I own a used hunter 23. The depth gauge that was installed by the previous owners gives bad readings. It will flash numerous readings and never stays on one accurate depth. The transducer is located just behind the keel. Someone suggested the transducer might be confused by relections from the keel. Is this possible? Can it be corrected? Could it be the transducer is bad?
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Pete
transducer
I'm not an expert but most of the time the transducer is located forward of the keel (I have seen them also mounted on the stern area) however it sounds like you have a bad transducer, either replace it and check for keel reflections or relocate it forward. Did it ever work correctly? that might help with your choice of location,would hate to have to put another hole in my boat bottom if I did not have to! good luck ! Pete
I'm not an expert but most of the time the transducer is located forward of the keel (I have seen them also mounted on the stern area) however it sounds like you have a bad transducer, either replace it and check for keel reflections or relocate it forward. Did it ever work correctly? that might help with your choice of location,would hate to have to put another hole in my boat bottom if I did not have to! good luck ! Pete
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Stephen Ostrander
depth instrument
Pete is right, the best location for a depth transucer is forward of the keel, so that you read the depth before the keel does it manually! Do you know anyone who has the same type of instrument that you could borrow for an hour and see if it reads OK? Then you would know if it was the transducer that was bad.
Pete is right, the best location for a depth transucer is forward of the keel, so that you read the depth before the keel does it manually! Do you know anyone who has the same type of instrument that you could borrow for an hour and see if it reads OK? Then you would know if it was the transducer that was bad.
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DICK MCKEE
CAVATION FROM THE KEEL
Your depth finder will give consistantly bad readings if the keel is disturbing the water just before it flows over the transducer. If bubbles or a disturbance is intorduced the depth finder will get confused and never lock on to a solid reading. You can test by going dead in the water and comparing the performance when stopped vs when underway. Hope this helps.. Dick McKee S/V Constellation
Your depth finder will give consistantly bad readings if the keel is disturbing the water just before it flows over the transducer. If bubbles or a disturbance is intorduced the depth finder will get confused and never lock on to a solid reading. You can test by going dead in the water and comparing the performance when stopped vs when underway. Hope this helps.. Dick McKee S/V Constellation
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Bob Miller
Bottom Paint
Another thing to check is the bottom surface of the transducer for bottom paint. I have painted over my transducer for years and the depth sounder has always worked OK. Now, after a recent bottom painting, I'm getting the same symptoms as you. I used a different bottom paint this year. It's my personal suspicions that some bottom paints affect the transducer performance and others do not. To check it out, just sand the paint off the transducer.
Another thing to check is the bottom surface of the transducer for bottom paint. I have painted over my transducer for years and the depth sounder has always worked OK. Now, after a recent bottom painting, I'm getting the same symptoms as you. I used a different bottom paint this year. It's my personal suspicions that some bottom paints affect the transducer performance and others do not. To check it out, just sand the paint off the transducer.
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George Kornreich
Interference from another boat.
I had a stranger but similar experience, where the depth indication was going nuts, but only at the slip. Someone had left their depth instrument running constantly on a nearby boat and it's output was causing the interference! You didn't say your problem was just in your slip, but just incase, I thought I'd pass this on to you. We were really confused and almost bought a new tranducer (and a haul out to install it) before we solved this mystery.
I had a stranger but similar experience, where the depth indication was going nuts, but only at the slip. Someone had left their depth instrument running constantly on a nearby boat and it's output was causing the interference! You didn't say your problem was just in your slip, but just incase, I thought I'd pass this on to you. We were really confused and almost bought a new tranducer (and a haul out to install it) before we solved this mystery.
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Grif Morpeth
Replace depth with log transducer
Thanks for the tips. The gauge gives me false readins if I'm sitting still or moving. It makes good sense to install the transducer before the keel. If I had installed it myself I would have. But I cannot take the blame for that one. It was there when I bought it. I will install a new transducer foward of the keel. I'm thinking about replacing the depth gauge with a knot log and using the same hole for the transducer. Does anyone know a reason not to place a log transducer behind the keel? Grif
Thanks for the tips. The gauge gives me false readins if I'm sitting still or moving. It makes good sense to install the transducer before the keel. If I had installed it myself I would have. But I cannot take the blame for that one. It was there when I bought it. I will install a new transducer foward of the keel. I'm thinking about replacing the depth gauge with a knot log and using the same hole for the transducer. Does anyone know a reason not to place a log transducer behind the keel? Grif
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Mark
Samr Problems
I have an 87 H23 with the exact same sensor locations and problems. Most times my depth reading is 2 horizontal bars ( digital readout) however every once in a while I get a reading which is accurate. I have removed the bottom paint - no help. I believe that the sensor may be at fault. I would like to send the unit to the manufacturer for repairs however, the readout unit is so well "glued in" that I can't get it out. The good news, my speed log is located aft of the keel in the same location. It works very well and I have had no problems with this. Good luck.
I have an 87 H23 with the exact same sensor locations and problems. Most times my depth reading is 2 horizontal bars ( digital readout) however every once in a while I get a reading which is accurate. I have removed the bottom paint - no help. I believe that the sensor may be at fault. I would like to send the unit to the manufacturer for repairs however, the readout unit is so well "glued in" that I can't get it out. The good news, my speed log is located aft of the keel in the same location. It works very well and I have had no problems with this. Good luck.
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