Depth sounder

P

pleeson

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 20, 2012
Messages
301
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Non-Fluid Motion Model
Cutwater 28 Owner
Vessel Name
Bairn
I have an older Garmin GPS Map 7212 nav station. Our depth sounder has stopped working in less than 100 ft of water. Seems to come on line in deeper water. Kinda useless for hazard avoidance and anchoring data. I have tried different scroll speeds etc but can anyone tell me where their normally functioning unit is set with respect to the various choices on the menu? It may be that it’s pooched but I’d like to return to basics first. Thanks much.
 
There are several threads about Transducer issues. The first step is to locate the transducer. The Cutwater it is usually next to the shower sump. confirm it has liquid in the cup first. O ring installed? If no liquid, fill it with water to test it. If it works remember to remove the water and put RV antifreeze in the cup so it doesn't freeze in cold weather.
 
Thanks much Brian. I know where the transducer is. Will check. Didn’t realize a through hull had liquid still. Cheers.
 
When you look, if you see pink fluid in your bilge, it's likely the hull-to-transducer seal has failed, and you'll need to re-seat it and fill it again with anti freeze.

Took me a few hours once I knew what was happening.
 
Paul, I had the same condition last week. Topped up the transducer and all is good. I keep some fluid in a squeeze bottle on-board so it’s easy to fill. Take a walk down the street and I can give you some. Ed
 
I have had issues with my Garmin 8612 MFD not reporting a depth or flashing a depth measurement. At time of delivery of the 2020 R-29 the MFD didn’t report any depth reading. The transducer was dry. Dealer re-sealed and filled the transducer with fluid. It worked. Six months later, same issue and same solution. Now 4 months later, same issue. Does anyone know the brand of transducer on a 2020 R-29 and does it require an O-Ring? I don’t think removing the transducer, sanding the hull, resealing with 5200 and refilling the transducer with antifreeze every 4 months is the long term answer. Thank you in advance for any advice.
 
One of my boats had a in hull transducer and it started leaking. Filled it a couple of times, then removed it, sanded it down, cleaned the transducer plastic cup and used 4200 to rebed it and taped it into place for a couple of days. It didn't leak for the next 8 years I owned the boat.
I suggest 4200 vice 5200 as 5200 is heck to remove if you ever need to remove it (new transducer for example) and 4200 will do the job fine.
Good luck.
 
I too had to reinstall the transducer that was leaking fluid. It’s worked fine ever since. What I wanted to add from my experience also is that there are no good high-end transducer options for my Cutwater. I was willing to get the best 1 kW transducer available, but everything requires some kind of compromise that I wasn’t willing to make due to hull design. In this case, the GT 15 is good enough.
 
HookedUp":2a5y8zdv said:
One of my boats had a in hull transducer and it started leaking. Filled it a couple of times, then removed it, sanded it down, cleaned the transducer plastic cup and used 4200 to rebed it and taped it into place for a couple of days. It didn't leak for the next 8 years I owned the boat.
I suggest 4200 vice 5200 as 5200 is heck to remove if you ever need to remove it (new transducer for example) and 4200 will do the job fine.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Thank you Richard. Looks like I have to remove and reinstall. I will use 4200. I just don’t know why the liquid is disappearing. Thank you.
 
Rocky, thank you. Is the GT15 a Garmin transducer? Does it have an O ring?
 
Everyone, I am not sure I am posting a reply correctly. If not, I apologize. I will have to research how to correctly Post and Reply. Thanks.
 
I had to reattach mine earlier this year (using 4200). It came completely detached from the floor of my 2015 R-29, presumably from vibration. Yes, the transducer cap has an O-ring. It could be damaged, allowing fluid to leak out. You may want to replace it. I also use a light layer of vaseline on the O-ring before installing the cap.

Gordon
 
Garry H - if your question is whether the stock transducer is GT-15, it might be an Airmar P79. That is the stock transducer for a C28 (2015).

I've been down this trail once before about changing to a Chirp transducer like the GT15M-IH for better performance. However, moving to Chirp with the 7212 requires a GSD 25 Sonar Module. However, the C28 has a GSD 22 module located in the cave. So, going to Chirp starts a few things in motion (new module, cave time, and threading a new transducer cable) vs. upgrading to the 8612 that has a built-in module that supports Chirp.

I would love to hear if I'm missing something or anyone has a different solution to upgrading a 7212/P79 to Chirp technology. Otherwise, the simple option is to do nothing. Some great advice I often see on Tugnuts is that if it is working; don't fix it.
 
We had similar depthsounder problems last summer cruising to the Broughtons in our 2016 R29. The depth reading would become intermittent or just go flashing and required a system reset. As we were getting ready to run the first of the 3 rapids, it went out entirely and wouldn't come back. My wife ran the boat through the rapids with no depth reading while I stood on my head in the rear cock pit fixing the transducer, awkwardly located in the bottom of the rear compartment right under the stern thruster motor. I found the cap was loose, the cup was full of dirty water, and the O-ring was in the bottom of the cup. I cleaned it up, filled it with water, and got the O-ring back in place; but the lid would not stay on, it kept popping loose on one side. I finally determined that the tabs and/or grooves that lock the lid on were worn. I took a piece of plastic grocery bag, folded it a few times, and placed it between the lid lock tabs and the cup. The lid stayed on and we had sonar readings for the rest of the trip. I found some pink RV antifreeze for it up in Sullivan Bay, but haven't yet found a more permanent solution for the lid. Hoping not to have to peel the cup off and replace the whole thing.
 
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