Garmin Panoptix PS70 Transducer

[Hookup1]

Anyone using the Garmin Panoptix PS70 Transducer on their GW boat? Been watching this scanning sonar evolution. Trying to figure out if the technology really works and if its worth the $5k.

 

[Gscheer]

I know at least one charter captain on Lake Ontario uses it and likes it. The transducer is mounted sideways and may need another battery because of its draw.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

I personally never saw the PS70 in action, but many videos about it and it seems that he works as supposed and much better than Furuno's DFF3D.
There are some videos in Japanese showing the PS70 designing bottom at 600ft what is about double what DFF3D can reach.
However, be advised that the PS70 multi-beam system makes particular sense for mapping the bottom at 300ft+ deep water, if only finding fish is needed there are less expensive traditional solutions. The Panoptix sonar system is a kind of side-scan system, but elaborate the signal as a map and not like a video as side-scan does. However, the Panoptix system is a much better system than side-scan to find fish in mid water as it has a beam with of 120° what shows fish on the side of the boat, particularly useful for tuna fishing and the bottom mapping is great to find structure for bottom fishing or jigging.
Yes, the Panoptix system has LiveVü and traditional sonar too, but what makes the PS70 shine is the bottom mapping where it's depth is best in class and the Panoptix sonar features.

I would love to have a PS70, but the cost is very steep and for my fishing the max 1000ft of reachable depth is not enough so i would need to have the B265LH and the PS70 installed what would be a bulky installation.

Chris

 

[Hookup1]

I'm waiting for Garmin to come out with a competing system to the Furuno Omni for the small boats (under 40'). The PS70 is pricey but would be OK if it really worked. I don't need the bottom mapping. I'm looking for fish. Some of the comment/reviews indicated it worked for them but I'm not convinced yet. I currently have a single Garmin GT512M-TH mounted on the centerline. Totally unhappy with the results. Images are like "ink blots" with no usable images. This is the best side scan image I ever got. SanPedro site in the Keys.



The boys on the multi-million dollar tournament boats rave about the Furuno Omni sonar. This is $120,000 plus installation cost and can't fit in anything less than 55' (65'+ preferred). Several Captains I have talked to told me "if we see 3 fish we work them until we catch 3 fish. We can usually tell where in the spread they will come up.". Some tournaments have added non-Omni Calcuttas.



I guess I'm going to have to work at the GT-51M more this Winter.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

Totally unhappy with the results. Images are like "ink blots" with no usable images. This is the best side scan image I ever got. SanPedro site in the Keys.

Ok, i am in a similar position and working on that what is more simple as mine is transom mounted, however i need to take a dip to regulate it.
The GT51M-TM i had in Costa RIca was working much better and down to 180ft so i expected that in the clear Sardinia Water i should reach easily 250 ft, but i can barely see higher than 3+ feet structure at 120ft what is very disappointing.
However, it seems that i made a mistake and installed the inclination of the transducer parallel to hull and not to water surface, so transducer is pointing forward instead of downward. A few days ago i took a dip with my scuba gear and checked if transducer is parallel to water surface when she is at rest, and as i guessed transducer was pointing forward. Los i loosen the bracket screws and lifted transducers rear quite a bit and a test ride showed that i get much better structure readings now, but still far from what my best friends cousin showed me from his Garmin 923 or similar model.



So,
i guess you installed the GT51M-TH with it's fairing block to the hull without cutting fairing block to a angle so that rear of transducer is in contact with hull (pointing more down) and have same problem as i had and still have.
I understand that fixing that is a pita as you have to remove the GT51M-TM again and cut the fairing block to front high and back low shape and reinstall all.

Before doing anything, take your diving mask and take a dip to check transducers level, better if you take some photos for later reference.
Then use a bubble level and the coin method to check how boat level changes from just sitting to 3-6 knots what is usually a good speed for side-scan.If there is any difference in boat level you need to consider that too when you cut the fairing to make transducer pointing down.

However, keep in mind that side-scan is not a good solution for finding fish as their marks and shadows are easy to oversee, but it's a awesome tool to find structure and wheres structure there is usually fish.

As you already know, the only solution is a 360° sonar and thats very bulky and expensive pro stuff and definitively nothing for your boat and i expect that if Garmin makes a Omni kind sonar it would be same size and price class.
You may check out the Humminbird Mega 360, thats a affordable 360° sonar but i have no idea how well it works offshore, or the Garmin Panoptix systems.

Chris

 

[Hookup1]

Before doing anything, take your diving mask and take a dip to check transducers level, better if you take some photos for later reference.
Then use a bubble level and the coin method to check how boat level changes from just sitting to 3-6 knots what is usually a good speed for side-scan.If there is any difference in boat level you need to consider that too when you cut the fairing to make transducer pointing down.

My install does not involve a fairing block.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

My install does not involve a fairing block.

View attachment 37832 View attachment 37833

Isn't the black spacer between hull and transducer itself not a fairing block?
Not sure why you have this flat spacer, did you used the GT51M-TM and someone made this thin spacer?
Recent GT51M-TH come with a fairing block to cut to measure for adapting inclinations.

 

[Hookup1]

Isn't the black spacer between hull and transducer itself not a fairing block?
Not sure why you have this flat spacer, did you used the GT51M-TM and someone made this thin spacer?
Recent GT51M-TH come with a fairing block to cut to measure for adapting inclinations.
View attachment 37834

No it's part of the transducer. The faring block has a recess in it for the transducer. In the approved mounting locations above you can see the centerline one mounts directly to the hull.

The transducer is only 3" wide and my hull is reasonably flat there. I ground it out a little to flatten it and repaired before installing it.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

Well, the new model looks different, mine looks like yours without the spacer, however the position you mounted it is perfectly fine, i have my B265LH there.
You need to change inclination to get the rear of the transducer up to correct hulls angle to get side-scan reading well.
How much you need to figure out as i wrote above, as your boat is on a trailer search in youtube for transducer coin to see how to measure and eventually correct transducer level.
To correct the level you need to buy or make a fairing block, or just leave it as it is and live with the bad reading.

That is what Garmin writes about thru-hull transducer mounting

In this case the transducers surface will be perpendicular as well and pointing straight down instead of forward.

Chris

 

[Hookup1]

The top 1/2" of the naked transducer is metal. The threaded stem and the mounting bolts are part of it. This sits in a recess in the fairing block which is not used in my case. The lower part is the plastic transducer encasement.
I did cut my fairing block but did not use any of it. Garmin install instruction said mount to hull. I took a look at my hull. The waterline is snout 2" below the bottom paint. The keel drops down a few inches forward to aft. You can see from the transducer photo above the hull is clean. I don't think the angle is my problem. I'm going to talk to Garmin rep and a few installers next week at the MidAtlantic tournament in Cape May.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

Please let us know what they told you as it would be important for many who wan't to install a thru-hull side-scan transducer.
Chris