Go Back  Offshoreonly.com > Owners Forum > Fountain
Lowrance depth sounder problems >

Lowrance depth sounder problems

Notices

Lowrance depth sounder problems

Thread Tools
 
Old 05-23-2004, 02:53 PM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
p4-33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Gibraltar, MI
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default 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
p4-33 is offline  
Old 05-26-2004, 09:16 PM
  #2  
Registered
 
Downtown42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: 1 Flu Ovr KuKos Nest-WI
Posts: 9,950
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default 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.
Downtown42 is offline  
Old 05-26-2004, 09:17 PM
  #3  
Registered
 
Downtown42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: 1 Flu Ovr KuKos Nest-WI
Posts: 9,950
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems

I don't understand why Factory even went with this set up.
Downtown42 is offline  
Old 05-26-2004, 10:18 PM
  #4  
Ginger or Mary Ann?
Charter Member
iTrader: (1)
 
US1 Fountain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: L
Posts: 11,029
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default 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.
US1 Fountain is offline  
Old 05-27-2004, 07:21 PM
  #5  
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: East Quogue, NY
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default 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
HPFountain is offline  
Old 05-28-2004, 12:03 PM
  #6  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
p4-33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Gibraltar, MI
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default 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
p4-33 is offline  
Old 05-28-2004, 10:15 PM
  #7  
Registered
 
Downtown42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: 1 Flu Ovr KuKos Nest-WI
Posts: 9,950
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems

run it WOT and you won't have to worry about bottoming out
Downtown42 is offline  
Old 05-29-2004, 01:07 PM
  #8  
Registered
 
bryanspeedracer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: rochester, ny
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default 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.
bryanspeedracer is offline  
Old 05-30-2004, 04:37 AM
  #9  
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
 
gferdon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Stonybrook, NY
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Lowrance depth sounder problems

Transom mount...ca ca!
gferdon is offline  
Old 05-30-2004, 10:54 PM
  #10  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
p4-33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Gibraltar, MI
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default 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?
p4-33 is offline  


Quick Reply: Lowrance depth sounder problems


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.