Garmin and aluminum boat/my boat, are they compatible?

I've had nothing but frustration from my 2 Garmin units mounted to my 18ft. Excel Stalker. Garmin Support has been involved but they are not addressing the actual problems, only throwing band-aids at me. They sent ferrite beads, new mount, and had me pay for a new transducer to try. The images cleared up a tad on side & clear vu but all the initial issues remain. The images become less "wavy" while motoring/moving.


My current unit is the Echomap Ultra126sv w/GT56uhd, transducer is mounted on the transom (I will not change the mount location).
The issue is wavy images while not moving (see pics) and some odd lines I can't figure out. I've changed the cable routing and added ferrite beads for "interference", no change.

I have no idea what else I can try to have a normal functioning unit. Any ideas are appreciated, other than mounting it on the trolling motor. If ANYONE else has seen this before please respond.

Pictures included: TD mount location, line on left sidevu image that I have no idea why it is there (motor was out of the water), "wavy" images.

Only time I've ever seen "wavy" images on my depthfinders was when the boat was bobbing up/down with the waves.

The "line on the left side view" is probably prop wash.

From the last side imaging picture in 5.3 ft of water my guess is that there was a 2 to 4 inch chop on the water that the boat is floating on causing the wavy lines in the water column. The line on the left is probably from the trolling motor being down causing a slight disturbance in the water that you are being shown a very detailed sonor return from using 1070 Khz frequency. you could take a tape measue and measure apx 2 ft to the left of where the transducer is mounted to see if there is anything that could cause disturbance in the water, my guess is the trolling motor shaft at the front of the boat.

Side and down imaging aren't really designed to work well when sitting still regardless of manufacture.
Is movement required for side imaging to work? – Humminbird (johnsonoutdoors.com)
Fish Finder Mistakes: The Top 5 Mistakes (Most Anglers Make) (catfishedge.com)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Only time I've ever seen "wavy" images on my depthfinders was when the boat was bobbing up/down with the waves.

The "line on the left side view" is probably prop wash.

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My boat definitely “bobs”, as most do. Maybe mine is too buoyant, which doesn’t seem to be a good excuse for the bad imaging.

the motor was all the way out of the water when the line is there. It’s there all the time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zekepa

From the last side imaging picture in 5.3 ft of water my guess is that there was a 2 to 4 inch chop on the water that the boat is floating on causing the wavy lines in the water column. The line on the left is probably from the trolling motor being down causing a slight disturbance in the water that you are being shown a very detailed sonor return from using 1070 Khz frequency. you could take a tape measue and measure apx 2 ft to the left of where the transducer is mounted to see if there is anything that could cause disturbance in the water, my guess is the trolling motor shaft at the front of the boat.

Side and down imaging aren't really designed to work well when sitting still regardless of manufacture.
Is movement required for side imaging to work? – Humminbird (johnsonoutdoors.com)
Fish Finder Mistakes: The Top 5 Mistakes (Most Anglers Make) (catfishedge.com)

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Good point on the TM, I’ll do some more testing for that. That’s crazy sensitive if it’s causing that line from 18ft away.

Also, just to add to my post here, I’ve been fishing and using electronics for over 40 years (fish finders for probably 25-ish years) and I’ve never seen wavy images this pronounced/bad. It’s just mind boggling that this sort of thing is “normal”. These units are on everything from yachts to kayaks and I’ve never heard of or seen this issue. It’s driving me nuts. This was/is a huge purchase for me personally and I just expected it to work as expected.

Is this the first unit on this boat? If not, I'm guessing you did not have the issue with the unit before this one?? You mentioned that Garmin had you purchase a new transducer; did you keep the original? If so, could you temporarily mount you unit with the original TD in another boat?? You can use a suction cup to temp mount the TD and you would know if it is the equipment or the boat.

I'm really just spit balling trying to help, I don't know much about Garmin units.

Attachment 429070

This is what I was talking about, but this is a screenshot from my Lowrance Elite 5 DSI unit (now deceased).

I have a Garmin 93sv but bought it only for use with my Livescope, so I didn't get a transducer in the deal ... so I can't try and imitate those screen waves.

Have you sent Garmin these pics and asked them what they think the problem could be ??

i have a hummingbird side image and never had that probablem .

Hello,
You might try connecting your Water Ground on the 126 to the negative of the (starting or dedicated) battery that supplies it . Worth a try


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Using twisted pair for power leads might clear that up.

Hey Omni,
Just me again with a bit more explanation.
I have an aluminum Skeeter , Echomap Ultra 126 -GT56, two Bird Helix 10’s , and a
MK Ultrex .
A friend Jim went over 2 years battling induced noise produced by his Ultrex and viewed on his Birds. Many , many phone calls to Hummingbird with suggestions of ferrite beads, cable rerouting/ wrapping and so forth with much help at all. Eventually Jim found a guy on YouTube with a video who suggested a grounding wire between the Ultrex and the negative of the battery that supplies power to his Humminbird’s . He tried it and the induced noise issue vanished completely.

Yes , I have the cable from the Ultrex , Garmin 126 water ground tied to the battery that supplies the Garmin and the two Helixes.
No ferrite beads or special routing. Zero induced noise.
Again this could possibly help your wavy issue.
Good luck with a resolve.



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