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**brak** · 25-09-2011, 13:59

Incidentally, I have a new-in-box-never opened Garmin 541 for sale. If anyone is interested - PM.

goboatingnow · 25-09-2011, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by David M

You do not need a full view of the sky to get a solid GPS fix. Years ago this was not true when there were few satellites in orbit. An external antenna is not necessary if you have the unit outside with a partial view of the sky.

not really more a feature of teh latest generation of receivers, SIRF star 3 chipsets are much more sensitive then previous chip sets.

Dave

four winds · 25-09-2011, 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

The 'included' transducer is often the transom mount... they several types including through-hull and inside mount.

You can epoxy the transom mount transducer and it will blissfully fire through the hull just like the more expensive through hull transducer.

BTW,

Anyone have any clue what the difference is between the 540s and the 541s?

Not certain about this. But on the 400 series the difference is the included charts.

One has inland lake charts and the other has coastal charts.

goboatingnow · 25-09-2011, 19:36

The 540 is not a current Garmin model, it was superceeded by the 541 teh 521 is teh basemap version, the 531 is teh lakes verson and the 541 has US coastal charts

four winds · 25-09-2011, 19:58

yes, I was thinking about the 431s and the 441s. The 440 is the obsolete version in the 400 series.

Svsilvergirl · 25-09-2011, 21:14

The new garmin stuff is awesome , I have a 740s that is flush mounted in a 3/4 inch thick hardwood nav station. No external antennae , and it locks in seconds. I thought sure I was going to need one. Amazing , there is solid wood all around it and it works fine .

ODayGirl · 02-04-2012, 06:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

The 'included' transducer is often the transom mount... they several types including through-hull and inside mount.

You can epoxy the transom mount transducer and it will blissfully fire through the hull just like the more expensive through hull transducer.

BTW,

Anyone have any clue what the difference is between the 540s and the 541s?

According to the Garmin documentation, the shoot through hull transducer will only work on solid fiberglass with no core. Was that your experience? I'd love to avoid trying to find a place for the transom mount transducer.

andreshs1 · 02-04-2012, 08:34

Hi
I bought the unit some months ago but got the transom transducer though. I'm picking up the in-hull one tomorrow and I'll be fitting it over the weekend. I am planning on installing it on the v-berth.
Any pros, cons or suggestions??

Regards
Andres

Svsilvergirl · 02-04-2012, 19:06

Heard a lot if people just bed it in a toilet wax ring. And it works fine.

andreshs1 · 02-04-2012, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Svsilvergirl

Heard a lot if people just bed it in a toilet wax ring. And it works fine.

hi Svsilvergirl

Thanks for tip, Im picking the unit later today, let see once I have it in my hands...

Cheers

Dulcesuenos · 03-04-2012, 04:14

The wax would work, whT we do is use a regular transom mount cheap.transducer and lay.a.nice thick.layer 1/2 in of 4200 in the hull in a ideal location make sure there are no air bubbles and gently squish the transducer down into it. On a solid non cored.hull it works and reads perfectly. also works good on power boats and seems to work better at speed than a transom.mount btw we hVe used both.units.bo th are.great love our 541

Ziggy · 03-04-2012, 04:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulcesuenos

The wax would work, whT we do is use a regular transom mount cheap.transducer and lay.a.nice thick.layer 1/2 in of 4200 in the hull in a ideal location make sure there are no air bubbles and gently squish the transducer down into it. On a solid non cored.hull it works and reads perfectly. also works good on power boats and seems to work better at speed than a transom.mount btw we hVe used both.units.bo th are.great love our 541

Keep in mind that in order for this method to work a) you need to find a suitable location where the hull has very little deadrise; and 2) the hull must not be cored. With a cored hull you would need to carefully cut out a patch of the inner skin, dig out the core, and replace it with solid epoxy or polyester.