Airmar Transducer Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Transducer for Your Boat

Airmar makes the transducers inside most major fishfinder and chartplotter brands — and they also sell them direct. Buying an Airmar transducer directly from a dealer like BOE Marine means you can spec exactly the frequency, power, mounting style, tilt angle, and connector you need, rather than accepting whatever came bundled with your unit. This guide walks you through every major decision.

Step 1: Thru-Hull, Transom Mount, or In-Hull?

Thru-hull transducers (the B-series) install through the hull with a bronze housing. They give the best performance because the element is in direct contact with the water — no deadrise compensation, no turbulence from the hull. Ideal for serious fishermen, offshore boats, and anyone who wants maximum bottom-reading depth and resolution.

Transom-mount transducers are easier to install — bolt to the transom, aim the element down. Good for aluminum fishing boats, smaller center consoles, and trailered boats. Performance is solid for most freshwater and inshore applications.

In-hull (shoot-through) transducers mount inside the hull above the waterline. No hull penetration, easiest to install, but you lose roughly 20% of signal strength passing through the hull. Best for fiberglass hulls without air bubbles in the laminate. Not recommended for coring, balsa, or foam-sandwich hulls.

Step 2: Traditional vs. CHIRP

Traditional (single-frequency) transducers transmit at a fixed frequency — typically 50kHz (deep water, wide beam), 200kHz (shallow water, narrow beam), or both. They work well and they're less expensive. If you're fishing inshore or freshwater and your fishfinder isn't CHIRP-capable, a traditional transducer is all you need.

CHIRP (Compressed High-Intensity Radar Pulse) transducers transmit a continuous sweep of frequencies rather than a single ping. The result is dramatically better target separation (you can see individual fish in a school), more detail at depth, and less noise. CHIRP transducers require a CHIRP-capable fishfinder — most Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance, Simrad, and Furuno units from the last 5+ years qualify.

• CHIRP High (150–250kHz): Sharp detail in shallow to mid water. Best for bays, inshore, and freshwater.
• CHIRP Medium (80–160kHz): The sweet spot. Good detail and depth range. Most versatile CHIRP band.
• CHIRP Low (28–60kHz): Deep water penetration. Best for offshore canyon fishing and depths beyond 1,000 feet.
• CHIRP Wide: Wider beam angle — larger coverage area at the expense of some detail. Great for finding fish in open water.

Step 3: Power — How Many Watts?

More watts = deeper depth penetration and better performance in rough conditions (bubbles and turbulence reduce signal). For most boats:

• 600W – Adequate for freshwater and inshore applications. Airmar B45, B60, B117.
• 300W CHIRP – Great mid-range CHIRP performance. Airmar B150.
• 1kW – Offshore standard. Handles deep water, high boat speeds, and rough conditions. Airmar B164, B175, B265, B285.

Step 4: Tilt Angle

Thru-hull transducers need their element pointing straight down when the boat is underway (not sitting at the dock). If your hull has deadrise — the angle from the centerline to the hull sides — you need a matching tilt. Airmar offers 0°, 7°, 12°, and 20° tilt options on most models. Measure your deadrise at the transducer install location and match accordingly. Getting this wrong means your transducer is pointing at an angle, not straight down, and performance suffers significantly.

Step 5: Connector Type

Airmar sells the same transducer body with manufacturer-specific connectors — Garmin 8-pin, Furuno 10-pin, Simrad/Navico 9-pin, Raymarine, Humminbird, and more. Buy the connector that matches your fishfinder brand and you're done. If you're not sure yet, or if you have multiple brands of electronics, buy the Mix & Match version and get the matching adapter cable separately.

Airmar Transducer Family Overview

Airmar B45 / B60 / B117 — Traditional 50/200kHz, 600W

The workhorses. Dual-frequency traditional transducers for fishfinders that aren't CHIRP-capable, or for boaters who don't need CHIRP. The B45 and B60 are transom-mount; the B117 is bronze thru-hull. These are the cost-effective choice for freshwater bass boats, bay boats, and inshore saltwater fishing.

Airmar B150 — Medium CHIRP, 300W Bronze Thru-Hull

The entry point for CHIRP thru-hull performance. 300W at CHIRP Medium frequencies with Airmar's Tilted Element™ technology. A significant upgrade from any traditional transducer, at a reasonable price point for serious inshore and freshwater anglers.

Airmar B164 — 50/200kHz, 1kW Bronze Thru-Hull

Traditional dual-frequency at 1kW power. Exceptional depth and penetration for its frequency range. The choice when your fishfinder isn't CHIRP-capable but you want maximum power for offshore depths.

Airmar B175 — CHIRP High/Medium/Low, 1kW Bronze Thru-Hull

The most popular 1kW CHIRP thru-hull in the Airmar lineup. Available in High, Medium, and Low frequency bands, all at 1kW. The B175H is ideal for mid-depth inshore and nearshore fishing; the B175L goes deep offshore. Pairs with virtually every major CHIRP fishfinder brand.

Airmar B265 / B275 / B285 — Dual-Band and Wide-Beam CHIRP, 1kW

Top-of-the-line options for the most demanding applications. The B265 and B275 offer Low-High dual-band CHIRP in one transducer — you get both deep penetration and shallow detail without switching. The B285 features a Wide beam for broader coverage, excellent for tournament fishing and finding fish in open water.

Our Top Airmar Picks

Airmar B117 50/200kHz 600W Mix & Match 0° Deadrise

SKU: AIR-B117-DT-MM | More Info

The classic bronze thru-hull in the Airmar lineup — 50/200kHz, 600W, available for every major fishfinder brand. Ideal for boats where the electronics aren't CHIRP-capable, or as a cost-effective upgrade from a plastic transom mount. The Mix & Match version lets you spec the right connector adapter separately.

Airmar B150 Medium 0 Degree Chirp D/T | Includes Mix & Match Cable

SKU: AIR-B150C-0-M-MM | More Info

Airmar's entry-level CHIRP thru-hull delivers a significant jump in target separation and resolution over traditional transducers. Medium CHIRP at 300W — great for inshore, bay, and freshwater applications. The 0° tilt Mix & Match model is the cleanest starting point if you're not sure which connector you need.

Airmar B164 Bronze Thru-Hull - 50/200 kHz - 1 kW - 0° Tilted Element - Requires Mix & Match Cable

SKU: AIR-B164-0-MM | More Info

One kilowatt of traditional 50/200kHz power in a bronze thru-hull housing. The B164 is the standard choice for offshore boats where the fishfinder isn't CHIRP but maximum depth penetration is a priority. Available in 0°, 12°, and 20° tilt to match your hull's deadrise.

Airmar B285 High Wide Chirp, 1kW w/ FB, Furuno 10-Pin,DT

SKU: AIR-B285C-HW-10F | More Info

The most popular single-band CHIRP transducer Airmar makes. At 1kW in the High CHIRP band, the B175H delivers exceptional resolution from the surface down to mid-depth offshore. Compatible with nearly every CHIRP fishfinder — choose your connector or order Mix & Match and add an adapter.

Airmar B265 Low-High Chirp, 1kW, w/ FB, Furuno 12-Pin, DT

SKU: AIR-B265C-LH-12F | More Info

Airmar's widest-beam CHIRP transducer covers more water per ping than any other Airmar model. The B285 High Wide CHIRP at 1kW is the choice for tournament anglers who need to locate fish across a large area quickly, then zoom in. Includes fairing block.

🎣 Expert Advice from Mack Jennings

The biggest thing I see customers get wrong is buying a transducer for the wrong tilt. Measure your deadrise at the install spot before ordering — a 12° hull running a 0° transducer will have the element pointing backward, not down. Every degree off costs you depth and resolution. When in doubt, order the Mix & Match version, install the housing first, verify the angle, then order the correct tilt.

CHIRP is worth it. The first time someone sees their old fishfinder return versus a modern CHIRP display at the same spot, the difference is immediate and dramatic. Airmar B175H or B175M paired with a current Garmin, Lowrance, or Simrad head unit is a system that will show you structure and fish you've been driving over for years without knowing.

Not sure which model or connector to order? Email sales@boemarine.com — tell us your fishfinder model, hull material, and hull deadrise angle, and we'll spec the right transducer. We install these every week.