Just replaced my old Lowrance X60 fish finder from the 1980's with a brand new Garmin Echo 200 fish finder. I cant believe the clarity of the screen and the bottom detail. The back light is full illumination unlike the old LCD with the crappy single incandescent light. I have not used it for fishing yet but it has full display, split/zoom screen and it has the old style analog depth display. Depending on the transducer it gives water temp and speed. Voltage is also displayed and the usual alarms for depth, fish and drift.

I got the transducer and unit through Amazon for a good price. I think the unit was same price as West Marine sans the tax.

Piece of cake to install. The wiring has gotten much smaller, I suspect decreased power retirements over the old Lowrance.
I use it primarily for a depth sounder at the lower helm but definitely looking forward to snagging some perch with it.



-Karl

I used the original thu-hull hole (under galley floor) but had to make it bigger to accommodate the new Airmar P319 nylon transducer. Mounted it flush to the outside of the hull and made a little internal fairing block out of starboard.
Don't use wood with a plastic transducer as it will absorb water, expand and possible crack the transducer.

If you have to make the hole bigger, shove a piece of wood into the hole to drill into first with your hole saw or have someone hold a block of wood over the hole while you drill.
I used 4200 or 5200 to seal everything.

With the Echo series you will need an adapter cable to mate with the P319 transducer as the pin config is different. Female 4 pin to Male 6 pin, Part Number: 010-11615-00.
I hope one of these days Garmin or Airmar will release a transducer that is thu-hull that will not need this adapter cable.

-Karl