Thread: Troubles

Interference or obstruction? Getting lines on the left side image on my 998? Is my transducer mounted incorrectly, or is it some type of interference. Tried it without outboard running, still there without anything turned on. I guess it could be the jack plate or the screen over livewell intake, but they seem to be out of the way? What's the experts opinions?

Not sure why they turned out upside down...I'll try to repost those so no one breaks there neck looking at them!

One thing we have to keep in mind...

The SI sonar beam is "advertised" to radiate 180° left and right...but it continues up higher than that 180°...

The sonar beam is not a laser with definitive sharp edges ....

Sonar is a sound pulse with "ever decreasing edges"...

So the Xducer can actually pick up echoes up higher than "level" with the Xducer...(if the object is close enough or big enough....specifically....your jackplate...)

You're probably going to have to get the Xducer lower than it is to escape the side lobe echoes in the upper reaches of the sound pulse...

Rickie

By the way...your image looks great....(other than the reflection lines from the jackplate)...

I see a small school of fish in the lower left SI (second pic)...and what looks to be maybe shell beds(?) in right SI....

Rickie

Was your motor trimmed up when you made those screen snapshots Stickman?
Try putting your motor all the way up, so there is no chance of it blocking some of the left Si sonar. That looks to be a pretty strong return to be just the jackplate but it could be.
If it is the motor or the jackplate causing this, you could try moving the transducer in closer to the motor.

HB_Greg: finally got back out this past weekend. When you mentioned that it might be the outboard, I thought to myself duh, I'm an idiot. But when I went out again, all the lines are still there on left side. My boat is new, got it in October. First month or so of use, these lines weren't there. Now that they are, I can't do anything to get them to go away. The only time they weaken a bit is when I make left turns. They don't go away completely, but they aren't as strong. Any ideas? Could something be wrong with the transducer? I love the unit, but this really stinks! Thanks!

What do you guys think about getting a transom shield and saver bracket and mounting transducer to the bottom of jack plate?

Originally Posted by Stickman

What do you guys think about getting a transom shield and saver bracket and mounting transducer to the bottom of jack plate?

You could remove the xducer from it's current mounting postion and temporarily mount it to a stick and then stick it down in the water further to determine if the reflection lines are coming from an obstruction on your boat...

If it clears up with the xducer stuck farther down into the water , then a jackplate extension mount like from Transducer Shield and Saver might be a good idea....
Transducer Shield and Saver - See More Fish, Catch More Fish! - Welcome to the Frontpage

Rickie

I’m guessing that it is the reflection from the jack plate then.
Try Rickie’s stick test to confirm this.