SR Instruments DDM-1 Depth sounder problem

[YSR]

I have just re-established electrical power to SR Instruments DDM-1 unit after a few years (10+) of no use. The indication I now have is 5 feet, whether the transducer is 1' or 8' in the water.

Is there anything I can do to get this to come awake?

 

[Capn John]

Could be a bad transducer or it could be a bad display unit. SR isn't in the marine instrument business anymore but they do sell some rebuilt parts. I've replaced several transducers over the years on my old Hunter 26.5, but when it failed again last year and I bought another rebuilt one it didn't work. And I got no support from SR.

My advice is to trash the old one and get something new!

 

[Capt jgw]

They weren't the best on the first place. Go new. Consider an inexpensive fishfinder. A picture of the bottom is so much better than just a number. You can tell the trend at a glance and with practice you can make a pretty good guess at the bottom type as well. Won't fit in the old hole though.

 

[YSR]

Could be a bad transducer or it could be a bad display unit. SR isn't in the marine instrument business anymore but they do sell some rebuilt parts. I've replaced several transducers over the years on my old Hunter 26.5, but when it failed again last year and I bought another rebuilt one it didn't work. And I got no support from SR.

My advice is to trash the old one and get something new!

Capt John,

Thank for the tip. I am going to see if I can find a good handheld for the season. Any suggestions?

 

[Capn John]

YSR - I have no experience with any of the handheld depth sensors so I can't give you any recommendations there. But when the SR Mariner sensor failed again last year while we were relocating the boat from Alexandria VA to Deltaville, I found my handheld Garmin 78sc GPS chartplotter saved the day. It showed not just how much water was underneath me at the moment, but also showed any shoaling areas up ahead. Similar to what Capt jgw mentioned here about the advantages of an inexpensive fish finder.

You might want to do a search for handheld depth sensors for any previous recommendations, or start up a new thread on that to see what the current wisdom might be. I've always thought though that they would be more practical to use from a dinghy than from a boat with any significant freeboard, but see what others have to say about their actual experiences.