A funny thing happened last Friday

[Vinny31]

So we took the opportunity last Friday to take our newly purchased Xs rib for another run out on Lough Neagh.

After a coffee stop in Antrim we decided to head over towards Toome with a view to checking out the lough gates. A plan is being formulated for later in the year to cross the lough and enter the Bann River at Toome before heading north to castlerock and the north channel.

So we here we were scooting along at 40 knots with the lough to ourselves and about half way to Toome it seemed as if we had dropped off the edge of a page on the gps. Contours and other details stopped and all we had was an orange background and our track.

I’m presuming we reached the edge of the area covered by whatever card our Lowrance lcx-20 currently has fitted ?

I’m thinking we may also need a new transducer for it as it doesn’t seem to read depth very well.

Anyone else using this gps and could recommend a new transducer?
Thanks in advance.

[beamishken]

Sounds like you went off the chart as you say
Does the depth sounder work at slow speeds? Not many work well at 40kts

[Vinny31]

It must be working to a degree, as it seems to give a reading then just maintains that figure and flashes. In general the lough is v shallow, I may need to play around with scales and settings etc.

I’ve also noticed that we seem to get max economy of around 0.9l/nm at approximately 4600rpm, thought that seems quite high for cruising speed [emoji848].
Every day is a school day.

[beamishken]

Ours does the same occasionally at 25 kts sounds like your just going too fast for it to pick up a return

[paintman]

How's your tranducer mounted - as in is it in clear water or as you increase your speed does it end up in increasingly turbulent or aerated water?
I get much the same with depth as the faster I go the less hull is in the water!

Can also get very upset in shallow water - which can be weed not far below the surface, something I see more when I use it on other boats in reservoirs. I've also seen others have the same problem on Rutland Water when using their own sounders on the fishery hire boats so not just my Dragonfly.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by Vinny31

It must be working to a degree, as it seems to give a reading then just maintains that figure and flashes. In general the lough is v shallow, I may need to play around with scales and settings etc.

I’ve also noticed that we seem to get max economy of around 0.9l/nm at approximately 4600rpm, thought that seems quite high for cruising speed [emoji848].
Every day is a school day.

re depth reading same happened to me last year with my lowrance thought it was the transducer sent mine back to flowrance it turns out it was the chartplotter not the transducer got a replacement under guarantee kept the transducer.

re chart as said possibly off the chart but if you send it in they will tell you if there's a fault
edit sent back to lowrance just out of guarantee but they sorted FOC great after sales service you might get a deal on a new one if its caput from them worth a try.

[Vinny31]

Originally Posted by paintman

How's your tranducer mounted - as in is it in clear water or as you increase your speed does it end up in increasingly turbulent or aerated water?
I get much the same with depth as the faster I go the less hull is in the water!

Can also get very upset in shallow water - which can be weed not far below the surface, something I see more when I use it on other boats in reservoirs. I've also seen others have the same problem on Rutland Water when using their own sounders on the fishery hire boats so not just my Dragonfly.

The transducer is transom mounted, it doesn’t seem to give a good reading even when still.
Tbh it may be a setting issue, I’ll have to see can I download a user manual.

[jeffstevens763@g]

transducer setting info make sure you are set to the transducer you have on the unit.
mine showed 145 feet in knee depth of water

[Vinny31]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

transducer setting info make sure you are set to the transducer you have on the unit.

mine showed 145 feet in knee depth of water

Brilliant thanks, mine is mounted in the shaded area and parallel to the water line.