-
This site contains eBay affiliate links for which Sea-Doo Forum may be compensated.
Hawkeye or Humminbird?
- Thread starter gordo240
- Start date
- Status
WAJetboating
Member
I installed the Humminbird HDR-610 and I would call it "unreliable" at higher speeds. Comments I've read suggest this is due to its being too sensitive to turbulence. I've tried two transducers in two separate, factory-recommended locations but I still don't have reliable operation above 20MPH.
I don't have any experience with the other brand.
I don't have any experience with the other brand.
ForHogan
Member
I bought a Hawkeye...
but that was mostly because it's what my local West Marine had in stock.
It works pretty well. I mounted the 2" gauge in the dash, ran the cable down into the hull and back to the bilge. To test it, I put it in a plastic bag filled with water and zip tied it closed. I then dropped it in the water in my bilge. It worked pretty well even that way, unmounted.
I settled on a spot next to the bilge pump, slighty to starboard of centerline and epoxied it down. It doesn't read below 3', just gives a dashed line...although occasionally 2.5' will flash. Works fine at speed too. It is easily legible in sunlight even with polarized glasses on. The only thing is occasionally, it will give erroneous readings of like...600' or 83' and jump around. The manual says that that could be due to an extremely soft bottom...I believe maybe seaweed or eelgrass on the bottom can trip it up momentarily. It might work better mounted externally on the transom...but I didn't want that for a number of reasons.
Couple pics are attached if interested.
Mike
but that was mostly because it's what my local West Marine had in stock.
It works pretty well. I mounted the 2" gauge in the dash, ran the cable down into the hull and back to the bilge. To test it, I put it in a plastic bag filled with water and zip tied it closed. I then dropped it in the water in my bilge. It worked pretty well even that way, unmounted.
I settled on a spot next to the bilge pump, slighty to starboard of centerline and epoxied it down. It doesn't read below 3', just gives a dashed line...although occasionally 2.5' will flash. Works fine at speed too. It is easily legible in sunlight even with polarized glasses on. The only thing is occasionally, it will give erroneous readings of like...600' or 83' and jump around. The manual says that that could be due to an extremely soft bottom...I believe maybe seaweed or eelgrass on the bottom can trip it up momentarily. It might work better mounted externally on the transom...but I didn't want that for a number of reasons.
Couple pics are attached if interested.
Mike
Attachments
WAJetboating
Member
Glad yours works better than mine.
At anything above ~20-25 MPH, our readings can jump into the hundreds of feet. Or, sometimes the display will freeze a single wild value and start flashing. When we slow down, it seems to sync up again and start working. It's bulletproof at low speeds.
The first puck was installed right where you said - next to the bilge pump, which on my boat is directly in front of the jet intake. I expected that to be an area of little turbulence since turbulence would affect the jet, too, but had speed problems as described.
The second puck was installed all the way at the very back of the hull, near the transom, almost blocking one of my drain plugs. It is also an angled puck, made by the factory to accomodate hulls with deadrise. I rotated it until its angle offset the deadrise of the hull, thus shooting straight down. This second puck works better than the first, maintaining readings at somewhat higher speeds, but nowhere near what I would have expected... I don't think it's too much to ask that you get reliable operation at ~30 MPH.
At anything above ~20-25 MPH, our readings can jump into the hundreds of feet. Or, sometimes the display will freeze a single wild value and start flashing. When we slow down, it seems to sync up again and start working. It's bulletproof at low speeds.
The first puck was installed right where you said - next to the bilge pump, which on my boat is directly in front of the jet intake. I expected that to be an area of little turbulence since turbulence would affect the jet, too, but had speed problems as described.
The second puck was installed all the way at the very back of the hull, near the transom, almost blocking one of my drain plugs. It is also an angled puck, made by the factory to accomodate hulls with deadrise. I rotated it until its angle offset the deadrise of the hull, thus shooting straight down. This second puck works better than the first, maintaining readings at somewhat higher speeds, but nowhere near what I would have expected... I don't think it's too much to ask that you get reliable operation at ~30 MPH.
ForHogan
Member
WAJet,
Agreed, I would expect more too. I think I remember looking on Amazon before buying the Hawkeye and seeing some spotty reviews of the Humminbird.
Maybe a transom mounted transducer is what you need. That seems odd though considering that we have the same drives and probably similar hull construction. I only paid $80 for the whole thing at West Marine on sale so I figured if it didn't work...not the end of the world.
Mike
Agreed, I would expect more too. I think I remember looking on Amazon before buying the Hawkeye and seeing some spotty reviews of the Humminbird.
Maybe a transom mounted transducer is what you need. That seems odd though considering that we have the same drives and probably similar hull construction. I only paid $80 for the whole thing at West Marine on sale so I figured if it didn't work...not the end of the world.
Mike
- Status
Similar threads
