330 Transducer replacement options

[kirk a]

Current set up on my 330 Express is a Raymarine system with a pair of e127 screens, a CP370 and B164 transducer. The water temp is showing signs of failing. Initially it ran a bit high, and recently it has been really far off when initially turned on (like 90 degrees when it should be 70). So far, it has come back down to a normalish setting.

I'm assuming that it is on its way out, and wondering what a good option for replacement would be? I see that the B164 could be replaced, but it is still older tech.

My fishing ranges from inshore in 20-30 feet out to the canyons. I'd lean towards something that would be really good in 2-400' where most of the time is spent - the B164 has worked fine for me for these conditions, but I'm certain there would be a better option. Most of the offshore fishing is trolling, not bottom fishing or deep dropping.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

The B164 is a underestimated transducer, i had one together with a TM265LH and it worked better than reasonable well.
Advantage is that it's a mushroom type - same as 175 series - transducer but the B164 is dual frequency, the B175 series single frequency band but CHIRP.
I personally find CHIRP not that a huge advantage so i could do it without, but thats me.
Your fishing profile need either a single, generic transducer or two dedicated ones, one for shallow and the other for deep water and the B164 does that reasonable well.
Option would be a GT51M for shallow and side-scan and a B175L for deep, but that need either transom installation or another hole center keel for the GT51M.
One of the best transducers is the B265LH, 1kW dual frequency low and high chirp and able to reach abyssal depths.
However the GT51M and the B265LH may does not work on your older Raymarine e127 mfd's.

If you wan't to keep them the it would be simplest to replace the B164 with another B164.

Chris