Lowrance Elite 4x dsi HELP!

[bigBone]

I just recently purchased a Elite4x dsi unit to tinker around with this past weekend. This is my first depth finder installation. According to the lowrance manual the transducer must to at least 1 foot from the motor, it was had a picture showing the port side as good location to mount the transducer. Well I followed instructions accordingly. I still ran into a problem on the test run today. While idling out past the no wake zone the unit was working perfectly reading depth and bottom. I jumped up on plane and then the shallow water alarm came on and read like 1.5 ft which I know is wrong because I was in 30-40 ft of water Then once I came off plane it took it awhile to start registering like it should. I was wondering if one of you bright gentleman mite be able to steer me in the right direction to fix the problem. Do I need to lower or raise the transducer bracket? Or do I need to adjust the angle of the transducer? Right now I have it parallel to the ground just as stated in the manual. Any info or tips will be greatly appreciated. Have a good one!

[Okie Bob]

That isn't unusual. I'd just live with it or try raising the xducer. But, you are not going to get decent readings over maybe 10 mph.
I have my Elite 7 transducer on the trolling motor and an HDS 8 transducer on the transom. Never get decent readings at speed.
If you have it parallel to the ground you should be good to go.

[Ranger09]

The transducer should be just below the bottom of your boats hull. It also needs to be set where its parallel with the waterline as it sets in the water loaded. I have never owned a locator that wouldn't lock onto the bottom even at 50mph and faster. If you continue to have problems its not the unit it's the set up....Ranger

[IkenI]

What kind of boat? Lots of aluminum boats have that problem.

[Crappie ciller]

I have that same unit on my Tracker complete with the same complaint. When I changed the transducer to a portable mount ( suction cup) and moved it a little further from the motor it worked fine at any speed. I would simply move it there permanently but the good positioning is exactly where my trailer tie down straps go. I do hate running top end on new water with no real idea of what's below. Last time I did it I ran aground in about a foot of water and thoroughly plugged my cooling system with red mud. Felt like a genius too.

[bigBone]

Thanks fellas for the tips. Ciller this happens to be a tracker as well. I went ahead an moved the xducer two more inches to the left of motor and lowered it about half inch. I also tilted the rear of xducer towards the ground instead of parallel and the unit now works perfectly.

[bigBone]

now I jus have to figure out the coverage of area under boat and determine where the brush is located when I see it on the units screen

[Crappie ciller]

For what it's worth when I align mine parallel with the water line marks on the boat the brush is exactly under the transducer when it first begins to show on the screen. Good luck. We need every advantage we can get against those wiley devils.

[bigBone]

Thanks Ciller I will keep that in mind while I get the hang of it. I'm all ears for any more advice or tips you have figured out on this unit.These ole lake are kinda tuff right now. The spots I was catching them during the spawn has 8 ft or more of water on top of it now

[Ranger09]

Your transducer has a 20 degree cone which means at 10' you are looking at 2' of bottom. The structure will be right under it when you see it. Just takes practice and always have a marker in your hand if you are looking for structure..... Ranger