Transducer distortion

[Oddnick]

Hi everyone, and happy Triumph days to you all. I was wondering if any of you have tried thru hull mounting transducers, or have any ideas to stop distortion. On my 215 as soon as I start moving I loose my depth reading, Ive swapped out two different garmin units and got the same, so I know its in the transducer. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated...

Thanks

[OspreyVic]

Oddnick, I would suggest you call either the factory or Merritt Marine, one of the sponsors of this web site, and ask them about thru hull transducers.

What I have been told is that thru hull models will NOT work on a Triumph. The plastic with the injected foam just will not work.

We went with the M256 High Performance Depth transducer with retractable transom mounting kit. Just a suggestion. Pictures of my install have been posted in the photo section.

Good luck, and hope this helps.

[Codfish]

Oddnick,

I would first look at where you have your current transducer mounted. I am assuming it is not currently a through hull, since the consensus is they will not work due to the "air pockets" in the hull. It is important to remember how the transducer works to understand how to make it as efficient as possible.

Transducers send out a signal that is able to read changes in the density of the water. That is as basic an explanation as I can make. Air bubbles are one of the easiest changes in density for the signal to detect. Therefore any air bubbles are read immediately and are read by the unit. That is how the FF locates suspended fish, by their internal bouyancy compensator or air bladder. If the air bubbles are concentrated enough, like what you get from the transom of a boat underway, then the unit may interpret that as the bottom and hence no further reading of the actual bottom below the air bubbles. Note how the bottom will return once you stop the boat and clear the turbulence.

The transducer must be placed in a spot were the bubbles from turbulence off of the trailing edge of the transom are minimal. The type of transducer (shape), depth of placement in the water, with relationship to the lip of the transom, irregularities on the bottom of the boat, etc all add or subtract from the quality of the performance of the transducer.

Maybe some of the guys who own Garmin units could chime in to tell you where they have mounted their transducers for maximum performance. Other than that, check the bottom of your boat, particularly near the transom to see if you don't have a bump or irregularity that is causing undue turbulence right in front of your current mounting place.

Good luck. It can take several tries before you get it right.

Codfish

[fridaysoff]

Oddnick,
Codfish is correct. Where you mount the transducer is everything when it comes to performance. You did not say where you have yours mounted. I have a garmin unit on my 170CC and the transducer is mounted on the lower right side of my transom. It has to be mounted just as the instructions call for; something like only an eighth to three eighths of an inch below the transom. Like Codfish stated look at the bottom of your boat. If the transducer is behind your high speed pick up for your livewell or anything else that is causing turbulance in the water before it gets to your transducer, it will not work. I can run WOT without any distortion in my sounder. If you're using a transom mounted one, check the instruction sheet or pull up garmin on the www. and be sure yours is mounted just as the instructions call for.You can use a bronze through hull transducer ( where you drill a hole in the bottom of your boat and mount it), you just can't use a "shoot thru hull" transducer with our boats. Good Luck.
John D.

[k9reno]

Also I have read on some makes recomend at least 12 inches from the lower unit

[MolarBoater]

Use the "Search" engine and you will find your answers as this subject has been covered many, many times.

Tight Lines

[Codfish]

I was under the boat today installing the rear fish box drains and noticed that the two bronze through hulls (bilge drain & raw water pick up) are in direct line with the second strake on the starboard side. This is a common place for us 210 owners to place our transducers. Not a good idea and is probably why mine does not work as well as it should at speed. Just a reminder for those who have not yet mounted or want to move theirs for better performance.

Codfish

[k9reno]

my brass pick up and drain screen are more midle of the hull. Along the second strake is pretty clear except for a small plastic ram under the fish boxes

[Codfish]

k9reno,

Yours is the same as mine. The through hulls are very close to the flat strake though and I believe they do contribute to turbulence along with the molded in bump.

If you were to install fish box drains you would find that the hole, as placed next to the interior bilge drain, comes out right behind that bump. The bump must be ground down if you want to install the strainer covers I have used. Of course that only increases the turbulence in that area.

Since I do not rely on accurate depth readings while running at speed, it has not been an issue to have interrupted the clear flow of water under my transducer. For those who need a good reading all the time, you may want to rethink the fish box drains or move the transducer to near center line or out near the chine. I would also consider grinding off the bump (fore and aft) to clean up the water flow on that flat strake area.

The cleaner the bottom of the boat, the better the transducer will work.

Codfish

[Oddnick]

Thanks to all of you for the info and suggestions. Im working on relocating the transducer at different locations till I hit on the right spot. I appreciate all the help...

blessing to you all