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Dumptruck transom mount transducer problem
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| flippa |
Posted on 07/21/08 - 6:24 AM
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Hi all
I have been having problems with my depth finder/sounder on my boat, and wanted to see if others have had similar problems.
I have a 1978 Outrage 21. I added a Garmin 178 GPS last year. The GPS has the sounder function so this season I decided to loose my Lowrance fishfinder & added the Garmin transducer.
The older Lowrance fish finder had a problem with loosing it's signal whenever I got the boat going over 15 mph. In order to try & resolve this problem, I mounted the Garmin transducer closer to the engine so that it would be deeper in the water. I located it on the starbord side of the engine, approximately 1 ft off the centerline of the boat.
I am still having the same problem; the GPS sounder looses it's signal whenever I get the boat going over 15 mph. It also seems like the transducer kicks up a "rooster tail" when I am traveling at speed; water shoots straight up @ 2 ft or so at the location of the transducer. When I slow down below 10 mph, it will take a minute or so, but the sounder will start working again.
Would it make any difference to relocate the transducer closer to centerline or perhaps to the port side of the engine? I mounted the transducer exactly per the manufacturer's recommendations.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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| Meridian |
Posted on 07/21/08 - 6:51 AM
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I had a similar set up and the same problem on my Montauk last year before I got my Garmin. I've got the transducer (about the size of a hocky puck) mounted in approxmately same place as you. Be sure the base of the transducer is parallel and below the hull. Mine is about 1/2" lower. I have a small roostertail but I get correct readings at all speeds. Some people on this site have used small blocking plates to eliminate the roostertail.
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| John Fyke |
Posted on 07/21/08 - 6:57 AM
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The transducer needs to be mounted parallel with the bottom of the hull (seems like yours is too low), and at least 15" away from the motor.
John Fyke
Re-Fit or Reef It
1979 15' Sport with Super Sport conversion and 70hp mercury. |
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| flippa |
Posted on 07/21/08 - 10:15 AM
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Thanks for the input guys.
The unit is not parallel to the bottom of the hull, it is parallel to the water level so that it looks straight down. I mounted the darn thing exactly as Garmin stated, even going so far as to use the paper template to make sure it was just right.
My Montauk had the same problem with the Lowrance, but not until I was going over 30 or so. I was thinking that maybe I was getting too much air/cavitation from under the boat which was messing it up.
I may be able to drop it slightly down to see if that improves things.
How do I go about loosing the rooster tail? I was thinking that it could be a contributing factor to my problem.
Oh well, looks like I'm drilling a few more holes.
Edited by flippa on 07/21/08 - 10:41 AM |
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| Meridian |
Posted on 07/21/08 - 10:25 AM
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Parallel with the water line is what I ment, not the hull, but below the bottom of the hull. I'll take a pic of mine tonight.
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| scrimshaw |
Posted on 07/21/08 - 10:49 AM
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I have a 1971 Ribside the transducer is mounted on the starboad side of the engine inside the engine inset area as there is no wood or solid transom on the aft quarters. A significant rooster tail was present initially but corrected with a cover fashioned out of plastic ,the rooster tail caused water to enter my saddle tanks via a starboard fuel vent until contained. You may need to consult a wood locating diagram much different on the Ribside than the smoothside,I submitted a copy to this website along with an owners manual for the smoothside that covers the instalation via Jeff but don't see where it's been added. Please post a picture of your 'Dumptruck'.
Edited by scrimshaw on 07/25/08 - 4:29 PM |
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| MW |
Posted on 07/21/08 - 3:51 PM
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My Hummingbird d/f sign's off at about 15 MPH... My view: If I'm in shallow water going faster than "Dead Slow", I'll find the bottom with the prop before the d/f does. In my area of operation (west end bay's of southern Long Island) unseen Sand Bar's are the "Norm" outside of the channel's. "Grounding's" are common even with shallow draft boats.
mw
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| CES |
Posted on 07/23/08 - 7:51 PM
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This is how your transducer should be mounted.
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/ceshaw/DSC00018.jpg[/IMG]
Cliff
1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker |
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| flippa |
Posted on 07/24/08 - 7:11 AM
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Jim, I have my transducer mounted in the engine insert portion as well. I do not believe that there is any wood located in the outer portion. Did the rooster tail on your boat effect the ability of your depth finder to read the bottom? Do you have a picture of the cover you fabricated to correct the problem? I don't have a picture of the transducer installation, and my boat is presently out on it's mooring.
I just hate not knowing the depth. I imagine that there must be a relatively simple solution to this problem.
I like to watch the bottom structure to see if fish are present. Plus we have quite a few areas where the bottom jumps up fast around here. It would be real useful to know when it is getting shallow, as it is typically all ledge & rock.
MW - I definitely don't want the engine to find the bottom up here; the grounding would not be as kind to the boat as finding a sand bar.
Edited by flippa on 07/24/08 - 7:21 AM |
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| scrimshaw |
Posted on 07/24/08 - 7:56 AM
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The rooster tail never interferred with depth readings only problemwas spray onto fuel vents getting water in gas. I'll post a picture in a couple of days as I'm away from home now.
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| John Fyke |
Posted on 07/24/08 - 7:19 PM
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CES wrote:
This is how your transducer should be mounted.
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/ceshaw/DSC00018.jpg[/IMG]
CES is right on with that pic.
John Fyke
Re-Fit or Reef It
1979 15' Sport with Super Sport conversion and 70hp mercury. |
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| scrimshaw |
Posted on 07/25/08 - 4:17 PM
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Sorry she's dirty,this is a peice of a plastic cutting board from the $ store screwed to plastic L thingies used for shelves( $1) I got at Home Depot used Duct tape to hold the L things in place as the 3M 5200(most expensive part) set then screwed on the plastic . It's not pretty but it works, ya thats a barnacle.
scrimshaw attached the following image:
[68.12Kb]
Edited by scrimshaw on 07/25/08 - 4:34 PM |
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| Mr T |
Posted on 07/26/08 - 6:49 AM
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I have found that in most cases a depth adjustmet can make a big difference in the way that finder reads for you. Take the tools with you to the lake, make some small adjustments up or down and run her to find the best combination of height and angle. Small changes can make a big change.
I have a Ray DS500X on my nauset and the xducer is pretty big; it took a few tries to get it right. good luck.
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| duf |
Posted on 07/27/08 - 2:38 PM
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scrimshaw wrote:
Sorry she's dirty,this is a peice of a plastic cutting board from the $ store screwed to plastic L thingies used for shelves( $1) I got at Home Depot used Duct tape to hold the L things in place as the 3M 5200(most expensive part) set then screwed on the plastic . It's not pretty but it works, ya thats a barnacle.
Dang Jim a barnacle!! 
Duf
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