depth finder not working

[vicsponjr]

I have a 88 Four Winns 215 Sundowner with a depth finder in the dash. The transducer is mounted in the bildge. Last season it started cutting in and out, once it started working it would stay on. Been out twice this season and it has not worked either time. Is the transducer servicable? would cleaning it help? Can I replace the tranducer? If so, how? Just cut and splice the wire? (?)

 

[Boatist]

Re: depth finder not working

You can install a new transducer but before you do make sure the old one did not come loose. <br />I seen many unit where the Epoxy just broke loose and allowed air between the transducer and hull.<br />Any air in between and it will not work.

 

[vicsponjr]

Re: depth finder not working

Can someone tell me what the difference is between a thru hull transducer and an in hull tranducer?

 

[JRJ]

Re: depth finder not working

An in hull is just that. The transducer is mounted in the bottom of your hull. It "shoots through" the hull and gives sonar returns. Mounting an in-hull properly is critical. <br /><br />A through hull, mounts the transducer in a hole that was drilled through your hull and will allow water into the boat if installed improperly.

 

[jtexas]

Re: depth finder not working

The wire is a coaxial cable - don't cut it. It unplugs from the back of the unit.<br /><br />When you say "cutting in and out" do you mean the monitor is going off & on? That's an electrical problem not a transducer problem.<br /><br />If you mean your depth reading is flashing, or goes to zero or something, loose 'ducer is likely...water in the bilge would allow it to read (no air under it then), but if it's moving around it'll loose the bottom or give funny readings.<br /><br />Remove old epoxy as best you can then epoxy it back down...use a slow cure epoxy so air bubbles will have time to escape before it cures.

 

[vicsponjr]

Re: depth finder not working

Originally posted by jtexas:<br /> When you say "cutting in and out" do you mean the monitor is going off & on? That's an electrical problem not a transducer problem.<br /><br />If you mean your depth reading is flashing, or goes to zero or something, loose 'ducer is likely...water in the bilge would allow it to read (no air under it then), but if it's moving around it'll loose the bottom or give funny readings.<br /><br />

The monitor is always on, I am getting the "funny readings" you mentioned. Blinking zeros, then 150'. I thought that it was working better when there was water in the bilge. Maybe its loose. I will try removing it and replacing it with the epoxy and see what that gets me. <br /><br />Thanks for the replies.