Garmin 178C Question

F

Frogpawg

New member
I am installing a garmin 178C on my 22' cruiser. Regarding the transducer, should I worry about getting the speed wheel on the trans. or just get the one with dual freq., temp. and depth? The speed "wheel" experiences I have had in the past tell me they are much more inacurate than the speed given by the gps? When running the 178C can I display the gps speed on either the fish finder mode or gps mode? Thanks
 
Speed wheels usually have a limited lifespan and will tell you speed over water [ how fast you are moving in relation to the water , not how fast you are getting there] as opposed to speed over the ground . We never use em anymore . Dual Freq is the way to go if you fish .
Marc
 
Thanks Marc! This is my first unit that is dual purpose GPS and sounder. That is why I wondered why I would need the wheel? Actually I wondered why they would even offer a transducer with speed wheel for a gps/sounder??? thanks again for your input

Soapy Joe
22' Cruiser
 
I had a wheel with temperature installed on my TC to augment the thru-hull transducer. If you subtract the wheel speed from the gps speed (or vice versa) you get the speed of the tide. I was disappointed to read Marc's post that they don't last long. Hope I can prove him wrong!

Warren
 
The speed through the water is real important when you are fishing lures that depend on a certain speed for correct action. Of course you should observe the action of the lure and adjust the speed accordingly but once you have the right speed dialed in you can use the water speed next time.

Warren
 
If you lovingly grease and clean the wheel and dont knock it off the transom with the trailer roller or bunk or anything like that they will last . I didnt mean to say that they all will fail .
Good points about the lures , I haven't fished like that since I lived out West . Always check your action !
Marc
 
My 22 classic came with a 178C installed. No paddlewheel but dual transducer. I've only used the boat for about 6 hours fishing so far because I only put the boat in the water Sunday. In the gps/fishfinder split screen the gps speed is right on for ground speed. Without a paddlewheel you won't get water speed (but I have a knot meter installed independent of the 178C. I know the water here quite well and looking at how my gear trails in the water tells me all I need to know to catch salmon. I have found that I might have one speed showing on the knot meter, another on the gps mode of the 178C and my gear streaming way out because of currents different at the depth my gear is. I go with how the gear trails and only use the other speed indicators as a guide. Good luck in figuring out your water!
 
I don't have the speed wheel on my current transducers. But the speed thru the water IS important for fishing, and is worth getting the speed log for that.

I have used the same types of paddle wheel on thru hull transducers for over 45 years and as long as you keep the spindle clear, they work very well. I have never had one wear out--and put many thousands of miles on them. I suspect that Marc is refering to damage, not wearing out. I use a small amount of teflon grease currently--in the past used waterproof grease or silicone grease. There is a magnet or two in the paddle wheel, and a coil adjacent. The magnet thru the field makes a small amount of current and this is what measures the speed--pretty simple and fool proof concept.
 
Thanks to all of you :wink I am going to go with the Garmin "Triducer" with is Dual Freq. 50/200 with Depth, temp. and speed wheel. Your posts have convinced me!

Soapy Joe
22' Cruiser
 
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