Depth Finder - How to Use?

[Dave 205]

Bought used this year, my boat seemed to have awesome documentation - but for one item. I don't have any instructions on how to use the depth finder. According to a factory inspection sheet / build sheet that I have, the depth finder is a Lowrance, and either a part number or serial number is listed: 7564278.

I found a Lowrance website, but their PDF manuals do not include my unit. Instructions for what must be a newer model have not been any help - just too different.

My first several trips out on the boat, the gauge simply seemed to read current depth. At some point, one of the kids must have pushed some buttons on it, it always seems to have either a Deep or Shallow alarm set. And, it sets off an alarm each time I start the boat that stops when I hit the SET button. Very irritating if you are teaching kids to ski and starting the boat frequently.:smt013

Does anybody have a manual or idea how to run this unit? Here is a pic of what it looks like:



Thanks!

 

[tbirdvet]

I found this on Lawrence gauges: (maybe this is your process)
After the unit powers up at ignition key turn on, push the up arrow and you'll see the word shal alm and off at the top of the screen. This is the shallow dept alarm and tells you that it, the alarm, is off. If you push the up arrow again you will see the dept reading increase. This is how you set the shallow dept alarm. If you set it at 3, you will get an alarm when the dept is less than 3 ft. I believe that after you release the up arrow and then press it again you'll get a deep alarm setting that you can have an alarm sound when the water gets deeper than a set value. My manual says that once you power the unit off, the values you set will not be retained in memory and therefore need to be reset after each start up. The alarm is identical to my check engine, low bat voltage etc alarm.
Hope that helps

 

[Kermit]

I am pretty sure it's a Hummingbird HDR 600 like the one on my 200. Here is the manual:

http://www.humminbird.com/PDF/hdr600.pdf

 

[dutchman]

I agree with kermit, looks like a humminbird. Just like the one I have on my 175. Way down in his manual, you'll find how to set the alarms, which is very simple. Again, also simple to mess up if someone was playing with the buttons.

 

[Dave 205]

Thank you. Awesome responses. Can't wait to put the info. to use this weekend and get things straightened out.

With all this info., I've been trying to educate myself this evening on draft requirements, etc. Considering I hit submerged concrete a few weeks ago with just the outdrive (did I just say "Just"), the topic of setting "Keel Offset" on the depth finder interests me.

The transducer is a thru-hull mount, within an inch or so of the keel. So I gather with no Keel Offset, the depth gauge is reading water depth minus the 18" the boat is sitting in the water. (I base 18" inches as from the keel to the point on the transom I see above water when swimming behind the boat).

So, if I set a positive 18" Keel Offset, my gauge is reading the depth of the water from the surface. My boat has a draft requirement of of 33" with the sterndrive down, so if the gauge is reading under 3 feet, problems are eminent.

Are my calculations right, and are there any recommendations out there?

Thanks!

 

[tbirdvet]

I have mine set up with the offset so it reads true water depth. I set my alarm at 3'. I took a boat hook and measured the actual depth of the water and then checked against my gauge to be sure reading was correct.

 

[dutchman]

A different option is to leave the offset alone. That will give you an extra foot (well 18") of security.

 

[melida]

I have the depth finder as same as in your pic also not written which brand it is.
But in the spec sheet of my boat (2005 280DA) it is mentioned in the page 2 as below.

Electronics:​

Depth Finder (Lowrance® 3500) - Diesel Only
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/melida315/january-9-2010/09012010456.jpg

 

[Kermit]

Neither looks like a Lowrance 3500:

http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Legacy-Products/Marine/Other-Products/3500/Downloads/

http://www.lowrance.com/upload/Lowrance/Documents/Manuals/3500.pdf

While the factory build sheet should be accurate, some of these units were added by the dealer and then who knows what the original owner requested or received. It also might have been replaced after the fact so since these units are pretty universal in fitment, there are at least four or five different units that will fit in the same hole. You might need to compare pictures and specs to see what you really have. It's the nature of the beast.

Anyway, at least the parts list for mine was accurate:

1760288 DEPTH FINDER, TECHSONIC GRN LIGHT​

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(DEPTH FINDER)
​

Techsonic is Hummingbird. I was not sure if I had a 600 or 610 but I looked under the dash at the back of mine. It has an "HDR600" or just "600" printed on it so I am 100% certain of what unit I have.

 

[melida]

Yes you are right about it.
Looked to the parts manual and saw that it's not Lowrance, Techsonic Humminbird.
6 1760288 DEPTH FINDER, TECHSONIC GRN LIGHT
(VOLVO STERN DR DSL)​

 

[Dave 205]

Thanks for all the great responses. The build sheet has numerous Manufacturer parts pre-typed, many for things that do not go in a 205 Sport - stove, H20 heaters, etc. So, who knows about the paperwork from 5 years ago. But, the link provided by Kermit shows a gauge just like mine, and the various tips in this thread are very helpful - thanks also for the tip on how to positively identify - I crawled under the dash, and it is an H600.