Problem with Garmin 440S GPS/Sounder

[Carryin' On]

Hello all,

Hope someone can help....... When using the GPS 440S in chart mode, it displays the water depth in the lower left corner of the screen. As I bring the boat to plane and increase the speed, the unit reads the depth to a certain level and then seems to lock up at that depth and flash. I've never had this happen before. Is there some settings that I need to adjust. I'm new to the waterways around my location and at a total loss without a working depth sounder.

Please help

Mark

 

[dingbat]

Re: Problem with Garmin 440S GPS/Sounder

The unit is freezing up becouse the transducer is lossing bottom.
You need to adjust the postion or angle of your transducer. I would try lowering it first.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Problem with Garmin 440S GPS/Sounder

I agree.
As you speed up and when the boat comes up on plane it rides a lot higher in the water. also the hull can create a lot of air bubbles in the water.
The position of the transducer is the key to a good reading at full speed.
If this is a new installation then I would bet the transducer is too high on the hull or too near the chines.
On most right hand props boats best to put the transducer on the starboard side and about 18 inches away from the motor. Do no line it up with anything that can create air bubbles. I find next to the pitot speed pick up is a good starting place. The transducer should point straight down when at speed or up to 2 degrees foward. On V hull do not line it up with the hull.
About 1/2 the height of the transducer should be below the hull. On V hulls this means the side closes to the engine should be 1/2 below the hull. The other side may be completely below the hull.

I have always mounted mine with Silicone Glue and made a test run before drilling any holes. However if you do this must use a tie wrap around the cable as close to the transducer as possible as you can fine to attach it to something. This is just to prevent the transducer from coming loose and swinging on the cable up and around and hitting someone in the boat.

Once you find a place where it works well then decide how you want to do the final mount. If your going to drill holes and use screws then put the screw in the middle of the mount. This postion will allow you to loosen the screws and raise or lower the transducer by sliding the mount up or down.

Aluminum hull the transducer most of the time should be mounted a little deeper if you have rivets.

 

[Carryin' On]

Re: Problem with Garmin 440S GPS/Sounder

Thanks guys,

It is not a new installation. I am new owner and the unit worked fine until yesterday. After reading your posts I think what happened is I may have landed/hit wave a bit to hard and josled the transducer. Doesn't it have an adjustment screw to tilt it up or down? I'll have it put on the work rack next weekend and see what's up.

Thanks for the replies

Mark A
18 ft Wellcraft Fisherman
Inlet Watch YC
Wilmington, NC

 

[ksubigbuck]

Re: Problem with Garmin 440S GPS/Sounder

When your ducer loses contact with the bottom your sounder will blink the last known depth until it reestablishes contact with the bottom. You don't need to put the boat on the rack, adjusting the ducer angle can be done with the boat in the water by simply reaching over the transom and tweaking it. For adjusting the height of the ducer it would probably be best to pull the boat out of the water.

Hunter

 

[Boatist]

Re: Problem with Garmin 440S GPS/Sounder

Yes, almost ever transducer is mounted in a way that the transducer can kick up if it hits a log or something. Mine have a bolt thru the mount that holds the transducer to the mount. If the transducer hits somehting or it mounted too loose the transducer can kick up and no longer be pointed down. Instead it pointed more back. Best if point straight down or up to ablut 2 degrees foward.

 

[dan1958]

Re: Problem with Garmin 440S GPS/Sounder

Hi Mark,

I had the same problem with my Garmin 440s. The transducer mounted on the transom must be adjusted correctly to avoid the screen from freezing up when under way. I had to lift up the transducer 3 clicks from the bottom most position to prevent the screen from freezing up. Works like a charm once it is adjusted correctly. I hope this helps. Happy boating!

Dan

Hello all,

Hope someone can help....... When using the GPS 440S in chart mode, it displays the water depth in the lower left corner of the screen. As I bring the boat to plane and increase the speed, the unit reads the depth to a certain level and then seems to lock up at that depth and flash. I've never had this happen before. Is there some settings that I need to adjust. I'm new to the waterways around my location and at a total loss without a working depth sounder.

Please help

Mark

 

[dan1958]

Re: Problem with Garmin 440S GPS/Sounder

Hi,

Electronics can be quirkie. Everything must be just right in order for them to work correctly. Usually it is something simple that's stopping them from working. Try to reason things out and eventually you'll figure out the problem.

Dan