Raymarine depth sounder issue

[GDPR150987]

Hi guys, Ive already posted this in the PBO section but thought Id try here as well so sorry in advance for a duplicate thread.

I am running a Raymarine DSM 30 sonar unit with an Airmar B744v transducer, head unit is a Raymarine E7. The transducer/sonar module is a factory fit and has operated over the years fairly well. However just recently I have noticed the depth readings have become eratic and sometimes not even showing any depth at all.

Is there an easy test to find out which unit is faulty? Hope its not the transducer as its glassed into the hull by the looks of it and does not look easy to replace.

The transducer face is clean, no growth and has not been damaged, already checked that just in case.

Other option (expensive though) is to chuck DSM 30 and Airmar transducer and go for a brand new Raymarine down vision CP 100 sonar module and Raymarine CPT 120 transducer. This will give me the new down vision system - question is - is it worth going this direction?

Thanks

 

[tillergirl]

I'll try again!

Are you sure you have a glassed in B744V? This is the one

 

[GDPR150987]

Yep thats the one. The transducer is almost flush with the hull. All around it is some type of hard filler. I think it was factory fitted.

 

[tillergirl]

Blimey, that's the tall transducer to bury. I think that should have been fastened by the nut rather than glassed. That's going to be difficult to remove. Is the speed log working?

Just thinking a little more, what is the angle of the hull where the transducer is fitted?

 

[Mike k]

Hi guys, Ive already posted this in the PBO section but thought Id try here as well so sorry in advance for a duplicate thread.

I am running a Raymarine DSM 30 sonar unit with an Airmar B744v transducer, head unit is a Raymarine E7. The transducer/sonar module is a factory fit and has operated over the years fairly well. However just recently I have noticed the depth readings have become eratic and sometimes not even showing any depth at all.

Is there an easy test to find out which unit is faulty? Hope its not the transducer as its glassed into the hull by the looks of it and does not look easy to replace.

The transducer face is clean, no growth and has not been damaged, already checked that just in case.

Other option (expensive though) is to chuck DSM 30 and Airmar transducer and go for a brand new Raymarine down vision CP 100 sonar module and Raymarine CPT 120 transducer. This will give me the new down vision system - question is - is it worth going this direction?

Thanks

when my readings went dodgy, even on the berth , I purchased a new sonar and before making any adjustments/removals I dangled it in the water and connected it to the head unit, once I saw it was ok I removed the old sonar and replaced. I know its an expensive exercise if its not that. As an alternative you could always send your head unit to raymarine and I am pretty sure they can test it for you.

 

[GDPR150987]

Blimey, that's the tall transducer to bury. I think that should have been fastened by the nut rather than glassed. That's going to be difficult to remove. Is the speed log working?

Just thinking a little more, what is the angle of the hull where the transducer is fitted?

The hull is semi displacement and only very shallow <20° I would think where it is fitted. I think Im going to need a glass fibre expert to assist replacement.

Both speed log and temp not working either but I have seen the new replacement kit with junction box. I think Im going down the route of a brand new Raymarine CP100 & CPT120 with pro help to fit transducer.

Thanks for your time :encouragement:

 

[GDPR150987]

when my readings went dodgy, even on the berth , I purchased a new sonar and before making any adjustments/removals I dangled it in the water and connected it to the head unit, once I saw it was ok I removed the old sonar and replaced. I know its an expensive exercise if its not that. As an alternative you could always send your head unit to raymarine and I am pretty sure they can test it for you.

The head unit has been back once this year for testing and software upgrade. Its an old defunct model now so Im guessing its time for an upgrade. :encouragement:

 

[tillergirl]

My similar transducer uses the Raymarine Tridata Instument Head. When the original transducer packed up the Instrument showed two horizontal bars which I believed suggested the Instrument Head was fine but getting no data from the transducer. The speed function has an entirely different data feed (ie separate wiring). Again it showed two horizontal bars when not receiving the data feed. If the logger was weeded up it would show 0.0 showing it was getting the data feed. This probably doesn't help.

When purchasing the transducer, a plastic block shaped like the transducer could be bought: the angle of the hull could then be cut in two and each half used either side of the hull to get the angle of the transducer vertical. The whole lot was sandwiched by the large nut (masticed of course) and when the defective one was removed it was possible to reuse the shaped block (which was quite difficult to cut accurately in two!).

 

[gjgm]

Airmar was based out of St Malo if you can track them that way..they also have very complete cross product tables..again, it was a while ago and took some searching on their Web page.
That said, they were extremely helpful and informative, and, English, despite the location !
You might be able to get a cheap compatible transducer to test..often the brand name is simply the connection plug into the head unit. You might get away with through hull, in which case, no need to fiddle with the old unit -just leave it there, or leave it and cut a hole for new through hull.
Guess you have to weigh up a minimal cost job against saving a problem another year and upgrading it all now that the opportunity has arisen and be done with it.
The lift outs cost about the same as the units!

 

[GDPR150987]

Thanks guys appreciate the advice. I've had a chat with my local Raymarine dealer and he is confident without even looking that the DSM 30 will be to blame! Not much faith in their products then.
I had the boat lifted today and noticed the paddle wheel on the transducer was facing port to starb! Don't know how that happened? The temp sensor is still not working so still require the replacement speed and temp sensor. Im going to search for a replacement kit and see if the new Raymarine CP100 will run the existing Airmar transducer.
Ill let you know the outcome :encouragement:

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thanks guys appreciate the advice. I've had a chat with my local Raymarine dealer and he is confident without even looking that the DSM 30 will be to blame! Not much faith in their products then.

Thanks for posting this thread as I have been experiencing a very similar issue this season and it has never occurred to me that it might be the DSM30 unit, not the transducer

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Thanks guys appreciate the advice. I've had a chat with my local Raymarine dealer and he is confident without even looking that the DSM 30 will be to blame! Not much faith in their products then.
I had the boat lifted today and noticed the paddle wheel on the transducer was facing port to starb! Don't know how that happened? The temp sensor is still not working so still require the replacement speed and temp sensor. Im going to search for a replacement kit and see if the new Raymarine CP100 will run the existing Airmar transducer.
Ill let you know the outcome :encouragement:

Unfortunately the downvision transducer is completely different to (and loads bigger than) the transducer used by the dsm30.

 

[GDPR150987]

Unfortunately the downvision transducer is completely different to (and loads bigger than) the transducer used by the dsm30.

Damn it, just my luck...

 

[GDPR150987]

Thanks for posting this thread as I have been experiencing a very similar issue this season and it has never occurred to me that it might be the DSM30 unit, not the transducer

Worth looking into it Mike. A few threads on the hull truth seem to suggest the weak link is often the DSM 30 and 300 unit as well. Raymarine tested mine as it would not accept a software update. It seemed ok for year after that. They also sent me a new power cable as old ones where subject to a recall sometime back. The cable was free of charge. I have also read the DSM 300 was subject to a recall at some stage too.