My FF tripping out at 400ft+

So, I've never ventured into the deep parts of the canyon out in Monterey til yesterday.  I think the deepest I've used my FF was in roughly 200ft.  I have the Elite 5 and all was working fine until I hit about 400ft+.  The unit would display depth correctly every once in a while, but the sonar wasn't returning much and pretty much stopped scrolling.  Has anyone else experienced this in deep waters?

I currently use the duct seal water bath method.  Is this happening because the transducer is simply not capable of handling such depths, or because its having a harder time shooting through the hull and into such depths?  Any help is appreciated! 

My Elite 5 DSI only shows depth after I reach 100-120FOW. Nothing else. It doesn't even show whales directly under my kayak. Just a blank screen. Even if I remove the transducer from the in-hull water bath and place it directly in the water. I have pics & video from Sunday when I performed the test, again. Is yours a DSI?

my 385ci does the same thing too. after 200 feet it just goes blank and says it's 1-2 feet deep. My transducer is sticking outside my scupper too.

Mine is just Elite 5, no DSI.   But I did run my DSI unit at Disco bay couple weekends ago and I did not experience the issue you're describing.  Sounds like you have a little problem of your own there Pat, hopefully you get that resolved. 

I think this job calls for Bill/FishingfortheCure! 

Did you switch freq. between 83/200 to see if this issue went away?

Tried quickly to go back & look up the specs on the Elite 5.  I want to say it is something like 600 FOW max (freshwater) so sea clutter from saltwater density, organisms, etc. with 400 FOW & an 83/200 is most likely the max you would see anyways.  The new CHIRP models (which use the same transducers) are rated to 1000 FOW max estimated (freshwater).

As a general rule of thumb, if you want to shoot deep you have to go 50/200 transducer; generally speaking.  Most saltwater boats run 50/200.

~Bill

Here are the specs.  It says 1000ft max, but I know that isn't realistic.  I guess my next FF will have the 50/200 transducer.

SONAR / SOUNDER

    Sonar Frequency: 83/200 kHz
    Transducer Type: Skimmer®
    Sonar Output Power: Max 500W RMS, 4000W PTP W
    Sonar Depth: Max 1000 ft / 305 m
    Sonar Alarms: Fish, Max and Min Depth Yes
    Depth Alarm: Yes
    Shallow Alarm: Yes
    Temperature Display: Yes

Correct; the specs are for 1000 FOW peak-to-peak (by the math).  I'd say that 400 is most likely your salt limit around here given our salinity, thermocline & "stuff" in the water.

Did you try to switch freq. while out there to see if anything became better?

Bill

Hey Bill.  I didn't try that, it was set on 200kHz the entire day.  Next time I head out there, I will try switching frequency and see if that helps.  Thanks for your input!

The 83 will, potentially, gain you a little more depth.  I believe you just hit the limits for our water type/clarity my friend! (given the 83/200 freq. range & unit).

~Bill

With the previous 5 or 6 FF's I had on my kayaks, they consistently worked in water up to 600+ feet. They were all Humminbirds with 83/200kHz transducers. Sometimes I'd switch to the lower frequency to improve the resolution but 200kHz got the job done too (both in-hull mounted w/goop or water bath and scupper mounted TD). Except the Apelco Raytheon which had a 50/200kHz transducer--it worked really well in deep water. To get to my old favorite-spot, I had to cross the Carmel submarine canyon which drops from 150ft to 600-800ft within a half-mile. Wish I would've kept that FF, now that I think about it!

Yeah, the 50/200 with hit HELLA deep water depending on how much power you push to it.

I'm guessing switching to 83 would have gotten you to 600 or so.  Best guess, however.  Lastly would be installation of the transducer.  I would speculate to say that a transducer directly in the water will read better than one in-hull (plastic kayak).

I remember those old Apelco units from my glory days of working in the catalog sales division of W.M. in the mid-90's ... way back when!

Bill