Echo Sounder

[roly]

We have a fairly old Stowe Digital readout echo sounder on our fulmar which has always been pretty reliable except an occasional flip to silly numbers when it is shallow (when you need it) or sometimes when the engine is running hard. However this year it seems to go ballistic whenever the engine is running. Suggestions please? Is it build up on the Hull fitting?. Suppression required on the engine electrics ? or what?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jerryat]

Hi Roly!

Don't know this specific echosounder, but had a similar problem a few years ago and it puzzled me for ages. Mentioned it to an electronics bloke at a boat show and he said, much as you suggest, a build up of anti-fouling as a possible cause.
I hadn't realised just how much a/f'g was there!

I scraped off the build-up of self-eroding (which hadn't!) and put two light coats over the through hull transducer. Problem solved, though did have the odd daft reading in turbulent water, probably due to aeration in the water.

Now, prior to a/f'g each year, I use a kitchen scourer to get back to the transducer face, then apply couple of light coats and no probs.

You have probably checked all the connections which is another likely possibility, along with consideration of any additional electrical wiring you have carried out in the last year or so and which might be running close to the transducer cable route.

Interested to hear what the solution was when you get it.

Hope you enjoy your Fulmar as much as I do!

Good sailing!



<hr width=100% size=1>