Topic: transducer mounting option

[kipbass]

Hey all. I'm a new member here and I'll be looking for assistance.  I recently purchased a boat and installed an 898 in the dashboard.  I thought I mounted my si transducer correctly, but the right side appears to have some issues. It's darker and doesn't extend as far as the left side. I have done all the usual trouble shooting steps, trimming the engine, changing speed,  and adjusting chart speed. I even updated the firmware, and after reading on here HM was kind enough to email me the previous version to restore my unit. That didn't help much. I'll post some pics later. Thanks again, this site looks to be grade A.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Welcome to the Side Imaging Forums kipbass.
Please take the time to fill in your profile data and even add yourself to the Member Map.

Be sure to include some images of the transom area of your boat and how the transducer is mounted.  Images of the overall transom and some looking to the left from the right side and the opposite – all at the same height as the transducer, will help in diagnosing your right Si imaging problem.

[kipbass]

Here's the pics. I have to post them one at a time due to the wonky internet I have. The "I finally made it" subject refers to the 4 weeks it took to get a membership here. My request was tagged as spam. Greg helped me past that! Thanks.
Anyways this is on a 2013 Triton 18xs, hoping for optimal placement of the transducer any help is appreciated.

[kipbass]

[Humminbird_Greg]

My guess is that you are getting a little blockage of the right side Si sonar from the motor mount itself.  It looks like it should be low enough to clear this but it may not be.  One way to check this would be to take the transducer out of the mount and install it on a pole or something else that you could use to hold the transducer down in the water below the level of the boat.  This will ensure that there is nothing on the boat that is blocking the right Si sonar and allow you to spin the transducer around and so look at the same areas under the water with both sides of the Si sonar.  If the right side looks as good as the left than you need to lower the HDSi transducer, possibly by moving it closer to the motor.

[RGecy]

I think the turbulence coming off the keel and step to the right of the transducer is the main culprit in a lot of these issues.  I think the pings( sound waves) get distorted or scattered by the turbulent water, not only outbound, but on the return as well!

I have a very deep v hull and ended up using two transducers with the SI Y cable and the problem was gone!

Robert

[kipbass]

 Thanks guys. I may be able to test it this weekend.

[kipbass]

I'm considering mounting the transducer left of the temp gauge from the other depth finder. You can see the edge of the boat is an quiet an angle in the original 4th pic. Would I be wrong to put a level on the bracket when mounting? If I do this, it will make the right side drop below the edge of the boat, but the transducer should be level.

[Humminbird_Greg]

kipbass,
That would work but than your boat has to be level for it to do any good.  That location should work too even with the corner of the bracket sticking below the step like that.  You should be able to raise it a little though and still not get any blockage.

[kipbass]

Thanks HG!