Hawkeye Depth Sounder

[fredn56]

Last year I installed a Hawkeye micro digital depth sounder model D11S

I mounted the in-hull transducer under the v berth in front of the keel. It worked great until yesterday when it started displaying "--" for the depth.

I consulted the manual and it suggested that this could be from "Extremely dirty water, very soft bottom, high speeds, improper transducer mounting, deep water, or a combination of the above will result in incomplete or inaccurate readings. Under these conditions inaccurate readings or “---” will be displayed."

The water in the St Johns River is always dirty, and does not seem more dirty than usual. High speeds are not possible in my sailboat. The transducer worked fine until yesterday. The bottom is not a whole lot different that it ever was.

Any insights on this issue?

Thanks,

Fred Nelson
Ericson 23 Mark II
Ad Astra

[dbruce85]

I have the same unit with a thru hull and it has always worked fine.

My dock mate with a Catalina 25 tried with the thru hull transducer. We tried all the recommended mountings, in different hull locations. It would never consistaltly work in shallow depths (under 10ft, when you really need it). He talked to tech support, they actually sent him another transducer to try, no change.

He didn't have a convenient place to put a thru hull transducer. He used a piece af aluminum strip and bolted it off his outboard motor mount, it sits about 6" below water line when the boat is resting.

A bit unorthadox but it works fine now.

[mitiempo]

The hull could be fouled under the transducer. You know it worked once so the hull should not be a problem.

[ceol]

how is it mounted? any changes in material can cause problems. if the adhesive is breaking down causing an air gap it could be causing problems reading the depth. they can be pretty picky.

G~

[fredn56]

On Saturday had the girl out sailing. The depth sounder worked on occasion. Not really any difference in terms of where on the river it worked, depths, speeds; no detectible pattern.
I don't think there is much growth on the hull, but could that contribute to the intermittent functioning of the instrument?
Or is it more likely that there is an electrical/wiring problem, some loose connection?

Fred

[mitiempo]

I'd second ceol's thought. Check the transducer mount. If sealant was used it might have moved creating an air gap or if it is mounted in a tube with fluid possibly the fluid is gone.

[CaptainForce]

Originally Posted by fredn56

.........The water in the St Johns River is always dirty, and does not seem more dirty than usual.........
Fred Nelson
Ericson 23 Mark II
Ad Astra

I'm compelled to defend my favorite river. The turbidity of the St. Johns River is almost all due to tannic acid from the large basin of swamps that provide it's source. This is the same chemical that gives tea its brown color and should not be confused with particulates, silt or "dirt". Certainly, the river is environmentally stressed, but the color is natural, clean and was present before any human impact. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew