NEED HELP - Lines in one side of Sidevu

I'm getting frustrated and looking for some help. I purchased a livescope ultra 2 bundle recently from Basspro, and already had an echomap 73sv with GT56 transducer that I was using on my kayak. No issues whatsoever. I installed both units on the boat and the GT56 on the transom and cannot clear up the lines in sideview. I thought it was interference with the trolling motor because I was seeing other noise when I ran the trolling motor, but it happens with the engine too. I cleared up the TM issue by disconnecting the bank charger from the electronics battery. Garmin said it was my transducer going bad because of damage (light scratches on the plastic housing) and offered a 1 time damage exchange for $190. They said to do some testing just to be sure though.

So i pulled the transducer and ran each unit separately on my kayak again. Perfectly clear. Then I put it back on the boat with just the ultra 2 and GT56, no networking or livescope. The lines show up. I then tried adjusting the transducer. No luck. I removed the transducer and put it on a pvc pole, moving it around the transom and at different depths. If i moved it to the port side, lines showed up on the right side. The only place I could get it to clear up is almost to the bottom of the hull or on the side of the boat. Problem with that is, there's nowhere to mount it there especially without potentially hitting it on something. I'm pretty sure it's not my wiring, electrical or EMI interference, and that it's turbulence.

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The left SI is picking up the lower unit or something attached to left side of your transom ...

Your statement that the lines show up on the right SI when the transducer is left of keel indicates the lower unit ...

Did you try trimming the motor up out of the way ... ??

Rickie

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

The left SI is picking up the lower unit or something attached to left side of your transom ...

Your statement that the lines show up on the right SI when the transducer is left of keel indicates the lower unit ...

Did you try trimming the motor up out of the way ... ??

Rickie

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sorry I thought I included that. I did try it trimmed up completely with the prop above the transducer and it still shows

Maybe water disturbance from the trolling motor?


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Originally Posted by Lund

Maybe water disturbance from the trolling motor?


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it happens with the engine too. So it does it with both. It has to be something causing an interference from the transom I think

From what I've seen in the past it's caused by the signal echoing off something. I'd try to lower the transducer or remount on the lower step.

Please post a pic of your transom from the port side looking toward starboard “at transducer level” ...

Rickie

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

Please post a pic of your transom from the port side looking toward starboard “at transducer level” ...

Rickie

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it has to be something with either the motor mounting plate or that area or one of the through fittings at the very bottom. The far right one with the perforated metal cover is the pump intake for live wells. The bottom is the main plug, above that appears to be a ground going to the gas tank which is aluminum, then the others are just drain ports
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I would also suspect the motor mount ...

You could further experiment with the transducer on a pole by moving the transducer aft to verify if the lines go away in the SI image ...

If the lines go away at just a short distance aft of the transom, you might could add a transducer mounting board ...

Another option (but more expensive) is buying a second transducer and using the Garmin 12 pin Y cable ...
Using a Garmin Transducer Y-Cable | Garmin Customer Support

This Setup allows left SI to come from a port mounted transducer - and right SI from a starboard mounted transducer ...

Rickie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

I would also suspect the motor mount ...

You could further experiment with the transducer on a pole by moving the transducer aft to verify if the lines go away in the SI image ...

If the lines go away at just a short distance aft of the transom, you might could add a transducer mounting board ...

Another option (but more expensive) is buying a second transducer and using the Garmin 12 pin Y cable ...
Using a Garmin Transducer Y-Cable | Garmin Customer Support

This Setup allows left SI to come from a port mounted transducer - and right SI from a starboard mounted transducer ...

Rickie

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I already have a piece of starboard it’s mounted to but could double up on it. However when I had it on the pole, I was just holding the pole and it would kick away from the transom some. That didn’t clear it up. Going deeper did though.

I asked Garmin about adding another transducer twice. The first said it wouldn’t work, that you would need to use two different transducers with only side imaging. The other said it would likely cause more interference and problems. I’ve about decided that they don’t really know much because I’ve received all kinds of different advice on the issue and it’s all over the place

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

I would also suspect the motor mount ...

You could further experiment with the transducer on a pole by moving the transducer aft to verify if the lines go away in the SI image ...

If the lines go away at just a short distance aft of the transom, you might could add a transducer mounting board ...

Another option (but more expensive) is buying a second transducer and using the Garmin 12 pin Y cable ...
Using a Garmin Transducer Y-Cable | Garmin Customer Support

This Setup allows left SI to come from a port mounted transducer - and right SI from a starboard mounted transducer ...

Rickie

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regarding the motor mount, if I dropped it down say 2 inches, it shouldn’t even pick that up correct? As it is now, the top of the transducer housing is slightly below the mounting plate

It needs to be dropped down so the mount for the motor doesn't interfere. Other than drilling more holes is there a reason you don't want to move it down to the step?

I don’t think it’s the placement of the sonar.
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So this is a screenshot of mine back in Sept 2023. It is mounted on the starboard side of transom like yours. It is mounted like manual says with bottom of transducer flush with the bottom of the boat.
1) The blue arrow is my main engine, not running and only shows about 2-3 feet from the transducer (which it is). But it is only that line. Your picture shows 10 feet interference which I’ve never had.
2) the first pic isn’t the best screenshot to show this but the if I do not trim the engine up a bit, the port side of my sidevu is largely useless.
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This is what it looks like with engine trimmed down.

This is why I don’t think it’s a mounting issue but I could be wrong. I can’t remember where I read this but is anything else hooked to your battery other than the chartplotter? Even a dual battery charger?


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Originally Posted by justinp61

It needs to be dropped down so the mount for the motor doesn't interfere. Other than drilling more holes is there a reason you don't want to move it down to the step?

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the holes I wouldn’t mind if I knew it would fix it. However the bigger issue to me is there’s not a flat place on the step to mount it to. It needs to go between where it is now and the fittings on the bottom of the hull. That entire area is just a gradual curve to the very bottom of the hull

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lund

I don’t think it’s the placement of the sonar.
Attachment 500778
So this is a screenshot of mine back in Sept 2023. It is mounted on the starboard side of transom like yours. It is mounted like manual says with bottom of transducer flush with the bottom of the boat.
1) The blue arrow is my main engine, not running and only shows about 2-3 feet from the transducer (which it is). But it is only that line. Your picture shows 10 feet interference which I’ve never had.
2) the first pic isn’t the best screenshot to show this but the if I do not trim the engine up a bit, the port side of my sidevu is largely useless.
Attachment 500779
This is what it looks like with engine trimmed down.

This is why I don’t think it’s a mounting issue but I could be wrong. I can’t remember where I read this but is anything else hooked to your battery other than the chartplotter? Even a dual battery charger?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I had a 4 bank minn kota charger connected to the battery but pulled that off because I was getting trolling motor interference with it. So no just my electronics are on the battery now. It has to be something on the transom causing it. It worked fine pulling the transducer and putting it back on the kayak, with both the ultra 2 and Echomap 73. It works moving the transducer to the side of the boat, and works moving it lower from where it is.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by checkerfred

I already have a piece of starboard it’s mounted to but could double up on it. However when I had it on the pole, I was just holding the pole and it would kick away from the transom some. That didn’t clear it up. Going deeper did though.

I asked Garmin about adding another transducer twice. The first said it wouldn’t work, that you would need to use two different transducers with only side imaging. The other said it would likely cause more interference and problems. I’ve about decided that they don’t really know much because I’ve received all kinds of different advice on the issue and it’s all over the place

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It's you're positive it's "something on the transom" then start by removing that metal strainer and trying it.

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Originally Posted by MDCrappie

It's you're positive it's "something on the transom" then start by removing that metal strainer and trying it.

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already did that to test for the next trip. It has to be someone on the back, I’m just not sure what it is or what the cause is.

I have seen scenarios of multiple interference lines on one side of the center line ...

Most often it was determined that the SI beam was bouncing around inside the vertical supports of a Jack plate ... your motor mount is similar to a Jack plate ... their fix was adding a plate on the bottom of the Jack plate and mounting their transducer to the Jack plate cover ...

You don’t have a Jack plate that a bottom plate could be used ... nor the clearance for the transducer there ...

You indicate that the lines go away when mounted to a pole and putting the transducer deeper into the water ...

This may be the goal ...

I have seen scenarios where one could fold the transducer bracket less than 90° and attach the top half of the bracket to the underside of the step (horizontal) instead of down on the vertical surface of the step ...

If this is a possible mounting idea, I would suggest in the center of the keel and aft far enough to clear all the ports on your step (but still clear the big motor lower unit with it trimmed in as far as possible) ...

Rickie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

I have seen scenarios of multiple interference lines on one side of the center line ...

Most often it was determined that the SI beam was bouncing around inside the vertical supports of a Jack plate ... your motor mount is similar to a Jack plate ... their fix was adding a plate on the bottom of the Jack plate and mounting their transducer to the Jack plate cover ...

You don’t have a Jack plate that a bottom plate could be used ... nor the clearance for the transducer there ...

You indicate that the lines go away when mounted to a pole and putting the transducer deeper into the water ...

This may be the goal ...

I have seen scenarios where one could fold the transducer bracket less than 90° and attach the top half of the bracket to the underside of the step (horizontal) instead of down on the vertical surface of the step ...

If this is a possible mounting idea, I would suggest in the center of the keel and aft far enough to clear all the ports on your step (but still clear the big motor lower unit with it trimmed in as far as possible) ...

Rickie

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would you see any possible negatives of extending a piece of starboard down off the transom like this to extend it below toward the step?
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here it is below the engine bracket in the step. I think that’s what you mean? That would be a good location but I’d just hate to drill holes there and it still not work.
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There should be no negatives to mounting starboard like in your first pic ...as long as the motor doesn’t hit it at full lock and trimmed in ...

Temporarily mount it there and test on the water to see if the lines go away ...

Your second pic is indeed what I mentioned about some guys mounting under the step ... once again check motor clearance if you mount it there ...

Rickie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

There should be no negatives to mounting starboard like in your first pic ...as long as the motor doesn’t hit it at full lock and trimmed in ...

Temporarily mount it there and test on the water to see if the lines go away ...

Your second pic is indeed what I mentioned about some guys mounting under the step ... once again check motor clearance if you mount it there ...

Rickie

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ok good deal thanks! I’m going to test it tomorrow on that extended piece and if it works, change that out to a piece of 3/4” against the transom like I already have but just lowered.

It definitely clears there in the sweep there. The engine is trimmed all the way down there.. I’d bet that area would work good, especially if there’s waves/rougher water

Fixed this issue. Just thought I would update this in case someone else has the same problem. The hull step was causing the issue I believe. I mounted it lower as seen in the pic and it's clear now.
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I had a similar look on my sideview and when the transducer was mounted I had no storage on my 1648 war eagle . After putting a gun box on the boat everything went in there . Along with coolers of ice ,the weight distribution was causing my problem . Easy fix before drilling .