depth finder issues

[jeffkukuruda]

I have a 98 SS/Air with factory depth finder and sometimes it doesnt seem to register a depth even when i know im in water that is less than 20 feet deep. Anyone have any similar issues or solutions please!? Where is the actual sensor for this? can it be cleaned or something? thanks alot.

Jeff

[DanielC]

RE: depth finder issues

I do not think there was a "factory" depth finder in 1998. There was a depth finder, usually made by Teleflex, that the factory installed in these boats. Look for a somewhat stylized "T" on the face of the gauge. The dealer that originally sold the boat may have ordered the boat from the factory without a depth finder and then installed it at the dealership. If that was the case, the depth finder could be anything available at that time.
They generally used two different senders. One sender is a "hockey puck" glued into the bottom of the boat, it has a wire coming out of the center of it. If the glue has broke loose, it generally will not work, until there is enough water in the bilge to cover it. The other type of sender is a small black cylindrical thing about a 1/2 inch in diameter, again with a wire, and mounted on the transom of the boat, on the outside, so it is under water.
The hockey puck is usually glued somewhere in the bottom of the boat, around the front of the V-drive.

[jeffkukuruda]

RE: depth finder issues

ok ill look for it next time over at the marina, i think its the hockey puck because there's nothing on the outside. thanks for the insight!

jeff

[DavidF]

RE: depth finder issues

Daniel:

I am not sure, but just questioning: Wouldn't the 1/2" diameter cylinder on the transom be the water temperature probe (it is on my boat). Usually transom mounted depth transponders are much larger and mounted on a bracket.