. It works great even in shallow water to 5 feet or less. I'm sure you will be happy with the Airmar.

[Wall@y@]

Reading the posts for the AirMar P-66 transducer I get the indication this transducer is the best since sliced bread but I'm a bit confused as to the specifications for this transducer.
The specifications are:
Frequency 50/200 KHZ
Cone angle is 45 degrees/11 degrees

My questions are:
1. Why would anyone want or use a 50 KHZ deep water transducer?
2. With most 200 KHZ transducers the cone angle is 20 Degrees, why would you want an 11 degree cone angle for walleye fishing unless you are fishing extremely deep water? For that matter, what would be the use for a 45 degree cone angle unless you are trolling for walleye suspended over deep water to cover more area?

Please explain why this transducer with these specs would be better than the Lowrance 83/200 KHZ transducer. What am I missing here. Mind you I'm not bashing the AirMar transducer because if the answers I receive are positive I just might get one for my HDS-10's.

[CSH Kucinski]

Originally Posted by Wall@y@

Reading the posts for the AirMar P-66 transducer I get the indication this transducer is the best since sliced bread but I'm a bit confused as to the specifications for this transducer.
The specifications are:
Frequency 50/200 KHZ
Cone angle is 45 degrees/11 degrees

My questions are:
1. Why would anyone want or use a 50 KHZ deep water transducer?
2. With most 200 KHZ transducers the cone angle is 20 Degrees, why would you want an 11 degree cone angle for walleye fishing unless you are fishing extremely deep water? For that matter, what would be the use for a 45 degree cone angle unless you are trolling for walleye suspended over deep water to cover more area?


Please explain why this transducer with these specs would be better than the Lowrance 83/200 KHZ transducer. What am I missing here. Mind you I'm not bashing the AirMar transducer because if the answers I receive are positive I just might get one for my HDS-10's.

Good questions, can't wait to hear what is said because I am a bit confused too as to whether I should stay with what I have or buy the Airmar. Aren't there any Lowrance experts out there who can lend some guidance please?

[popi]

Putting one on this week ,will speak up in a couple of weeks when water opens up.

[jimirjr]

CSH.... sent You a PM