I installed a depth finder on my sail boat. I read some articles on the internet about the best way to install this on a sail boat; almost all of them recommended to do it through the hull, cutting a plumber pipe and glue it to the hull and add some water to it. Well, I was so happy when I saw 6.6 on the display while I was docked. The problem is, the first day I took the boat out, as soon as I got out of the marina, the thing stoped working the only thing I coluld see was a blinking 0.0 . Does any one know a better and workable way to do it, or maybe should I change the location of the transducer. By the way, the transducer is installed on a 28' O'day right across from the bilge punp on the startboard side of the boat.
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Robert B.
Just underway?
Did it stop working completely or did it resume when you returned to the marina? If it works while sitting still, then you may very well need to relocate it. It could be picking up interference off of the keel or something else. If it never resumed working, then check your connections. Also, make sure there are no air bubbles in the fluid between your hull and your transducer. That will give you a zero reading also. Good Luck
Did it stop working completely or did it resume when you returned to the marina? If it works while sitting still, then you may very well need to relocate it. It could be picking up interference off of the keel or something else. If it never resumed working, then check your connections. Also, make sure there are no air bubbles in the fluid between your hull and your transducer. That will give you a zero reading also. Good Luck
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Jack
Directly connected
If you have a non-cored hull, i.e. solid fiberglass, epoxy the sender directly to the inside of the hull just forward of the keel. Mine worked up to its maximum capability of 200 feet with a transom mount transducer installed this way.
If you have a non-cored hull, i.e. solid fiberglass, epoxy the sender directly to the inside of the hull just forward of the keel. Mine worked up to its maximum capability of 200 feet with a transom mount transducer installed this way.
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Frank R
Check the tweaking settings
Mine is installed with the transducer on the inside of the hull. I had similar problems with a Standard Horizon S? 150 ( it gives -- when confused) Processor resets would help for a while. I had to tweak some settings for it to work corrrectly all the time. There is usually a turbulance and a sensitivity setting that you can adjust. Mess with the settings and make sure the resovour is filled ( mine uses mineral oil) with no bubbles.
Mine is installed with the transducer on the inside of the hull. I had similar problems with a Standard Horizon S? 150 ( it gives -- when confused) Processor resets would help for a while. I had to tweak some settings for it to work corrrectly all the time. There is usually a turbulance and a sensitivity setting that you can adjust. Mess with the settings and make sure the resovour is filled ( mine uses mineral oil) with no bubbles.
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tom
look for the best place
I put my transducer in a plastic bag full of water and moved it to several locations. On the Helsen that was in a flater area near the stern. On the Macgregor it was near the center of the boat. Once I found the best spot I used polyester resin to glue it in place. Don't use flexible glues like caulking. The most impotant thing is that it's solid fiberglass without any airspaces. On the Helsen I used a wal-mart fishfinder and it worked to greater than 200' and showed fish and bottom details. On the mac I used a depth sounder and it worked to the max for the unit which was 200'. I checked with the manufacturer's website for the installation details.
I put my transducer in a plastic bag full of water and moved it to several locations. On the Helsen that was in a flater area near the stern. On the Macgregor it was near the center of the boat. Once I found the best spot I used polyester resin to glue it in place. Don't use flexible glues like caulking. The most impotant thing is that it's solid fiberglass without any airspaces. On the Helsen I used a wal-mart fishfinder and it worked to greater than 200' and showed fish and bottom details. On the mac I used a depth sounder and it worked to the max for the unit which was 200'. I checked with the manufacturer's website for the installation details.
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Frank Wang
Wax it
I installed my depth sounder recently. I bought a Garmin Blue 160 with transom mount transducer. I used toilet wax to fix it inside the hull. It will detect upto 600 feet bottom. Works great. However, I think I turned off either hi or low frequency, and increased the gain. You just have to play with the settings until it works right. In rough water, it may display zero depths. There are too much air bulbs generated by the pounding. My transducer is mounted infront of the keel. Both wax and fiberglass will reduce the strength of the signal. You want to buy the most powerful sounder you can fit into the place. I am glad I bought a Garmin 160 Blue instead of 100. I was thinking about 100. Frank
I installed my depth sounder recently. I bought a Garmin Blue 160 with transom mount transducer. I used toilet wax to fix it inside the hull. It will detect upto 600 feet bottom. Works great. However, I think I turned off either hi or low frequency, and increased the gain. You just have to play with the settings until it works right. In rough water, it may display zero depths. There are too much air bulbs generated by the pounding. My transducer is mounted infront of the keel. Both wax and fiberglass will reduce the strength of the signal. You want to buy the most powerful sounder you can fit into the place. I am glad I bought a Garmin 160 Blue instead of 100. I was thinking about 100. Frank
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Tom
www.humminbird.com
I checked their website about a cheap fishfinder. They give detailed instructions. They recommend finding the best site by pouring some water in the bottom of the boat and finding the best place that way. They recommend the slow set two part expoxy as the 5 min expoxy is more likely to trap air bubbles. Soft adhesives will absord more of the sound energy. The transducer is small but they assured me that it had has much power as the old large style transducers.
I checked their website about a cheap fishfinder. They give detailed instructions. They recommend finding the best site by pouring some water in the bottom of the boat and finding the best place that way. They recommend the slow set two part expoxy as the 5 min expoxy is more likely to trap air bubbles. Soft adhesives will absord more of the sound energy. The transducer is small but they assured me that it had has much power as the old large style transducers.
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Bob
Sometimes it is easy
to overlook checking the battery voltage. Make sure there is plenty of juice in your battery, or you can get deviant readings. I know mine is getting low when the knotmeter starts reading 0.0 when under way.
to overlook checking the battery voltage. Make sure there is plenty of juice in your battery, or you can get deviant readings. I know mine is getting low when the knotmeter starts reading 0.0 when under way.
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