Depth Sounder Transducer alignment - SIMRAD IS12 Depth

[mhember]

We have just taken over a new boat and I'm a bit concerned by the performance of the depth sounder which seems to loose readings at anything over about 12-15m. Clearly not a problem from a draught perspective but I often use depth as a 'position line' on contours to help know / check where I am.

The instruments are SIMRAD; it is a SIMRAD IS12 depth sounder networked to other SIMRAD kit in a conventional way. The transducer appears to be installed properly and is vertical, the only thing I have noticed is that the 'forward' arrows on the top of the transducer are not aligned foreward and aft, but are off to Stbd at about 30-35 degrees.

Will this make a difference? Re-aligning is impossible probably without breaking the transducer, and I will need to check the cabling / connections and check for interference sources, but unsure how worried I should be about the alignment of the transducer body. Is the 'beam' shaped at all or are they unaffected? If so, what purpose do the alignment arrows serve?

Any thoughts / advice welcome.

 

[VicS]

I'd expect an alignment arrow on a log transducer but not a depth sounder transducer.

 

[mhember]

I'd expect an alignment arrow on a log transducer but not a depth sounder transducer.

Yeah agree, I've not seen on a depth transducer before but no doubt that is what this is.

 

[salar]

You have alignment indicators on a transducer usually when they are supplied with an angled fitting to sit vertically in an angled hull. A conventional transducer will send out a cone signal so direction isn't important, but mounting angle is, so if the transducer isn't vertical the return signal might be going away from the boat at greater depths. If as you say the transducer is vertical, is it shooting through the hull or is it mounted through a hole in the hull? If the former, maybe the signal is having to go through some non-optimal layers in the hull which are restricting signal strength.

 

[mhember]

It is mounted through the (ferro) hull in a conventional way in a pad, made for the purpose. It looks like I can relax about the alignment arrows and focus on the cabling and the transmit side. I'll check for contact resistance, adjacent interference, etc.
Thank you.