My depth sounder went on the brink last year, started displaying - - , then it would work for a while, but show wildly varying depths ( i.e. from 3 to 200 ) when I was really in 10 feet of water. Folks on this forum mentioned the transducer is probably bad. So now I'm ready to tackle putting in either a new transducer or a whole new unit with new transducer. So I go out to West Marine and BoatUS web sites to see what information I can find. After poking around, I'm confused. A lot of dash mounted depth sounders do not come with transducers; they say sold separately. When I search on transducers at west marine, I only get ones for Garmin. Question: are transducers compatible with all units? Or do I need to match the unit with a transducer made for it? I would think the latter, but from what I've seen on West Marine, I'm wondering. Some of the depth sounders come with either transom mounted or glue to hull type transducers; I have a thru hull in front of keel - what are these glue to hull types? do they work well for sailboats? As you can see, I need an education on depth sounders. What's the best? Installing them? etc.. I don't even know what manufacture I currently have, came with boat, no documentation. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Steve
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Depth Sounders
Steve, the read-out in the cockpit should identify the manufacturer (Signet, Horizon, etc.). If you can obtain the manufacturer's name you should be able to acquire a new transducer, if needed. This problem can also be caused by painting over the transducer while doing a bottom job. Good luck! Hank LeSieur #331
Steve, the read-out in the cockpit should identify the manufacturer (Signet, Horizon, etc.). If you can obtain the manufacturer's name you should be able to acquire a new transducer, if needed. This problem can also be caused by painting over the transducer while doing a bottom job. Good luck! Hank LeSieur #331
One company fits all - well, depending on pin #'s
AAAArrrr. What's the name of the company that makes the transducers for almost ALL the companies? I just installed one for my Raytheon fish/knot/log/temp/depth for my sailboat. Raytheon, I don't believe, makes transducers. The company that makes them all ALSO makes different pin arrangements for different company's units. Dammit. Can't remember. Boat out in East End at the dock. Anyway, the price varies wildly for the same thing. I bought mine from Hamilton Marine (www.hamiltonmarine.com) in Maine and that was the best price I found. KW
AAAArrrr. What's the name of the company that makes the transducers for almost ALL the companies? I just installed one for my Raytheon fish/knot/log/temp/depth for my sailboat. Raytheon, I don't believe, makes transducers. The company that makes them all ALSO makes different pin arrangements for different company's units. Dammit. Can't remember. Boat out in East End at the dock. Anyway, the price varies wildly for the same thing. I bought mine from Hamilton Marine (www.hamiltonmarine.com) in Maine and that was the best price I found. KW
For what its worth
a local shop here in Victoria BC said that many transducers will often with different displays as long as the sender frequency and display frequency arethe same. I have a OLD flasher depth sounder that works with a 200 khz sender and he can make that work with a number of new 200 khz compatible displays. I was curious as my sender installation is very slick and I don't want to have to change that to get a modern display. Just another tidbit that might be useful. David
a local shop here in Victoria BC said that many transducers will often with different displays as long as the sender frequency and display frequency arethe same. I have a OLD flasher depth sounder that works with a 200 khz sender and he can make that work with a number of new 200 khz compatible displays. I was curious as my sender installation is very slick and I don't want to have to change that to get a modern display. Just another tidbit that might be useful. David
David , it works
Did what you want to do when the digital displays came out. That old flasher went in the trash. That was in the early '80s. But that thing of yours is now an antique. Maybe you should keep it.
Did what you want to do when the digital displays came out. That old flasher went in the trash. That was in the early '80s. But that thing of yours is now an antique. Maybe you should keep it.
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