Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

Having problems getting my depth sounder to work. Bought the boat with a cut transducer cable, so while I had the motors out, I replaced the transducer with a new one from Lowrance. With the new transducer, gage kept flashing "0".

Talked to Lowrance, and they told me my brainbox must be dead. They don't make a 3400 anymore, so I went with a 3500 with the brains in the display unit itself. After having a custom bezel turned and powercoated to make up the difference in hole sizes, it looks great, but now flashes "965" or some other high number. Same results in or out of the water.

Has anyone installed a Lowrance transducer in a Fountain hull? Am I running into a problem with the coring in the hull? I glued mine on the inside of the "pad" area in the rear behind the bilge pumps. Do I need to remove any hull material? What a PITA. Of course, at least one motor would have to come back out to make any changes.

Thanks,
Brian

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

My 93 35 Lighning has the same prob. I sent my brainbox in to test and it was good to go so they sold me another transducer. Have not epoxied in yet, works good when I hang in the water but not when inside the bildge. Someone here said they will not pass thru the hull core unless you drill complete through the hull and set mount in that hole. I will not do that and continue to be careful w/o one.

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

I don't understand why Factory even went with this set up.

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

My last 27' had a short piece of PVC FG'ed into the hull bottom, then the transducer was placed inside the pipe with epoxy filling to the pipe top flush. It had to have gone thru the coring because it worked at all speeds. My new boat just has it epoxied to the bilge bottom. Quits reading as soon as I put the boat in gear. 0mph=reads, 5mph=nothing. I doubt the step bottom is aireating the water at 5mph.

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

Make sure if you have a step bottom that the tranducer is 6+ inches in front of the step as close to the bottom (being the V of the boat) as possible.

- Vinnie

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

Nope, no steps. Looks like this project will have to wait until winter when I can take the Roto-zip to my bilge.

Thanks for confirming my suspicions.

Brian

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

run it WOT and you won't have to worry about bottoming out

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

I asked the same question. I was told that the foam coring wouldn't let the signal pass. That unless you were creative, the easiest way around the problem is the transom mount.

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

Transom mount...ca ca!

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

Downtown, WOT sounds like a good plan. I just want to make sure that when those other boats are chasing me around the race course, I don't lead them into shallow water. I should get accurate readings at 80, right?

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

I wouldn't count on that!
What does P 4 designate in your division..class?

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

Just pullin' yer leg. Yep, the P designates Outlaw Performance Class, and the 4 means that I'm in level 4. P-classes are grass-roots racing classes, allowing teams to race just about anything. The only limitations (other than having proper safety equipment) is the boat's top speed. They check our speeds with sealed GPS's on the boat, radar guns, etc, and if I go over, I "break out" and get DQ'd. The P-classes look like this:

P5 60-69.9 mph
P4 70-79.9 mph
P3 80-89.9 mph
P2 90-99.9 mph
P1 100-109.9 mph
PX 110+ mph (cat)
PV 110+ mph (vee)
PT 110+ mph (turbine)

Come check out an APBA Central Division race this year! We'll be in Port Huron, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and New Richmond, OH. Check my website for dates.

Cheers,
Brian

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

hey thanks alot and best luck to you. I always get confused on the designations (lot of other stuff too!)

Pair a dice used to have a nice 42 and I just looked at pic, P1. We have been on poker runs with him and have not seen the new MTI yet but will soon. Rick lives 30 min from me.

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

Pair a dice
old and new. His 42 with measly 900sc did 117.

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

That's some bad a$$ hardware. Gotta love a measly 900hp. I was down at the Fountain factory last fall, and talked to a guy who said he just bought the Pair a Dice 42. Don't recall his name, but he was pretty jazzed about it.

That MTI is a sweetheart, too. Someday, maybe...

See ya,
Brian

Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems
 

Some TX dealer had it for 299k. I wish I could afford it. That guy is extra everything. I saw his yellow boat with the new owner at Fla Powerboat web site at some run, maybe the key west one. Full cabin with a light lay up. Have fun and stay safe....

oh yeah KICK ASS with the Fountain to keep the wise guys away. That will curtail any future Fountain bashing.