Transom mounted transducer

[Wolfpack91]

I have a lowrance depth finder with a transom mount transducer. At about 3k rpm,I lose readings. When I slow down it picks depth up again. I have moved the transducer mount up and down. Any thoughts?

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Transom mounted transducer

That's a common problem. One thing I read is to tilt the transducer just a little bit so that the front is higher than the rear.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Transom mounted transducer

Transducers cannot read through air so any turbulence (about 90% of transducer issues) deal with them mounted in the wrong places:
1) Don't mount close to the engine
2) Don't mount in line with any rivet lines, strakes, or any other protrusion that creates air bubbles in the water passing over the transducer.
3) Read the installation instructions for the unit.
4) Make sure the unit does not flip up at speed. (In other words, mount it securely)
5) Don't mount the unit too far outboard as it may come out of the water.
Those are just a few possibilities.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Transom mounted transducer

I have a lowrance depth finder with a transom mount transducer. At about 3k rpm,I lose readings. When I slow down it picks depth up again. I have moved the transducer mount up and down. Any thoughts?

Mine does about the same thing...must be air bubbles/turbulence causing erratic readings at speed....slow down some and it's back. My transducer seems to be mounted securely and level with the water surface, but sometimes readings are worse than others? I'd love to know if you figure out a solution to this. Maybe a thru-hull transducer where there's less turbulence/bubbles? Good Luck!

 

[Wolfpack91]

Re: Transom mounted transducer

Thanks. I have tried several suggestions and will try others this weekend. Boat shop is telling me through hull is only sure fix. Will let you know.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Transom mounted transducer

Silvertip nailed it for you. Make sure you mount it on the right hand side of the motor for right hand rotation motors and at least 18" away. If you have a delta pad like a couple of my boats do then you may need to mount it deeper and deal with the spray or go with a networked sounder and add in a thru hull and an auto switch. The reason I say this is because depending on the model you need to use with your head unit it may or may not have speed or temp. Most of them have speed but few have temp and surface temp is a critical fishing tool to me.

 

[BoldCoast]

Re: Transom mounted transducer

Yup, everyone pretty much summed it up. It can be a pain to get it so that it works at high speed. It took a lot of frigging for me to get it right and the only issue I have now is a slight rooster tail so to speak that the transducer throws up when on plane. But that is minimal.

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: Transom mounted transducer

Its a funny thing about those external transducers. They are designed by the maker to skim (surf), not plow, but that's exactly what we're instructed to do with them. And if anyone...anywhere, can locate "undisturbed, bubble or turbulent-free, clean water" exiting aft a fast moving planing or displacement hull, well, whomever that is will be the 1st! We keep hearing about it, and well-meaning folks continue to talk about it, but hangining your head over the transom at 4o mph looking for something that isn't there doesnt make very good sense. Its sort of like that "snipe" hunt we've heard about all these years.