I am going to be installing a Garmin 741xs Chartplotter and a NMEA 2000 backbone. I will therefore have to replace my current speed and depth transducers (Old Datamarine). I am considering an Airmar DST 800 Triducer (Depth, Speed and Temp in one transducer). Has anyone had experience with these. Do they work as well as having separate tranducers?
I installed one five years and ~7000 miles ago. Integration was totally seamless as I recall. It just appeared on the network and produced the data. It has been reasonably trouble free. I would recommend it.
Though last season I had no temperature data. I have not investigated why. But perhaps I would need to replace a depth and speed sensor to regain temperature? That is the downside of the obvious benefit of having fewer holes in the hull and fewer sensors/instruments to integrate. I think it is probably worth the tradeoff.
Thank you Waterdog.
BTW- Why would you want a temp sensor? Is it just for fishing, or to give you a warning before you jump in?
It's also useful if you're crossing the Gulf Stream... :thumb:
Steve I would say that in the area I sail in we have tidal currents to 14 knots+, water temperature can go from 55 degrees to 80 degrees within a few miles, and an indication of water temperature can be navigationally informative. But such a statement would be BS. I have water temperature because it came with the triducer and it is just another cool piece of data to see on the plotter. And I am not getting in when the temp is in the 60s!
What I do use all the time is the water speed vs. the GPS speed. We pretty much always have a knot or two of current and it is good to know what it is going on.
Like Waterdog, I use my temperature sensor to decide when to swim. It reduces the shrinkage!
LOL!
If you are using a good sealant, shrinkage shouldn't be a problem.