Depth Guage working, BUT, 10 feet off

[Boobie Trap]

The depth gauge on our Monterey 302CR works ok. It comes on and shows the depth but when compared to a friends gauge, it shows 10 feet deeper. Any idea on how to correct?

It is not that big a deal if expensive but just wondering if cleaning the pickup on the hull would take care of the problem.

Thanks

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Depth Guage working, BUT, 10 feet off

Your transducer is not pointing "shooting" straight down, but instead at an angle increasing the depth reading.

Adjust your transducer.

 

[Boobie Trap]

Re: Depth Guage working, BUT, 10 feet off

Had not thought about that but I have seen the bottom only once when transported from where I purchased it to my lake. Did not notice anything unusual. It was flat on the bottom. Can you change the angle from inside maybe by stepping on the inboard part of the transducer?

Thanks!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Depth Guage working, BUT, 10 feet off

Some depth gauges have the ability to add the depth from the transducer to the waterline of the boat. This gives the true depth of the water, not the depth under the transducer. This offset is adjustable. Perhaps your friend has his set and you don't, or vice versa.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Depth Guage working, BUT, 10 feet off

Had not thought about that but I have seen the bottom only once when transported from where I purchased it to my lake. Did not notice anything unusual. It was flat on the bottom. Can you change the angle from inside maybe by stepping on the inboard part of the transducer?

Thanks!

If your transducer is a thru-hull or "shoot" thru-hull you probably won't be able to adjust it. If your transducer is mounted to the transom of your boat it will be adjustable.

If your boat doesn't sit level in the water at rest your thru-hull will be inaccurate, it's probably installed to be accurate when the boat is on underway and on plane... or it may have been installed slightly off.

Maybe your friends sonar is off and yours is correct? You should get a third boat in your group and compare depth readings.

 

[Boobie Trap]

Re: Depth Guage working, BUT, 10 feet off

Thanks for all the replies.
We both have compatable boats 27 vs 30 feet. Going slow does not seem to make a difference. We go through a opening that is shallow. I can see others that have not a clue about the lake go through it and start churning mud. I tilt my OD's up as much a possible and go through without a problem and it is showing 25.5 feet and when my friend goes through, his shows 2.5 feet. Now I realize that it is from the hull bottom and not water line so it is propable at least 3-4 feet. Not sure of the draft of mine or his boat, but they are close. I have two "sounders". One is the depth gage and one is a MFD unit that is GPS Nav, fishfinder, sounder, radar diplay. That show the correct depth but don't usually turn it on for short runs.

I was just wondering if anyone had ideas. I will have it looked at this winter when I have it hauled out for some other repairs, power wash bottom, change outdrive oil, check steering and throttle cables, etc etc.

Again, thanks.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Depth Guage working, BUT, 10 feet off

Yeah, it sounds like your depth gauge is shooting out towards aunt Nancy's house in Florida instead of straight down.

I'd run the other sonar and forget about the depth gauge.