Transducer adjustment help request

[Guest]

Just bought a new 2002 fishing boat and love it (my oldie is a 1948 Larson!) but the factory installed depth finder is ready to be used as bait or filler for my next quickcrete project.
Can anyone help me out? The depth finder is a Humminbird Extreme 160. Once I get the boat moving at anything above 8-10 mph, the depth finder goes spaz and gives funky readings. ex.
I didn't know that Sylvan was 469 feet deep!
When cruising 20 mph-40, I sometimes get no readings of depth.
And RARELY, I will be cruising at 15-20 mph and it will give accurate depth readings. I'm hoping I can adjust the transducer (will a hammer be necessary?) and get some useable information from the thing and not end up selling the unit at a rummage sale!
Any tips/suggestions would be welcomed.

I'm debating about junking the unit and going with a Garmin GPSMAP 168 Sounder GPS Unit, but I can't help but think the unit should be good for one season, then buy the Garmin later on. HELP!

[This message has been edited by MacMan (edited 04-27-2002).]

[Guest]

You most likely need to adjust the transducer unit downward so the turbulence from the hull at higher speeds will not cause signal distortion.

Keep the angle at the recomended angle or slightly increase the angle of the transducer. The big deal maybe just dropping it 1/8 to a 1/4" or so to gain more surface contact with the water.

If that does not do it than the unit may be mounted too far out from the center of the hull to make proper contact at higher speeds, you will need to move it inward.

Hope this is of help to you.

------------------
Backwater Eddy..><,sUMo,>

Backwater Guiding
"Ed on the RED"
(701)-281-2300
[email protected]
http://home.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/index.html

[Guest]

Thanks Eddy,

I'll give it a try by tipping the tail/trailing end of the transducer down 1/8 of an inch at a time until it works.

[Surface Tension]

The front of the ducer should be tipped down.
When looking at the back of the boat its best to mount the ducer on the right side this is because of water movement of the prop.
If you must mount on left side its best to stay 30" away from prop. Also like Ed said you may be coming out of the water when on plane.

[Guest]

Park your boat on a hard surface, place a level on the floor of the boat and level front to back and side to side. Your transducer should be at least 12" from centerline of the motor, but not so far out that it will loose contact with the water during a turn. The front of the x-ducer should be 1/8" below the bottom of the boat with the inboard edge slightly below the bottom. Sight down the bottom of the x-ducer to be sure it is not in line with a rivet line or strake on the bottom of the boat. Make sure the unit is level across the back. And from front to back the back should go down about 5 degrees.

Rob