i just recently broke down and bought me one of those side imaging units. took it out on the water yesterday and everything looks great but for some reason the sonar and the side imaging quit plotting the bottom once i get above like 10 mph. i've heard that you have to get the transducer positioned just right on these units for them to function properly, but i had a boat dealership install the unit so i wouldn't think it would be the transducer postitioning. do any of ya'll have any thoughts on this? it will probably take me at least a month or two to read the 3 inch thick manual that came with it, so does anyone know if there is a setting on the unit i can adjust to see if it will plot better at higher speeds?

Thanks!!

They most likely mounted the SI transducer above the bottom of the hull so it wouldn't get knocked off because its a pricy transducer. Most people do this on the SI Humminbirds. You need a transducer thats just for regular sonar and a switch so that your unit can read either transducer. Thats the way most people do it anyway on these units. You can mount it right on the bottom of the transom like a regular transducer but its big and expensive and its a big risk that you will regret it. The side imaging will never work at more than 6 or 7mph its not designed for that but the regular sonar will if you mount it low or get a switch and another transducer.

+1

if the transducer is installed correctly try changing the angle of it. My 1197 will shoot the depth in calm water to about 25mph. Rough water or fast speeds and it doesnt work at all. As mentioned you can run a regular tranducer with a switch.
good luck

I have a switch and a second thru-hull transducer. Works great!


http://store.humminbird.com/humminbird-products/accessories/switches/us2-w/prod720014-1.html

wont be much longer before I have side imaging!

is there a specific transducer i need to get or will pretty much any sonar transducer work? thanks a lot for the input guys. hopefully it won't cost too much to run that switch with another transducer

its not a transducer problem you're not going to be able to pick up anything at 10mph on the SI.. you can use your sonar, but if you want a good SI picture don't go above 6mph when you're searching

the sonar won't work above the same speed either though

SI doesnt work at speed... You can call All Star Marine Electronics - 214-320-1673. They will have all the info you need.

he just said that sonar isnt working either not just side imaging

If I get over about 25 and dont have the boat trimmed perfectly I loose the bottom image on mine too. But the thru-hull still works.

All Star will fix you up. They forgot more about depth finders than most people know. They also do trolling motor repair,,Im starting to sound like a infomercial for that place! LOL

the unit works fine but i lose the image on both sonar and si before i even plane out. something isn't right. i'm going to call the marine place tomorrow and look into getting a second transducer with a switch or something. thanks for all the help you guys.

you can talk to em and see, of course we're not there to give our 'almighty opinion' (my opinion is always right of course) but go ask a professional, when set up right you should be getting depth readings even at high speeds.. Mine reads depth up to 58mph, but of course my buggy won't boot scoot any quicker than that unless it's on the highway