Airmar has launched a Universal Pocket Mount that lets a boatbuilder cut one hull pocket and still offer CHIRP sonar from 1 kW to 3 kW. Airmar announced it on 5 October 2026 alongside two new 1 kW transducers, the XLM265LH and the XLM275LHW, and says they are available now through authorised Airmar dealers worldwide.
How the Airmar Universal Pocket Mount works
Airmar says builders can use a single pocket design across hull sizes. That keeps transducer placement consistent, so they can tune sonar performance across a whole model range. According to Airmar’s brochure, the new 1 kW models share the exact pocket footprint of its PM111, PM411 and CM599 transducers. All of them have the same length, width, height, bolt pattern and faceplate. Because the installation stays the same from 1 kW to 3 kW, Airmar says production, training and inventory all get simpler.
“Boatbuilders can design the transducer pocket into the hull from the start, rather than adapting an installation as an afterthought,” said Craig Cushman, Director of Marketing at Airmar Technology Corporation.
Airmar XLM265LH and XLM275LHW transducers
Both new models are 1 kW, CHIRP-ready and dual-band. They come with bare-wire terminations, so Airmar says they work with any electronics brand. Airmar lists them for vessels of 8 m (25 ft) and above. The brochure uses the part numbers XLM265C-LH and XLM275C-LHW, while the product pages use XLM265LH and XLM275LHW.
| Model | Low band | High band | Maximum depth (low / high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XLM265LH (brochure: XLM265C-LH) | 42-65 kHz, 25°-16° | 130-210 kHz, 10°-6° | 914 m (3,000 ft) / 304 m (1,000 ft) |
| XLM275LHW (brochure: XLM275C-LHW) | 42-65 kHz, 25°-16° | 150-250 kHz, 25° constant | 914 m (3,000 ft) / 152 m (500 ft) |
In practice, Airmar pitches the XLM265LH’s narrow high-band beam at picking out structure and tight-holding fish. By contrast, it positions the XLM275LHW’s constant 25° high band for wider coverage in shallower water.
The 2 kW and 3 kW options in the same pocket
The brochure lists the PM111C-LH, PM111C-LHW and PM411C-LWM at 2 kW. At 3 kW it lists the CM599C-LM, CM599C-LH and CM599C-LHW. Airmar also shows two future custom models, but it gives no dates for them.
Our take on the Airmar Universal Pocket Mount
This is a builder story first, but it matters if you are speccing a new fishing boat. Airmar’s product pages say you can upgrade the 1 kW models easily at any time. In practice that means swapping the transducer for a higher-power Airmar model in the same pocket, which is a hardware change rather than a software upgrade. You can start with 1 kW and move up later without cutting a new hole. However, check that your sounder supports the power and frequency range you want, because these are bare-wire transducers. Airmar’s release and product pages give no prices, so ask your dealer.
Sources: Airmar press release, 5 October 2026 (PDF) · Airmar Universal Pocket Mount brochure (PDF) · Airmar XLM265LH product page · Airmar XLM275LHW product page · Airmar pocket/keel mount catalogue
Other Airmar stories here: Airmar
