Echosounder gone haywire

[richardknight]

Today I noticed our echo going off the rails a bit as it was reading between 0 to 11m in depth and everything in between. We only went back in the water a couple of days ago and hence haven't used it as yet (straight to a berth).

Assuming the problem is the transducer, could anti-foul cause these problems? I'm aware we did give it a couple of coats.....

Thanks,

Richard

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[Spyro]

If its a thru hull transducer it has to sit in an "oil bath" and they do need regular topping up. see website below
www.echopilot.com/infopage.asp?infoid=148

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[richardknight]

Thanks - and yes it is through hull. I can't say I've ever closely looked at the fitting, but would have assumed it was a sealed unit. Have you done this yourself and if so do you know what I should look for? i.e. is it a screw fitting or am I looking for a latch or screw to undo?

Many thanks. You know, I've never topped up the oil in 3.5 years, hence not surprising if this is the problem.

Thanks,

Richard

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[jleaworthy]

There seems to be a little confusion. A through hull fitting does not sit in an oil bath. The face of the transducer in this case would be visible on the outside of the hull. If it's an in-hull fitting it sits in a tube bonded to the hull. This tube needs to have oil (traditionally castor oil) to exclude all air below the transducer - to top it up lift out the transducer.

However, your problem could simply be one of a poor connection into the back of your echosounder.

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[Spyro]

You are correct I did mean an in "hull transducer" mounted inside a sealed tube sitting in oil, I was refering to the fact that the ultra sound waves went thru the hull as opposed to the transducer going thru the hull, must be a Monday morning thing!

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[Spyro]

See my other post I may have confused you.
I have an in hull transducer. Instead of castor oil I use ultrasound gel the kind they rub on pregnant womens bumps when they are having a scan, works perfect and there is no danger of it leaking out

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