Transducer

[Peter M]

Just pulled the boat out from Amble Marina to do a few jobs on her before the start of the new season.
I have a couple of questions I would like your opinions on, when I bought the boat last year it came fitted with a Raytheon L265 fishfinder. its a small 3.6"x2.4" black and white screen. I have since bought a Lowrance Elite 5m fishfinder/plotter, my question is do I remove the Raytheon or keep it as a back up. if I do keep it, will having two transducers fitted effect their performance. As you can see from the photo I could fit the lowrance transducer beside the Raytheon one or I could fit it in the exact same place but on the left side of the motor.
My other question is how much water would be normal to find in the bilge when a boat is moored. Not having any experience I would have thought non if it is normal where does it come from
Your comments or words of advice would be much appreciated.
Peter.


Transducer ,


Boat ,

[KeithB]

Transducers will only interfere with each other if the units connected to them are both powered at the same time.

When you say bilge do you mean an area that is meant to be sealed? You'll always get a bit of water and bilge pumps can't get rid of every drop.

[Peter M]

Transducers will only interfere with each other if the units connected to them are both powered at the same time.

When you say bilge do you mean an area that is meant to be sealed? You'll always get a bit of water and bilge pumps can't get rid of every drop.

Thanks Keith, that's what I thought, I would only use the older one if the new one went wrong.
The bilge is accessed via a 5 inch ish! Flat screwed plate just in front of the motor. I got a couple of gallons out. I had mt it about six weeks before that.
Peter.

[volante]

Transducers

Hi Peter,
If both the fishfinders are using the same freq 200khz you will have a problem, if you can get one on 200khz and the other on 50khz you might/should be OK. I would certainly install
the other transducer if only as a back up mounted on the transom as far away from the engine as possible.
I had to install a Lowrance structure scan transducer very similar to yours in the photo, now
drilling holes in the hull under the water line and using screws as a fixing - thats a big
NO NO in fact it borders on the suicidal. I glassed a hard wood block the same size as the mounting plate to the hull and used marine grade screws.
I would be removing the transducer mounting plate and checking the screws, , if the wrong type electrolysis could be affecting them and you might have water going in through the screw holes. If you have a sealed deck the bilges should be dry.
Hope this helps a little/makes sense !!!!!!!!!!.

Davey..............

[Kev1n]

The other replies have covered your transducer question so I’ll have a go at the water one.
Have you tried tasting the water? That will give you an indication about whether it is sea water or rain water and narrow down your search to either check the hull or topsides.

Nice boat btw.

[Peter M]

The other replies have covered your transducer question so I’ll have a go at the water one.
Have you tried tasting the water? That will give you an indication about whether it is sea water or rain water and narrow down your search to either check the hull or topsides.

Nice boat btw.

Thanks Kevin,not looking forward to tasting the bilge water.

[Peter M]

Hi Peter,
If both the fishfinders are using the same freq 200khz you will have a problem, if you can get one on 200khz and the other on 50khz you might/should be OK. I would certainly install
the other transducer if only as a back up mounted on the transom as far away from the engine as possible.
I had to install a Lowrance structure scan transducer very similar to yours in the photo, now
drilling holes in the hull under the water line and using screws as a fixing - thats a big
NO NO in fact it borders on the suicidal. I glassed a hard wood block the same size as the mounting plate to the hull and used marine grade screws.
I would be removing the transducer mounting plate and checking the screws, , if the wrong type electrolysis could be affecting them and you might have water going in through the screw holes. If you have a sealed deck the bilges should be dry.
Hope this helps a little/makes sense !!!!!!!!!!.

Davey..............

Thanks for the advice Davey, I'll remove the transducer and check the screws. And bond some hardwood blocks for the tranducers. Got to admit, as you said drilling holes under the waterline just seems wrong!

Peter.

[volante]

Transducers

Hi Peter,
Yeah I would its just peace of mind as well, the amount of debris coming down the rivers - could quite easily knock the bracket off and screws with it. If your on a mooring you might not even notice, then next time you go down the boats lying a bit funny if its there !!!!
I would be putting four decent screws and washers in the mounting bracket, more the merrier.

Davey...................