Author Topic: First Time On The Water With 798 CI HD SI - Snapshots and Questions (Read 17133 times)

Curt - RI · « **on:** April 27, 2011, 04:48:52 PM »

I took my boat out today for the first time since getting the new SI unit installed. In the short time I was out there I found a few interesting things out in open water, but I think there may be a problem with the installation, because the right side shows very little compared to the left side.

At first I thought it was because I was close to shore and the right side was facing shallower water. Bot then I headed out into open water where depth on both sides was equal, and the right side was still giving a weaker return.

I was thinking that it must be the outboard interfering, so I trimmed it way up, but it didn't seem to help much.

The transducer is mounted on the left (port) side of the boat.

I've added some pics to get your opinions. Any suggestions??

Thanks in advance.

sonar2000 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2011, 05:21:22 PM »

It sure appears to be blockage of the transducer. Can you post pictures of the installation on your boat. Several pictures from several angles would really help.

Something else to try is to reduce the left right distance on the display. General rule of thumb is 2 to 3 times the depth.
Since your depth is 5, 9, to 7 feet try scanning at a range of 25 to 30 feet. You could increase the distance maybe out to 50 feet at the greatest...

Chuck

Curt - RI · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2011, 05:31:10 PM »

Thanks Chuck, I'll get some photos of the install and post them here later on.

Curt - RI · « **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2011, 06:07:29 PM »

OK.. I took a bunch of pics, and to be honest with you I don't see how the outboard could be interfering, but I could be wrong.

Here they are, from every possible angle:

I know I probably took more shots than I needed to, but I'd rather have too many than too few.

sonar2000 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2011, 07:09:44 PM »

More is better.......

The installation does not look too bad....a little hard to tell the level of the ducer as it relates to the boat when in the water. Not bad from the pictures.
These SI ducers are a wide beam signal and you may be getting somne interference from the motor or possibly from water turbulence from under the boat.
I would be interested also in display images when you reduce the left/right distance..
Thanks for the quick install pictures...
If we can isolate the problem and if it is not the motor lets think about putting your installation in the gallery section.
Chuck

Curt - RI · « **Reply #5 on:** April 27, 2011, 09:25:48 PM »

I'll try to get a couple more shots that show the level of the transducer in relation to the bottom of the hull.

As for turbulence from the bottom of the boat, it's a 100% welded hull, so there are no rivets to cause anything like that. And seeing that the side of the boat where the transducer is mounted works OK, I would guess that it has to be something other than bottom turbulence.

I'll be heading back out again Saturday, to the same lake, so I'll drop the range down to about 3 times the depth and see what happens.

I can also get pics of the console installation for the gallery once we get past this troubleshooting stuff, if you want me to.

FuzzyGrub · « **Reply #6 on:** April 28, 2011, 06:56:12 AM »

Maybe it is just my eyes, but it looks slightly rotated. It looks like the starboard side is angled down slightly with port being up. You can probably test by just standing on the far port side of the boat. If it improves the signal/display, it is at least a contributer.

Curt - RI · « **Reply #7 on:** April 28, 2011, 08:43:33 AM »

Thanks Fuzzy

Now that I look at the pics again, I see it too. If it's rotated down toward that right side it would explain the "shorter" return because it wouldn't be shooting out as far.

I'll do some playing around when I go out Saturday, by having my buddy stand in different places in the boat to see if it gets any better.

My boat sits pretty level in the water ordinarily. My batteries are on the left side of the boat (2 Group 27s and a Group 24) and the gas tank runs across the width of the boat.

I'll definitely love it when I get it tweaked and working!

BaitCaster · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:59:35 AM »

I experienced some intereference from my motor blocking the side scan signal, but it didn't look like that. I'm guessing it's not your motor, especially if the problem didn't improve after trimming it up.

Curt - RI · « **Reply #9 on:** April 28, 2011, 11:32:18 AM »

Quote from: BaitCaster on April 28, 2011, 09:59:35 AM

I experienced some interference from my motor blocking the side scan signal, but it didn't look like that. I'm guessing it's not your motor, especially if the problem didn't improve after trimming it up.

My thoughts exactly. I think it's either a problem with the transducer not being level in the water (side to side) or a bad transducer.

I might contact Humminbird today to get their feedback too.

Curt - RI · « **Reply #10 on:** April 28, 2011, 12:52:00 PM »

Spoke with a very helpful Humminbird customer service rep a short time ago. I had her look at the images and she showed them to a tech, who decided it looked like a transducer problem. They are shipping me a new transducer and I should have it in a few days

sonar2000 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 28, 2011, 03:44:55 PM »

This is interesting to know.
Be sure to let us know the outcome.....
when you change out the transducer dont change any thing else by way of alignment or install.
Lets make sure we know it is a bad transducer.
Chuck

Curt - RI · « **Reply #12 on:** April 28, 2011, 06:27:35 PM »

Quote from: sonar2000 on April 28, 2011, 03:44:55 PM

This is interesting to know.
Be sure to let us know the outcome.....
when you change out the transducer dont change any thing else by way of alignment or install.
Lets make sure we know it is a bad transducer.
Chuck

Definitely. I'll still be out on the water Saturday, playing with it a bit more to see if anything changes or not.

Curt - RI · « **Reply #13 on:** April 29, 2011, 09:33:07 AM »

Just a quick update.

I took another look at my transducer installation this morning. I wanted to check to see if it was level side-to-side or not.

It's pretty close to exactly level on the boat. So if the problem is, in fact, being caused by the transducer not being level, it's only when the boat is actually sitting in the water.

More info coming after I fish on Saturday (tomorrow)

bobxxx · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2011, 11:40:15 PM »

hope this isn't out of line.but one question. My 798 has 2 open screw holes on the back of the unit.Does yours have them .they are threaded. 1 brass ,the other plastic.I dont want water getting in.
Bob

Curt - RI · « **Reply #15 on:** May 03, 2011, 11:58:12 PM »

Quote from: bobxxx on May 03, 2011, 11:40:15 PM

hope this isn't out of line.but one question. My 798 has 2 open screw holes on the back of the unit.Does yours have them .they are threaded. 1 brass ,the other plastic.I dont want water getting in.
Bob

Not sure. I'll take a look tomorrow and let you know.

Curt - RI · « **Reply #16 on:** May 04, 2011, 12:04:56 AM »

Just wanted to post a quick update.

I got out fishing Saturday with my buddy and I took some time to really pay attention to the attitude of the boat in the water. It was sitting about as close to level as it could be. Sonar return on that right side was still weak compared to the left side.

I had my buddy put more weight on the left side of the boat but the right side still stayed weak.

I also tried lowering the side range. Although it made the weak return less evident, it was still there. I got some screenshots and will post them tomorrow.

HUMMIN_DOWNUNDER · « **Reply #17 on:** May 04, 2011, 02:07:28 AM »

Hi guys,

By the look of that return you are getting could be the ducer that is the issue!

Curt - RI · « **Reply #18 on:** May 04, 2011, 10:21:33 AM »

Quote from: HUMMIN_DOWNUNDER on May 04, 2011, 02:07:28 AM

Hi guys,

By the look of that return you are getting could be the ducer that is the issue!

I agree 100%. Humminbird also agreed and shipped me a new one, which arrived yesterday. Now I just need to get the time to install it $:-\$

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Author Topic: First Time On The Water With 798 CI HD SI - Snapshots and Questions (Read 17133 times)

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