Need Transducer Advice

OK transducer experts, I need some help. I replaced a Hummingbird finder on my console with a Eagle Fishmark 480. I know that the manual calls for mounting the transducer where the midway point is in line with the bottom of the hull. I've ran these same transducers on jon boat transoms with no problem. This one is mounted in the same exact place as the HB transducer. The problem is, after 10 mph, it loses the signal, and you know what happens then. It's a Tracker, and it has what Cane Pole probably was asking about on another thread (step hull), and it does rob the bottom of the transom in the transducer area of water that normal hulls don't have. I've moved it up about 1/2" and down about 1/2" with no results change. Looks like I may need to either modify the exsting bracket to go either way any more, or drill more holes. You fellas got a clue as to why I'd need to go lower than this, given the HB transducer wasn't that low??
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...sducerPic2.jpg

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Originally Posted by luvjign

OK transducer experts, I need some help. I replaced a Hummingbird finder on my console with a Eagle Fishmark 480. I know that the manual calls for mounting the transducer where the midway point is in line with the bottom of the hull. I've ran these same transducers on jon boat transoms with no problem. This one is mounted in the same exact place as the HB transducer. The problem is, after 10 mph, it loses the signal, and you know what happens then. It's a Tracker, and it has what Cane Pole probably was asking about on another thread (step hull), and it does rob the bottom of the transom in the transducer area of water that normal hulls don't have. I've moved it up about 1/2" and down about 1/2" with no results change. Looks like I may need to either modify the exsting bracket to go either way any more, or drill more holes. You fellas got a clue as to why I'd need to go lower than this, given the HB transducer wasn't that low??
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...sducerPic2.jpg

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PanManVa and I both had this same problem. I raised the nose of the xducer 1 click above level and adjusted down as low as I could get it. Helped till about 25mph. It is air bubbles.

Had similar problem with 797 transducer. I made a deflector plate out of tupperware. Fixed it.

Good luck

Tom

This little plastic piece stopped the rooster tail and allowed me to run WOT without loosing bottom contact.

Don't ask me how it works. It might (in effect) kinda extend the length of the hull bottom. I don't know crap about it.

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...l/IMG_0377.jpg

I only have 60hp and PamMan has 50hp (I believe). I doubt if we are out of the water at the step. Not enough speed. The engines are both the right color though.

Canepole: Has Ms Honey missed her tupperware bowl yet? We won't tell.:rolleyes:

Looking at that step in the hull a head of the transom, I'm surprised your transducer is even in the water on plane.
WarrenMN

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Originally Posted by WarrenMN

Looking at that step in the hull a head of the transom, I'm surprised your transducer is even in the water on plane.
WarrenMN

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Close ain't it. Mine is mounted (dealer) on the opposite side of the transom in about the same area. I had Paul (Crappiestalker) look at my xducer at WOT. There is water back there. But, he so big, the weight prob shifted, He big like 6'8".

I HOPE WE ALL ARE BRINGING AWARENESS about step hulls and transducer placement in these posts.

If I had known before I made a purchase several years ago, I would not get a boat with a step hull. Period. Too much bull to compensate for.

Meant to add the fact that Tracker has caught heck from me about the step situation. ha

When I go to the Great Outdoor Store in Jackson (Tracker), the salesmen run and hide....Oh No here comes a pain in the ars again.....

I hope that I am bringing light to these things.

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Originally Posted by WarrenMN

Looking at that step in the hull a head of the transom, I'm surprised your transducer is even in the water on plane.
WarrenMN

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I agree, you may have to go to a shoot thru

My Tracker is the same. I mounted on the step below where this is mounted. No problems at top in. Around 50 mph.
THE BANDIT

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Originally Posted by EDDY CREEK BANDIT

My Tracker is the same. I mounted on the step below where this is mounted. No problems at top in. Around 50 mph.
THE BANDIT

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I didn't want to drill any more holes. Did you protect your xducer cable from the water pressure?

Todd mounted his Hummminbird SI xducer this way on his Triton (step). It still looses lock on plane.

i use a transducer mounting plate...inexpensive and for those who change equipment alot save putting a ton of holes in your boat..definately worth the investment

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0000847010102a.shtml

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

This little plastic piece stopped the rooster tail and allowed me to run WOT without loosing bottom contact.

Don't ask me how it works. It might (in effect) kinda extend the length of the hull bottom. I don't know crap about it.

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...l/IMG_0377.jpg

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Tom, I'm assuming the concept of this is to force water (that wants to rooster tail over the ducer) down under it to fill a water void? You got a side view of this invention?

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Originally Posted by EDDY CREEK BANDIT

My Tracker is the same. I mounted on the step below where this is mounted. No problems at top in. Around 50 mph.
THE BANDIT

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Looks like down there, it's vulnerable to getting torn off a lot quicker than on the transom........I don't know?? I fish stump fields a lot, and I really don't want to think about putting it down there. It comes back to me not understanding why there should be that much difference in Humminbird and Lowrance skimmer transducers' sensitivity when it comes to keeping a signal through the water void at fast speeds......and they are located in the same exact place. I knew I shoulda listened more in Physics........

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Originally Posted by luvjign

Tom, I'm assuming the concept of this is to force water (that wants to rooster tail over the ducer) down under it to fill a water void? You got a side view of this invention?

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Nope, but I can get a pic. IBNFSHN posted one made of aluminum some time ago. I just used the idea and reduced the size of deflector.
I used a pint tupperware container (built in right angles, no bending). Made with scissors. I took the transducer off and drilled holes the pattern of the hull in the plastic and mounted the transducer back over the tupperware. Transducer mount holds tupperware in place.

This make any sense?

Want hurt to try. Cheap. Use neighbors tupperware.:) I don't know why it worked.

Maybe Bill will repost the metal deflector pic. It was easy to see how to make one from his pic.

Here is the IBNFSHN link.

http://www.crappie.com/gr8vb3/showth...ghlight=iboats

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

This make any sense?

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Got'cha..........gonna try it before I go drillin and cuttin...........or maybe just get me a Paul to ride on the back/left when I go:)
Thanks for the help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by luvjign

OK transducer experts, I need some help. I replaced a Hummingbird finder on my console with a Eagle Fishmark 480. I know that the manual calls for mounting the transducer where the midway point is in line with the bottom of the hull. I've ran these same transducers on jon boat transoms with no problem. This one is mounted in the same exact place as the HB transducer. The problem is, after 10 mph, it loses the signal, and you know what happens then. It's a Tracker, and it has what Cane Pole probably was asking about on another thread (step hull), and it does rob the bottom of the transom in the transducer area of water that normal hulls don't have. I've moved it up about 1/2" and down about 1/2" with no results change. Looks like I may need to either modify the exsting bracket to go either way any more, or drill more holes. You fellas got a clue as to why I'd need to go lower than this, given the HB transducer wasn't that low??
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...sducerPic2.jpg

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As Canepole suggested, drop the back of the transducer one notch to get it pointed just slightly forward to help eliminate air bubbles. Also, lower it more to get it in cleaner water. It won't be perfect, but will work up until about 25 mph.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...s/PA290027.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...s/PA290028.jpg

The installation of the 997 transducer uses the same holes in the transom as the old Lowrance transducer. I made an adapter plate to mount the new transducer and pick up the old holes.

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Originally Posted by PanMan_VA

As Canepole suggested, drop the back of the transducer one notch to get it pointed just slightly forward to help eliminate air bubbles. Also, lower it more to get it in cleaner water. It won't be perfect, but will work up until about 25 mph.

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Keith, I tried lowering it, tilting it, etc....but for some reason, the void created by the step hull leaves the ducer for the Eagle with too much air. After about 8 MPH, it freezes. The cheap H'bird that came on the boat never had this problem (with it's ducer mounted in the exact same location) running 47 MPH..........Again, it was the get-by model that comes on the Tracker boats, but it had a bad sweating problem internally, and finally died. Found an Eagle 480 on sale to put in it's place, and was hoping I would not have this problem, but did expect to.

It looks like a h'bird transducer has more flat surface area to read from than the eagle.

It's hard to tell from the angle shot, but it looks like the v of your hull is probably creating all sorts of turbulence for your transducer in it's current location on the step.

My eagle reads up to about 3/4 throttle on my Triton with the same skimmer.