A maintence tip for transducers

[Old Ironmaker]

I don't know if I read it here or another forum but someone passed on some info that may help us. While trailering the boat transducers should be protected from scratches incurred by road debris that will effect the signal to your unit. Simply cover the transducer with a sock to prevent scratches. Sounds logical to me. An easy and cheap way to keep them clean. A right hand sock for starboard and a left sock for the other side.

 

[fishin98]

I've always used sandwich bags, with a rubber band. Considering that a NEW transducer is over $100, it is wise to protect it. Got to remember with spring arriving there will be a large amount of sand/salt residue left on the highways., it will destroy a transducer left unprotected.....I know from personal experience...$$$$$ down the drain.

 

[Scott Danforth]

putting longer bunks on your trailer and not watching the transducer when you load the boat does worse damage than road salt and rocks ever will. :facepalm:

 

[dingbat]

While trailering the boat transducers should be protected from scratches incurred by road debris that will effect the signal to your unit. Simply cover the transducer with a sock to prevent scratches.

April Fools days isn't for another couple of weeks....lol

Scratches in a transducers protective shell will have absolutely no effect on the signal.

 

[WIMUSKY]

I guess I've never seen a 'ducer being protected by anything while traveling down the road.... I'd like to see the source which states the assumption that 'ducers are affected by scratches.... Heck, they can get scratched if you beach your boat......

 

[GA_Boater]

My transducer is on the right, but all I have are left socks like this. The dryer eats the righties. :facepalm:



If road trash is damaging the transducer, what is happening to your hull?

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I guess I've never seen a 'ducer being protected by anything while traveling down the road.... I'd like to see the source which states the assumption that 'ducers are affected by scratches.... Heck, they can get scratched if you beach your boat......

A Huminbird rep at the Toronto Boat Show told me. They also say transducers work best for around 3 to 4 years only. I reason I suspected my transducer wasn't performing like new is that for the first few years I had the new Humminbird it would actually mark the cannon ball dropping, not last year. But I will not be changing my transducer until it's completely gone and or the screen is caput. I don't know if they exist but it sure would be nice to have a plug in transducer like it plugs into the unit. Do they exist?

 

[Watermann]

My transducer is on the right, but all I have are left socks like this. The dryer eats the righties. :facepalm:



If road trash is damaging the transducer, what is happening to your hull?

:lol: Exactly and what if you have a through the hull transducer with a scratch on the hull?

 

[WIMUSKY]

I've never see a plugin 'ducer. I don't know how you could keep 100% of the moisture out.

I'm like you Ironmaker, use them til they quit working. By that time, if the 'ducer goes out first you'll have a tough time finding a replacement. So then you're forced to upgrade.....

 

[GA_Boater]

There are extension cables for transducers that have to match the transducer. You could use one or two depending on length and coil up the 20' cable on the current transducer closer to the stern. I don't know if it's worth it.

 

[dingbat]

Airmar makes transducers for most major sounder mfgs.
Here is what they say about transducer life. Humminbird is either selling I nferior products or filling you with bs to sell units. Past conversations with their sales reps lead me to believe a little of both

Thank you for contacting AIRMAR Technology Corporation. This is a loaded question. Transducers that become physically damaged may need to be replaced, but beyond that they normally offer many years of great service.

What most do not know is that ceramics themselves age in decades (multiples of 10). Over time, they can drift in frequency. Transducers that are between 10 and 20 years old should still work well enough, but will probably produce less energy than when they were new.

Beyond 20 years is pushing the limits and one should seriously consider changing the transducer.:cheers:

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Airmar makes transducers for most major sounder mfgs.
Here is what they say about transducer life. Humminbird is either selling I nferior products or filling you with bs to sell units. Past conversations with their sales reps lead me to believe a little of both

Oh I'm with you, sell more units.

GA_Boater, I wouldn't get caught with one of those socks on my Port side transducer let alone my foot. Maybe you can hook up with an amputee that is missing his right foot. I actually know 2 amps that do that for shoes.

As far as transducers loosing accuracy it can be readily seen on ice fishing units where you can actually see your jig at several feet down.

I like the idea of getting extensions for the transducer, why not. I may be overthinking this a tad.

 

[dingbat]

As far as transducers loosing accuracy it can be readily seen on ice fishing units where you can actually see your jig at several feet down.

Let us not confuse accuracy with sensitivity.

In sonar, accuracy would relate to depth. If the unit gives the depth as 21 ft. and the actual depth is 22 ft., the accuracy of the unit is ? 1 ft.

Depth is a time-based calculation. Unless compensated, water temperature and salinity will have an adverse affect on accuracy.

Sensitivity is the unit?s ability to detect objects in the water column.

Numerous things can affect sensitivity; however, the one that would explain your inability to see the ball (large frequency shift) would for the most part, render the unit inoperative.

Since you are not complaining about seeing fish, I suspect the transducer has moved. Cone angles are such that very little movement of the transducers will have a major affect on the viewing area. I would try raising the rear of the transducer up a bit and see if your down rigger ball comes back into view. If that does not work, I would suspect the integrity of the unit as a whole.

FYI: ice fishing units use transducers with much larger cones angles than used on a boat, thus the ability to see your jig closer to the surface