Depth Sounder Issue

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jan 22, 2008
55
Hunter 37.5 Jacksonville FL
While in the slip, turned on the depth sounder and it registered between 38 and 44 ft. Actual water depth is 6 to 8 ft. Worked OK last week when I took the boat out. Played around with it by resetting and turning the power on and off. Same indication. ??????
 
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Reflections

The slime on the transducer redirects (acts like a lense) the sound beam giving a slant path much longer than the actual depth.
Something on the bottom is causing a strong reflection but it is "off beam" by quite a lot. The strongest beam is supposed to be the shortest path (aka depth) but depending on the make up of the bottom that beam may be getting absorbed resulting in the objects distance from the transducer being measured and not the depth.
Sloping bottom reflecting the beam into the water and it reflects of nearby pilings resulting in longer beam paths.
Your transducer is reacting to someone elses sonar pings
You have a kid with a play station nearby and are getting interferance. Also seen PS2, and even a powerful cell phone with a game being played cause a whole host of "demon infestation" problems

See if your control head has a setting for narrow beam. This tends to reduce the problem.
Also check for a high or low power setting (also high and low boat speed) and set it to low.
Check the cable ground on the transducer wires and control head.
 
Dec 2, 2003
1,637
Hunter 376 Warsash, England --
Another boat nearby may have left their sounder on. They can 'talk' to each other.
Suggest you try it again after having moved the boat.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.