Seafarer depth sounder

[Dimond]

I have recently purchased a 26ft mirage and it has a Seafarer dept sounder,(the one with the spinning center and red guage). My problem is I did not get a manual for this instrument and I do not know if it is working correctly or how to operate it. Would anyone have a manual they could email me or alternatively tell me how to check if it is working.



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[Nick2]

I have a similar model - does yours have a digital display as well as the wizzy round thing?

If so Ill check the model number and glady copy and send.

Nick

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[tillergirl]

Don't have a manual anymore but from memory depending on the model you have simple controls - on-off switch, gain switch (think in some models this was incorporated into the on-off switch so the more you turned the knob after wsitching on the more gain you put on) and for some a range switch marked x1 and x6. Some models had a digital reading as well as the spinning dial.

Turn on and the rotor in the display should spin and the LED should light at the top centre of the dial - this indicates the bottom of the boat. If only one light shows increase the gain until a second light appears. That is the indication of the bottom. Increase the gain too much and you get repeat echos round the dial. Back off the gain until only two lights are showing. Depending upon the nature of the bottom, how well its all working etc, you might find it difficult to just get two lights. If you get in this situation the first light clockwise from the centre LED light should be the bottom. This might not be the case is the gain is way too high and there are repeat echos bouncing completely round the dial.

Range. The dial shows 0-20 feet or metres depending on age of the instrument with the range knob at x1. Turn it to x6 and you will notice the rotor slow and you should read the depth indicator light against the second scale shown round the dial which will be 0 to 120 feet or metres.

The manual would have said never shorten the length of the transducer cable since this affects the accuracy of the instrument. Some very old ones had the option of a large internal battery - was it a PP3? or 12v ships supply.

Hope this helps - its all from memory

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[homerj]

I had the same problem If you have a seafarer 5 like mine. try...
www.boten.nl/equipment/instrument_pdf/seafarer/seafarer_5.pdf for a download of the manual... Good luck and fair winds ( and sufficient depth ! ).

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[Evadne]

Your memory is correct, I still use mine. I like it because it is simple and I like old electronics (when it works). The display is set up so that the depth is in "minutes past the hour", i.e. with the second blip at two o'clock on the dial the depth is ten feet and so on. Mine is on the main bulkhead and I can read it from the cockpit.

The main problems over time tend to be the usual (broken wires or connectors) and the rotor sticking. If it doesn't rotate usually either the PP3 is flat or it's become unplugged from the ship's supply. Sometimes the unit starts to corrode internally so freeing the rotor is a toothbrush and WD40 job.

If you don't get a return echo then try the fathoms scale (x6) which has a slower repetition rate and I believe a longer pulse. If only this works, then replace the battery. If still not then you'd suspect the transducer connections. I don't get much of a signal back beyond 25-30 feet, but then I rarely anchor in such depths.

Both transducers and displays are available from secondhand dealers, such as the Foulkes chandlery barge in Bursledon. Similarly if you want a more modern sounder, they may give you a few quid for a working unit. One word of warning, the earlier transmitters and transducers were closely matched, their frequencies should be chosen to be the same, it should be inscribed on it somewhere. Later models had the benefit of space age technology, so they should be tuned to the same frequency, more-or-less, and transducers are interchangeable. It is ialso likely that the frequency of an old model will drift off tune, and reduce its sensitivity (possibly to zero). Transducers will not suffer this fate.



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[VicS]

What model is it. I have a Seafarer 3 but the instruction book is on the boat. I though I might have a spare one at home but it appears not. The "3" came in two versions a feet/fathoms one and a metric one although the feet/fathoms one has a metric scale as well.

The "3" was a very popular instrument in the 1970s until the "5" appeared. It has a plain grey plastic case with no digital display, no alarms and no provision for a repeater. It runs off a large 9 volt battery, PP9, or perhaps PP7, not the little PP3, but could be connected to the ships supply up to 24volts. BUT if water gets into the case, and they are not as water proof as they might be, it corrodes the components on the printed cicuit board that form the voltage regulator when run on the ships supply.

Two knobs one for on/off and range, either 60 feet or 60 fathoms or eqivalent in metres. The other for sensitivity, turn clockwise until you get a depth reading, but will need adjusting as the depth varies.

If used on ships supply park battery connectors on clips provided for the purpose and connect supply to nearby terminal posts.

As said by Dave White if the rotor is siezed it can be freed if you are careful but I
would then lubricate the bearings very sparingly with very light oil, clock oil, 3 in 1 or sewing machine oil. Do not spray things wildly with WD 40 as its not good for electronic circuit boards. (G. Taylor, former Editor of PBO, used to advocate doing just that until he was corrected)

You will get a flash at zero (as well as at the depth). If you do not get the flash at zero then it isn't working and will need further investigation. I think the instruction book has a full circuit diagram in it.

Check that the transducer is sitting in a reservoir of castor oil to make the acoustic coupling with the hull and inspect the cable at the instrument end. If its been subject to much flexing the wire may be broken. If so cut back and fit an ordinary coax plug.

Frankly, although I'm still using one bought in 1978, if you have any real problems buy a modern instrument with a digital display that can be viewed in full daylight, can be cockpit mounted or fitted with a repeater, and has an alarm. If mine packs up I will cheer quietly and do just that.

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[ashanta]

I think I have a manual on board. As I don't have a SF DS anymore you can have it if it's there. I am on board this weekend.

Regards.

Peter.

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[Ashton]

Mmorning all.
We have the seafarer 5. We get no depth reading but the zero position does light up.
Is there a way I can check where the fault lies ? , transducer , cables, reciever ?.
Thanks.
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[doug748]

Easiest way is to borrow a working unit and test that. Someone on the forums lent me one once.
Back to basics.... Have you adjusted the gain control?
If you are ashore you need to hold a baking tray, or similar, under the transducer and you should get some sort of reading.

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[Egret]

Maybe try a new Transducer - directly in water for first trial - Transducer and cable is all one unit so shouldn't be fiddled with.

Speak to NASA Marine, I think their transducer for the basic Target or Clipper is the same 150 KHz as the Seafarer 5 - but don't take my word for it - speak to them, they are most helpful. Once confirmed, you might find someone who would let you try it on their transducer before buying, and conversely their echo sounder on your transducer - all at your risk obviously.

Getting a PP9 battery may also be an issue, but there are adaptors to connect to a little PP3 9V battery, which will work, or you can connect 12V to terminals inside the echo sounder - again don't take my word for it.

Turn gain up to start with and if you get red light all around, turn gain down until you get one blob at top and one at depth, and sometimes a second blob on the double echo.

I do like these old seafarers,. They give a range of possible depths and you choose the one that suits you, rather than the digitals that only display one depth at a time and often seem to jump about a bit, particularly on soft mud with harder bits underneath. A new basic Target is very good value though and comes with a Transducer.