Depth occasionally shows "out"

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afterpegassus

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I installed a Clipper Duet last year and only got boat in water last week.
The depth reading shows erratic depths and frequently "out".
Checked all connections and they seem sound.
A search on here suggests castor oil as immersion medium for transducer ( I'm using vegetable oil).
I'm at a bit of a loss as to what else to do before I bother Nasa.
Any suggestions,?
 
Is there anything interfering with or confusing the sound signal - another echo sounder/transducer on same frequency or similar - maybe hidden but still connected - we had that - or fish?

Clipper Duet has to allocate a single number from a miriad of sounds whereas with the old seafarers, you saw a range of possible depths flashing on the display and picked the one you though best.

No harm trying castor oil, traditional, but might be an air bubble in the hull below the transducer or picking up a signal from something else such as the keel - try holding the transducer over the side and see if the reading is steadier.

We thought our new echo sounder wasn't working properly, then found that the sand had built up over the past year so the depth was shallower.

Can't beat a lead line or a sounding pole - or being modern, compare with the Navionics.
 
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Are you using the Nasa hull mounting kit?
Or something you've constructed your self?
Did you use the chewing gun trick to test the location first?
I'm assuming it's a GRP hull and that there nothing in the laminate.
From your description, it sounds like there's something "scattering" the sound pulse. The sound is reverberating around and the receiver is getting returned signals for the first part of the cycle.
 
Ian_Edwards said:
Are you using the Nasa hull mounting kit?
Or something you've constructed your self?
Did you use the chewing gun trick to test the location first?
I'm assuming it's a GRP hull and that there nothing in the laminate.
From your description, it sounds like there's something "scattering" the sound pulse. The sound is reverberating around and the receiver is getting returned signals for the first part of the cycle.
Click to expand...
It's a short length of white drain pipe mounted below the chart table and filled with veg oil.
The chewing gum trick?
Symptoms were the same when under way and at mooring with engine off.
 
afterpegassus said:
It's a short length of white drain pipe mounted below the chart table and filled with veg oil.
The chewing gum trick?
Symptoms were the same when under way and at mooring with engine off.
Click to expand...
If the tube is full of oil changing to a different oil will make no difference. Check the cable from the transducer and the connections to the back of the display.
 
Chewing gum trick is to stick transducer to hull in various places to get clearest signal. Try hanging transducer over side first to check not the instrument. Do you have an old Seafarer transducer that you know works which you could try in the Clipper - mine uses the old transducer

Instructions page 9-15 recognises the issue sometimes, gives information on adjustments for possible interference etc

What is the bottom - deep or shallow - soft or hard - hard under soft - are you picking up the double echo - when the display jumps does it move to a consistent depth?
 
I've had two Duet units on both the depth was very (100% ) reliable unlike the speed. The first was in a upvc tube epoxied to the hull and filled with cooking oil, nothing special. Make sure there's no bubbles under the transducer. Try testing by dangling the transducer directly in the water. There could be manufacturers fault - can you borrow a working transducer? and try it.
I recommend talking to someone at NASA who are very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful and can solve most problems relating to their equipment.
 
I had exactly this problem with a NASA Clipper depth last year. I tried refitting the transducer and changing the oil but the intermittent problem remained - usually when really needing a depth reading! I also tried re-soldering the components on the board in the instrument in case it was a dry joint. After each intervention I thought it was cured but the same failure would occur again. I eventually gave up and bought a new display and now all is well. If you have tried all the other possible sources of failure i.e. the transducer mounting, the oil, the connections etc then maybe you have a problem with the display. NASA will test and repair for a fee that is less than a new display. I replaced mine because it was also old. Good luck
David Morgan
 
Today I went to the boat, removed and cleaned the transducer of it's oil.
I sat it down in a bed of silicone a few inches from where I had been having my issues and for the short while until it tipped over in the soft mastic, it behaved fine.
Tomorrow, then I will make a more permanent installation in its new location..
Thanks for your inputs!
 
Surprised no-one has mentioned that its normal if the bottom is soft and signal does not bounce cleanly ... it gets worse actually as the depth DECREASES ... basically because the signal gets broken up by different stones / crud in the soft mud and display then has hard time figuring out ..

My B&G does this in the yacht harbour - but once we get more toward the harbour channel - it gets better until it displays depth consistently.

Veg oil - Castor Oil ... Baby oil .... even water ... all good.

One tip - Do not have the transducer actually touching the hull in the tube mount ... have it just a fraction clear ... and when inserting into the tube - do it slowly so that you don't create bubbles or airlock in the fluid.
 
afterpegassus said:
I installed a Clipper Duet last year and only got boat in water last week.
The depth reading shows erratic depths and frequently "out".
Checked all connections and they seem sound.
A search on here suggests castor oil as immersion medium for transducer ( I'm using vegetable oil).
I'm at a bit of a loss as to what else to do before I bother Nasa.
Any suggestions,?
Click to expand...
You seem to be well on the way to sorting this but just a note: I sometimes lose readings if we heel enough for the transducer to be above the water level and, more confusingly, when we pass through the disturbed water astern of a larger vessel.
 
Although the clipper depth has automatic gain you can go in to the settings and reduce the gain for the first 16 feet of depth,this is explained in the manual which is available online.
 
Thistle said:
You seem to be well on the way to sorting this but just a note: I sometimes lose readings if we heel enough for the transducer to be above the water level and, more confusingly, when we pass through the disturbed water astern of a larger vessel.
Click to expand...

Any aeration of the water as it passes the transducer will cause loss of reading ... keels and other external hull fittings can easily do this ... the immediate tell-tale of this : If you have readings when stationary or slow speed ... but lose readings as speed increases .... suspect aeration / disturbance of water crossing transducer.
 
Similar problem but the transducer is fitted through the wooden hull. It was all fitted new earlier this year by a professional but the boat is in a different location now.
It’s a combined display: speed and depth. Neither shows any value For speed I get 0.0 and for depth I get ‘out’.
I’m not actually too worried about the log. But depth is good to know.

I can talk to Clipper but thought I’d ask the ever helpful forum in case I’m missing something
Thank you
 
DoubleEnder said:
Similar problem but the transducer is fitted through the wooden hull. It was all fitted new earlier this year by a professional but the boat is in a different location now.
It’s a combined display: speed and depth. Neither shows any value For speed I get 0.0 and for depth I get ‘out’.
I’m not actually too worried about the log. But depth is good to know.

I can talk to Clipper but thought I’d ask the ever helpful forum in case I’m missing something
Thank you
Click to expand...

If it was working in previous location and now not - it could the state of the sea-bed ... my sounder is unreliable on the mooring as the bed is very soft ooze mud ... but as soon as I get nearer to the river where its dredged - the depth then comes in good.
 
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