Depth Readings Above 15 MPH

[PDiCola]

Hello:

I'm a new boat owner, with a '23 LX Sport. When I get the boat up to 15MPH, I lose depth readings. No issues when I stay below this speed. The transducer came with the boat from the dealer, so I don't believe it's a mounting issue. I believe it's caused by wake interference. Is there anything I can do to improve readings at higher speeds?

Thanks!

 

[Jack M]

They are all like that . Some here have moved the transducer, a bit lower and left . Good Luck . If you do move yours please post if it helped . I'm sure others will respond with what they tried.

 

[Vikingstaff]

Congrats on the new boat. Fun!

There is a lot of past conversations on this topic. You are correct on wake/water interference. Use the search box in the upper right hand corner. You will find a lot of strategies for trying to get readings above that MPH, and they work to varying degrees depending on hull, motor, etc…. Good luck!!!

 

[Angela & Michael]

I took out my depth finder and installed a Simrad Go5 about 3 years ago. Had the same problem. Ended up with transducer on starboard side in rear with the bottom of transducer level with bottom of pontoon. It works to 20 mph. If operating in salt water, use a transducer paint (not bottom paint) to keep it and the cable clean from barnacles. It took 3 attempts to get it right, but I’m grateful it works well now.

 

[Michiman]

Hello:

I'm a new boat owner, with a '23 LX Sport. When I get the boat up to 15MPH, I lose depth readings. No issues when I stay below this speed. The transducer came with the boat from the dealer, so I don't believe it's a mounting issue. I believe it's caused by wake interference. Is there anything I can do to improve readings at higher speeds?

Thanks!

Same thing with mine but I moved it down slightly and it reads well into the 30s.

 

[FIRE UP]

Well,
To me, it's kind-a nonsense to try and get depth readings when your boat's doing what, 20,30 or more mph simply because, what good would it do to know that info? You won't have time to react if the depth all of a sudden was TWO FEET. And, while electronics and computers do move at lightyear speed, to ping off the bottom and bounce it to a screen while moving at anything above say, 5 or 10 mph, sure seems almost useless to me but, that's just me. We have a new Garmin UHD2 5" Chartplotter/fish finder with the GT-20-TM transducer and if I recall, it cannot display depth at over about 10 or so mph.
Scott

 

[LaurencetheAdventurer]

Well,
To me, it's kind-a nonsense to try and get depth readings when your boat's doing what, 20,30 or more mph simply because, what good would it do to know that info? You won't have time to react if the depth all of a sudden was TWO FEET. And, while electronics and computers do move at lightyear speed, to ping off the bottom and bounce it to a screen while moving at anything above say, 5 or 10 mph, sure seems almost useless to me but, that's just me. We have a new Garmin UHD2 5" Chartplotter/fish finder with the GT-20-TM transducer and if I recall, it cannot display depth at over about 10 or so mph.
Scott

Well, as you know Havasu is notorious for shallow parts of the lake popping up - out of no-where. I do try and pay attention when driving, especially at speeds, and when I see the depth shrinking from 20 plus to 15, or 10 feet of depth - I know to back way down on that throttle! Now, after a 5 plus years I am starting to get the know the lake better as a driver (The ten plus years as a "kid" I did not pay attention to these details....LOL). We do like exploring the lake's dozens of coves, so we tend to hug the shore on some occasions. And on other occasions we are looking for deeper water for a colder plunge!!!

 

[LaurencetheAdventurer]

Same thing with mine but I moved it down slightly and it reads well into the 30s.

It made a HUGE difference on mine - not my Benny but this is what I did:

 

[FIRE UP]

Oh yesssiree Bub,
I do know many parts of Havasu and lot's of shallow and "iffy" areas. We also like to explore coves and edges but, we do it at a speed at which the sonar works accurately. And that's not very fast. The closer to a shore we get, the more and more we slow down. I'm the one that has to fix broken crap because I was stupid so, I try and not have to fix things! And as you know, there's not a whole lot of deeper coves here as there are in Powel and others. And if one's deep AND blind, we really slow down because we never know who might be around the corner. A 26' Benny doesn't stop on a dime so, I just try and be careful and courteous.

And a "colder plunge", ha, there's times when I dive down to around 20' before I hit "cooling" water. But, it is what it is at this time of year. Do be careful out there. Havasu's known for a "party town" and it gets to be a zoo on that lake at times. And we don't go out at those TIMES.
Scott

 

[Snowmusky]

My garmin 73sv reads depth properly at my maximum of 36. It's all in the mounting position and might take some tinkering. Leading edge of transducer should be fairly level with botton of toon, then I tip the back up a bit to match attitude of boat in the water. Due to the design I added a aluminum deflector to reduce water spray. Clear readings can be achieved at high speeds. Since it's a new boat why not let dealer make it right....

 

[Snowmusky]

My garmin 73sv reads depth properly at any speed. My maximum is 36. It's all in the mounting position and might take some tinkering. Leading edge of transducer should be fairly level with botton of toon, then I tip the back up a bit to match attitude of boat in the water. Due to the design I added a aluminum deflector to reduce water spray. Clear readings can be achieved at high speeds. Since it's a new boat why not let dealer make it right....