Sonar transducer location 2016 C30CB

[dennis41]

Situation: Depth finder worked fine all last summer, but at season's end it died. All I have is a blue screen with colorful little objects floating across the top of the screen. No settings have been changed.The only place I haven't looked is in the forward compartment that houses the thruster & macerator. Moving the mattress to access is next, unless it is somewhere else equally inaccessible. Why is it's location not in the owners manual? Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[Matty_K]

Should be on on the inside bottom of the hull the near the stern, not up front. I had the same issue last year on my RT31. Typically the issue is that the fluid leaks out of the transducer "cup" over time. There are 2 square socket screws in the top. Open it up and fill with RV antifreeze, then reinstall the transducer. Some people use different fluids. I use RV antifreeze with good success to avoid freeze damage later. Transducer cup should be completely filled with fluid ... no air.

 

[Boatagain]

On my ‘16 C30 the transducer is located just under the forward starboard corner of the engine, glued to the inside of the hull on the floor of the engine compartment It’s a bear to reach, you need orangutan arms, but it can be done. Be prepared to insert yourself, head first, into that corner and hang upside down for a while. Great fun!

 

[SassyRed]

On our C30CB (2017), the transducer is located right next to the drain pump and filter box for the head. Just pick up the loose section of flooring right outside the door to the head in the forward berth area to access either.

If you have the P79 transducer (http://www.airmar.com/productdescription.html?id=3) the cap is removed by twisting it counter clockwise a quarter turn or so.

We use RV antifreeze also. Quick hint: I keep a little plastic squeeze bottle on the boat that I use to fill the transducer - pouring from a gallon jug directly into the little transducer is a non-starter.

 

[dennis41]

Thanks, fellow Tugnuts, for all the input. So...my boat, being a 2016 C30CB, has the transducer (a P-79) insidiously located forward of the alternator, stbd side of the very large 435 hp Volvo engine. Yes, very long, flexible Orangutan arms are required to access this device, obviously installed before the engine was installed. In my case, I first removed a small cover (made of stbd mat'l) which revealed a black hole. With my flashlight, I could make out the top of the transducer, offset from the larger hole in the boat's structure. By hanging headfirst over the top of the engine I miraculously managed to remove the transducer sending unit. The transducer housing was dry. I refilled the housing with RV antifreeze using a very long, skinny, improvised funnel, reinstalled the transducer (very difficult), and VOILA!, depth numbers appeared on the Garmin screen. By far, this is the most difficult thing I've had to do - so far - on this boat.
It's no wonder Dave & John Livingston thought better about this and changed the location (2017 & newer) so it can be more easily serviced.

 

[gigharborite]

I have a 2017 C30CB. The transducer seems to need fluid twice a year no matter what I do. Can this unit be easily replaced with a transducer that does not need so much attention? I seem to have trouble after a trip in rough seas.

 

[gwishon]

My problems with a chronically leaky transducer went away after I ran a thin layer of vaseline over the gasket on the transducer cover/cap.

Gordon