P79 Airmar Depth Sounder Not Working, RT31S

[MechGuy]

I’ve had recent issues where my depth sounder was working intermittently and found that the transducer was missing the O-ring to retain fluid. I purchased an O-ring and filled the bowl with antifreeze, but now it doesn’t work at all. I can hear the transducer ticking, but I get no depth data on the chart plotter. I went to find the connections to the system and they are in the bowels of the boat somewhere. I can’t tell where it connects to the boat network other than the cable runs forward down the starboard side. It doesn’t appear to be Nema 2000 so probably Nema 0183. I’m thinking now of buying a new transducer of the same model, but where it connects is a big mystery. it looks like the only access to the Nema systems may be removing the fridge and crawling in there. My boat is an 2017 and the chart plotter is an 7616xsv. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[dexmot74]

It might plug directly into the back of the Garmin Chart Plotter Unit. A lot of the tugs come with the xsv models that have that option.

 

[MechGuy]

It might plug directly into the back of the Garmin Chart Plotter Unit. A lot of the tugs come with the xsv models that have that option.

Great thanks. I’ll check that tomorrow when I’m at the boat.

 

[MechGuy]

Dexmot74 you are correct, the Airmar p79 plugs into the 8-pin connector on the back of the gpsmap 7616xsv. I was able to get the transducer working intermittently so I’ll plan on limping along this year with it and will put in a thru-hull transducer next spring. I’m wondering what thru-hull transducer people have installed that have done this? Just looking for rock solid depth readings reliably.

 

[jeffhowell1]

Dexmot74 you are correct, the Airmar p79 plugs into the 8-pin connector on the back of the gpsmap 7616xsv. I was able to get the transducer working intermittently so I’ll plan on limping along this year with it and will put in a thru-hull transducer next spring. I’m wondering what thru-hull transducer people have installed that have done this? Just looking for rock solid depth readings reliably.

Last Fall I gave up on P79, could not access it, and had thru-hull transducer (Airmar B619 w/Garmin 8-pin connector) installed, port side next to diesel engine, opposite of water intake. Works fantastic, reads down to 1000', never loses bottom reading, also tells water temp.

 

[MechGuy]

Last Fall I gave up on P79, could not access it, and had thru-hull transducer (Airmar B619 w/Garmin 8-pin connector) installed, port side next to diesel engine, opposite of water intake. Works fantastic, reads down to 1000', never loses bottom reading, also tells water temp.

Hi Jeff. Did you do the install yourself or did a yard do it for you? I'm wondering how big of a job this is.

Larry Parfitt

 

[jeffhowell1]

Hi Jeff. Did you do the install yourself or did a yard do it for you? I'm wondering how big of a job this is.

Larry Parfitt

I had Seattle Yachts Service (old Cap Sante Marine) in Anacortes install the new thru-hull transducer while I was having other work done. Wasn’t comfortable making hole myself, they did resin/fiberglass work on hole before installing new transducer. I also did not want to run the cable to the chartplotter myself, they removed the stove to run cable. As you can guess, most of cost was labor, worth it to me, new thru-hull transducer works great. Old P79 constantly lost depth reading and I had no access to it.

 

[MechGuy]

Thanks for that info. I'll probably do the same.