User manual EAGLE CUDA 250 S-MAP - Operation Instruction

Pub. 988-0152-101 www.eaglesonar.com & Cuda 250i S/Map Fish-finding Sonar & GPS Installation and Operation Instructions Copyright © 2005 LEI-Eagle All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished, transmitted or distributed for any purpose, without prior written consent of Eagle Electronics. Any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited. Eagle®, Cuda® 250 S/Map and Cuda® 250i S/Map are registered trademarks of LEI. eXitSource Database, copyright 2001-2005 Zenrin Co. Ltd. Exit Authority and eXitSource are trademarks of Zenrin Co. Ltd. Eagle Electronics may find it necessary to change or end our policies, regulations, and special offers at any time. We reserve the right to do so without notice. All features and specifications subject to change without notice. All screens in this manual are simulated. On the cover: Cuda 250 S/Map shown. Other models covered in the manual are similar. For free owner's manuals and the most current information on this product, its operation and accessories, visit our web site: www.eaglesonar.com Eagle Electronics P.O. Box 669 Catoosa, OK USA 74015 Printed in USA. Table of Contents Section 1: Read Me First!........................................................ 1 Capabilities and Specifications: Cuda 250 S/Map ........................ 3 How Your Sonar Works ................................................................ 5 How Your GPS Works .................................................................. 6 Introduction to GPS and WAAS................................................... 7 How to use this manual: typographical conventions .................. 9 Arrow Keys .............................................................................. 10 Keyboard ................................................................................. 10 Menu Commands .................................................................... 10 Instructions = Menu Sequences ............................................. 10 Section 2: Installation & Accessories.................................. 13 Preparations................................................................................ 13 Transducer Installation.............................................................. 13 Recommended Tools and supplies.......................................... 14 Transom installation........................................................... 14 Trolling motor installations................................................ 14 Shoot-through hull installations ........................................ 14 Selecting a Transducer Location ............................................ 15 How low should you go? .......................................................... 16 Shoot-thru-hull vs. Transom Mounting ................................. 17 Hulls With Floatation Materials............................................ 26 Testing Determines Best Location ......................................... 27 Shoot-thru-hull Installation ................................................... 29 Power and Cable Connections ................................................ 31 Mounting the Sonar Unit: In-Dash or Bracket ..................... 33 Portable Sonar Installation .................................................... 38 Installing the Batteries .......................................................... 38 Portable Transducer Assembly .............................................. 40 Section 3: Basic Sonar Operation ....................................... 43 Keyboard ..................................................................................... 43 Memory........................................................................................ 45 Menus .......................................................................................... 45 i Main Menu .............................................................................. 45 Sonar Menu ............................................................................. 46 Pages ........................................................................................... 48 Sonar Quick Reference .......................................................... 50 Sonar Operations ........................................................................ 51 Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart ........................................ 55 Other Free Training Aids ....................................................... 55 Section 4: Sonar Options & Other Features ..................... 57 ASP (Advanced Signal Processing) ..................................... 57 Alarms ......................................................................................... 58 Depth Alarms .......................................................................... 58 Zone Alarm .............................................................................. 60 Fish Alarm............................................................................... 61 Chart Speed................................................................................. 61 Depth Cursor............................................................................... 63 Depth Range - Automatic ........................................................... 63 Depth Range - Manual................................................................ 64 FasTrack .................................................................................. 65 Fish I.D. (Fish Symbols & Depths) ......................................... 65 FishTrack ................................................................................. 67 Grayline ..................................................................................... 68 Overlay Data ............................................................................... 69 Ping Speed & HyperScroll....................................................... 70 Reset Options .............................................................................. 72 Sensitivity & Auto Sensitivity.................................................... 72 Automatic Sensitivity ............................................................. 73 Set Keel Offset ............................................................................ 74 Sonar Color Mode........................................................................ 76 Sonar Page & Sonar Chart Display Options ............................. 76 Full Sonar Chart ..................................................................... 76 Split Zoom Sonar Chart .......................................................... 77 Digital Data/Chart .................................................................. 78 Sonar Simulator.......................................................................... 79 ii Stop Chart ................................................................................... 79 Surface Clarity ............................................................................ 80 Zoom Pan..................................................................................... 82 Section 5: Sonar Troubleshooting ....................................... 83 Section 6: Basic GPS Operations ......................................... 87 Keyboard ..................................................................................... 87 Power/lights on and off ............................................................... 88 Main Menu .................................................................................. 89 Pages ........................................................................................... 90 Sonar Page .............................................................................. 91 Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 91 Navigation Page ...................................................................... 93 Full Map Page ......................................................................... 96 Map with Sonar Page.............................................................. 98 GPS Quick Reference ............................................................. 99 Find Your Current Position...................................................... 100 Selecting Any Map Item With the Cursor ............................... 102 Set a Waypoint.......................................................................... 102 Create Waypoint on Map .................................................. 104 Navigate To a Waypoint ........................................................... 104 Set Man Overboard (MOB) Waypoint...................................... 105 Navigate to Cursor Position on Map........................................ 106 Navigate to a Map Place........................................................... 108 Creating and Saving a Trail..................................................... 108 Displaying a Saved Trail .......................................................... 110 Navigating Trails...................................................................... 111 Visual Trailing ...................................................................... 111 Navigate a Trail .................................................................... 112 Cancel Navigation..................................................................... 114 Section 7: Advanced GPS Operations ............................... 115 Find Distance from Point to Point ........................................... 115 Icons........................................................................................... 116 Create Icon on Map............................................................... 116 iii Delete an Icon ....................................................................... 117 Navigate to an Icon ............................................................... 118 Routes........................................................................................ 119 Create and Save a Route ...................................................... 119 Delete a Route ....................................................................... 122 Edit a Route .......................................................................... 122 Navigate a Route................................................................... 123 Trails ......................................................................................... 125 Delete a Trail ........................................................................ 125 Edit a Trail Name ................................................................. 126 Utilities...................................................................................... 126 Alarm Clock........................................................................... 126 Sun/Moon Rise & Set Calculator.......................................... 127 Trip Calculator...................................................................... 127 Trip Down Timer................................................................... 127 Trip Up Timer ....................................................................... 127 Waypoints.................................................................................. 127 Delete a Waypoint................................................................. 127 Edit a Waypoint .................................................................... 127 Waypoint Name................................................................. 127 Waypoint Symbol .............................................................. 128 Waypoint Position ............................................................. 128 Section 8: System & GPS Setup Options .......................... 131 Alarms ....................................................................................... 131 Auto Satellite Search................................................................ 132 Coordinate System Selection.................................................... 133 Map Fix ..................................................................................... 136 Customize Page Displays ......................................................... 137 Customize Position Page ...................................................... 137 Customize Map or Navigation Page..................................... 138 GPS Simulator .......................................................................... 138 Initialize GPS............................................................................ 140 Map Auto Zoom ......................................................................... 140 iv Map Data................................................................................... 141 Earth Map Detail .................................................................. 141 Pop-up Map Info.................................................................... 141 Fill Water With White .......................................................... 141 Map Overlays (Range Rings; Lat/Long Grid) ...................... 142 Map Datum Selection ............................................................... 142 Map Detail Category Selection................................................. 143 Map Orientation ....................................................................... 144 Overlay Data ............................................................................. 145 Pop-up Help............................................................................... 148 Reset Options ............................................................................ 148 Screen Contrast and Brightness .............................................. 149 Set Language ............................................................................ 150 Set Local Time .......................................................................... 150 Show WAAS Alarm................................................................... 151 Software Version Information.................................................. 152 Sounds and Alarm Sound Styles.............................................. 153 Track Smoothing....................................................................... 153 Trail Options ............................................................................. 154 Delete All Trails .................................................................... 155 Update Trail Criteria ........................................................ 155 Specific Trail Options........................................................ 156 Trail Visible/Invisible and Other Trail Options .................. 157 Units of Measure....................................................................... 157 v WARNING! A CAREFUL NAVIGATOR NEVER RELIES ON ONLY ONE METHOD TO OBTAIN POSITION INFORMATION. CAUTION When showing navigation data to a position (waypoint), a GPS unit will show the shortest, most direct path to the waypoint. It provides navigation data to the waypoint regardless of obstructions. Therefore, the prudent navigator will not only take advantage of all available navigation tools when traveling to a waypoint, but will also visually check to make sure a clear, safe path to the waypoint is always available. WARNING! When a GPS unit is used in a vehicle, the vehicle operator is solely responsible for operating the vehicle in a safe manner. Vehicle operators must maintain full surveillance of all pertinent driving, boating or flying conditions at all times. An accident or collision resulting in damage to property, personal injury or death could occur if the operator of a GPS-equipped vehicle fails to pay full attention to travel conditions and vehicle operation while the vehicle is in motion. vi Section 1: Read Me First! How this manual can get you out on the water, fast! Welcome to the exciting world of digital sonar and GPS! We know you're anxious to begin finding fish, but we have a favor to ask. Before you grab the unit and begin installing it, please give us a moment or two to explain how our manual can help you get the best performance from your combination fish finder and GPS receiver. First, we want to thank you for buying a Eagle sonar/GPS unit. Whether you're a first time user or a professional fisherman, you'll discover that your unit is easy to use, yet capable of handling demanding navigation and sonar tasks. Our goal for this book is to get you on the water fast, with a minimum of fuss. Like you, we'd rather spend more time boating or fishing and less time reading the manual! So, we designed our book so that you don't have to read the whole thing from front to back for the information you want. At the start (or end) of each segment, we'll tell you what content is coming up next. If it's a concept you're already familiar with, we'll show you how and where to skip ahead for the next important topic. We've also made it easy to look up any tips you may need from time to time. Here's how: The manual is organized into 8 sections. This first section is an introduction to the Cuda 250 sonar and GPS. It tells you the basics you need to know before you can make the unit look below the surface to find some fish. Section 2 will help you install your unit, as well as the transducer (the most important part of any sonar installation). We'll also tell you about some of the available accessories. Section 3 covers Basic Sonar Operation. It will show you how easy it is to run your sonar, right out of the box. 1 This section features a one-page Sonar Quick Reference. (If you've already jumped ahead and figured out how to install the unit yourself, and you just can't wait any longer, turn to the Quick Reference on page 50 and head for the water with your unit!) When you come to a sonar menu command on the unit's screen, you can look it up in the manual by skimming over the table of contents, looking it up in the manual's index, just flipping through Section 3 or scanning through the sonar setup options in Section 7. If you're having difficulty with your sonar, you can find an answer to the most common problems in Section 5, Sonar Troubleshooting. The manual switches from sonar to navigation in Section 6, which introduces you to Basic GPS Operations. This section features a onepage GPS Quick Reference on page 99. Section 6 contains short, easy-to-scan GPS lessons that follow one another in chronological order. They're all you'll need to know to find your way on the water quickly. When you come to a GPS menu command on the screen, you can look it up in the manual by skimming over the table of contents or index, just flipping through Section 6 or scanning through the setup options in Section 7. This unit is ready to use right out of the box, but you can fine tune and customize its operation with dozens of options. Since sonar is the unit's key feature, we put the main sonar options in Section 3. Some options, such as screen brightness settings, affect both sonar and GPS operations. We describe how to use those common options along with GPS options in Section 7, System Setup and GPS Setup Options. Section 7 is organized in alphabetical order. Finally, in Section 8, we offer Supplemental Material, including warranties and customer service information, and a handy index. Now, if you're into the fine details, glance over the next segment on specifications to see just how much sonar and GPS power your unit con2 tains. It's important to us (and our power users), but, if you don't care how many watts of power the unit has, or how many waypoints it can store, skip ahead to important information on how sonar works, on page 5. Capabilities and Specifications: Cuda 250 S/Map General Display:............................ High Contrast Film SuperTwist LCD with 16-level grayline. Diagonal viewing area: 3.5" (8.9cm). Resolution:...................... 160 pixel x 240 pixel resolution. 38,400 total pixels. Backlighting:.................. LED backlit screen with multiple lighting levels; backlit keypad. Input power:................... 10 to 17 volts DC. Current drain: ............... 170 ma lights off; 250 ma lights on. Case size:......................... 5.8" H x 4.3" W x 2.5" D (14.7 cm H x 10.8 cm W x 6.6 cm D) sealed, waterproof; suitable for saltwater use. Back-up memory: .......... Built-in memory stores GPS data for decades. User settings are stored when unit is turned off. Languages:...................... 10; menu languages selectable by user. Sonar Frequency:...................... 200 kHz. Transducer:...................... A Skimmer transducer comes packed with your sonar unit. Its 20° cone angle offers a wide fish detection area of up to 60º with high sensitivity settings. Operates at boat speeds up to 70 mph (61 kts). Transmitter: ................... 800 watts peak-to-peak; 100 watts RMS. 3 Sonar sounding depth capability: ........... 600 feet (180 meters). Actual capability depends on transducer configuration and installation, bottom composition and water conditions. All sonar units typically read deeper in fresh water than in salt water. Depth display:................ Continuous display. Audible alarms: ............. Deep/shallow/fish/zone. Automatic ranging:....... Yes, with instant screen updates. Auto bottom track:........ Yes Zoom bottom track: ...... Yes. Split-screen zoom:......... Yes. Surface water temp: ..... Yes, built into transducer. GPS Receiver/antenna: ......... Internal 12 parallel channel GPS/WAAS. Position updates: .......... Every second. Position points: ............. 1,000 waypoints; 1,000 event marker icons. Man Overboard:............. MOB feature precisely marks man overboard location with special icon, then automatically displays navigation data to that position. Audible alarms: ............. Arrival/off-course/destination passed/anchor. Graphic symbols for waypoints or event marker icons: ................. 42. Routes:............................. 100; up to 100 waypoints per route. Plot Trails: ...................... 10 savable; up to 9,999 points per trail. Zoom range:.................... 40 ranges; 0.02 to 4,000 miles. 4 NOTICE! The storage and operation temperature range for your unit is from -4 degrees to +167 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees to +75 degrees Celsius). Extended storage or operation in temperatures higher or lower than specified will damage the liquid crystal display in your unit. This type of damage is not covered by the warranty. For more information, contact the factory's Customer Service Department; phone numbers are listed on the last page. How Your Sonar Works Sonar has been around since the 1940s, so if you already know how it works, skip down to read about the relatively new technology of GPS. But, if you've never owned a sonar fish finder, this segment will tell you the underwater basics. Sonar is an abbreviation for SOund NAvigation and Ranging, a technology developed during World War II for tracking enemy submarines. A sonar consists of a transmitter, transducer, receiver and display. In simple terms, here's how it finds the bottom, or the fish: The transmitter emits an electrical impulse, which the transducer converts into a sound wave and sends into the water. (The sound frequency can't be heard by humans or fish.) The sound wave strikes an object (fish, structure, bottom) and bounces back to the transducer, which converts the sound back into an electrical signal. The receiver amplifies this return signal, or echo, and sends it to the display, where an image of the object appears on the scrolling sonar chart. The sonar's microprocessor calculates the time lapse between the transmitted signal and echo return to determine the distance to the object. The whole process repeats itself several times each second. Your sonar unit can record a log of the sonar signals that scroll across the screen and save them in its memory. (These recordings are also called sonar charts or sonar graphs.) 5 You can replay this sonar log in the unit using the Sonar Simulator function. You can save several different sonar log files, erase 'em and record new ones, over and over again. How Your GPS Works You'll navigate faster and easier if you understand how this unit scans the sky to tell you where you are on the earth -- and, where you're going. (But if you already have a working understanding of GPS receivers and the GPS navigation system, skip on ahead to Section 2, Installation & Accessories on page 13. If you're new to GPS, read on, and you can later impress your friends with your new-found knowledge.) First, think of your unit as a small but powerful computer. (But don't worry -- we made this unit easy to use, so you don't need to be a computer expert to find your way!) The unit includes a keypad and a screen with menus so you can tell it what to do. The screen also lets the unit show your location on a GPS plotter, as well as point the way to your destination. This unit uses an internal antenna/receiver module, which makes the whole system work something like your car radio. But instead of your favorite dance tunes, this receiver tunes in to a couple of dozen GPS satellites circling the earth. (It will also listen in to the WAAS satellites in orbit, but more about that in the upcoming segment introducing you to GPS and WAAS.) Your unit listens to signals from as many satellites as it can "see" above the horizon, eliminates the weakest signals, then computes its location in relation to those satellites. Once it figures its latitude and longitude, the unit plots that position on the GPS screen. The whole process takes place several times a second! Another portion of the unit's onboard memory is devoted to recording GPS navigation information, which includes waypoints, event marker icons, trails and routes. This lets you look back the way you came, and retrace your path. 6 Think of this data storage like the hard drive memory in a computer or a tape in a cassette tape recorder. You can save several different GPS data files, erase 'em and record new ones, over and over again. Introduction to GPS and WAAS Well, now you know the basics of how the unit does its work. You might be ready to jump ahead to Section 2, Installation, on page 13, so you can mount your unit and plug in the power. Or you might want to see how our text formatting makes the manual tutorials easy to skim. If that's the case, move on to "How to Use This Manual" on page 9. But, if you want to understand the current state of satellite navigation, look over this segment describing how GPS and its new companion WAAS work together to get you where you're going. The Global Positioning System (GPS) was launched July 17, 1995 by the United States Department of Defense. It was designed as a 24hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year, all weather global navigation system for the armed forces of the U.S. and its allies. Civilian use was also available at first, but it was less accurate because the military scrambled the signal somewhat, using a process called Selective Availability (SA.) GPS proved so useful for civilian navigation that the federal government discontinued SA on May 2, 2000, after the military developed other methods to deny GPS service to enemy forces. Reliable accuracy for civilian users jumped from 100 meters (330 feet) under SA to the present level of 10 to 20 meters (about 30 to 60 feet.) Twenty-four satellites orbit 10,900 nautical miles above the Earth, passing overhead twice daily. A series of ground stations (with precisely surveyed locations) controls the satellites and monitors their exact locations in the sky. Each satellite broadcasts a low-power signal that identifies the satellite and its position above the earth. Three of these satellites are spares, unused until needed. The rest virtually guarantee that at least four satellites are in view nearly anywhere on Earth at all times. 7 The system requires signal reception from three satellites in order to determine a position. This is called a 2D fix. It takes four satellites to determine both position and elevation (your height above sea level -- also called altitude). This is called a 3D fix. Three satellites are required to determine a 2D fix. Remember: the unit must have a clear view of the satellites in order to receive their signals. Unlike radio or television signals, GPS works at very high frequencies. These signals can be easily blocked by trees, buildings, an automobile roof, even your body. Like most GPS receivers, this unit doesn't have a compass or any other navigation aid built inside. It relies solely on the signals from the satellites to calculate a position. Speed, direction of travel, and distance are all calculated from position information. Therefore, in order for the unit to determine direction of travel, you must be moving and the faster, the better. This is not to say that it won't work at walking or trolling speeds -- it will. There will be more "wandering" of the data shown on the display. GPS alone is plenty accurate for route navigation, but the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has special aircraft navigation needs that go 8 beyond basic GPS. So, the FAA has developed a program to boost GPS performance with its Wide Area Augmentation System, or WAAS. The FAA commissioned the system on July 11, 2003. WAAS is designed to increase GPS accuracy to within 7.6 meters vertically and horizontally, but it consistently delivers accuracies within 1-2 meters horizontal and 2-3 meters vertical, according to the FAA. It does this by broadcasting correction signals on GPS frequencies. Your unit automatically receives both GPS and WAAS signals. There, however, are some fringe areas of the U.S., including parts of Alaska, that do not yet receive robust WAAS coverage. Continued WAAS development is planned to extend WAAS coverage in the years to come. WAAS boosts the accuracy of land GPS navigation, but the system is designed for aircraft. The satellites are in a fixed orbit around the Equator, so they appear very low in the sky to someone on the ground in North America. Aircraft and vessels on open water can get consistently good WAAS reception, but terrain, foliage or even large man-made structures can sometimes block the WAAS signal from ground receivers. You will find that using your GPS receiver is both easy and amazingly accurate. It is easily the most accurate method of electronic navigation available to the general public today. Remember, however, this receiver is only a tool. Always have another method of navigation available, such as a map or chart and a compass. Also remember that this unit will always show navigation information in the shortest line from your present position to a waypoint, regardless of terrain! It only calculates position, it can't know what's between you and your destination, for example. It's up to you to safely navigate around obstacles, no matter how you're using this product. How to use this manual: typographical conventions Many instructions are listed as numbered steps. The keypad and arrow "keystrokes" appear as boldface type. So if you are in a real hurry, you 9 can skim the instructions and pick out what menu command to use by finding the boldface command text. The following paragraphs explain how to interpret the text formatting for those commands and other instructions: Arrow Keys The arrow keys control the movement of dotted cross-hair lines on your plotter screen called the cursor. The arrow keys also control a horizontal line depth cursor on the sonar screen. The arrow keys help you move around the menus so you can execute different commands. They are represented by symbols like these, which denote the down arrow key, the up arrow, the left arrow and the right arrow: . Keyboard The other keys perform a variety of functions. When the text refers to a key to press, the key is shown in bold, sans serif type. For example, the "Enter/Icons" key is shown as ENT and the "Menu" key is shown as MENU. Menu Commands A menu command or a menu option will appear in small capital letters, in a bold sans serif type like this: ROUTE PLANNING. These indicate that you are to select this command or option from a menu or take an action of some kind with the menu item. Text that you may need to enter or file names you need to select are show in italic type, such as trail name. Instructions = Menu Sequences Most functions you perform with this unit are described as a sequence of key strokes and selecting menu commands. We've written them in a condensed manner for quick and easy reading. For example, instructions for navigating a trail would look like this: 1. From the Plotter Page, press MENU|MENU| to MY TRAILS|ENT. 2. Press to Trail 1|ENT|| to NAVIGATE|ENT. 3. You are asked to wait while it converts the trail into a route. 10 4. The wait message disappears and the unit begins showing navigation information along the trail. Now, begin moving and follow your unit's directions. Translated into complete English, step 1 above would mean: "Start on the Plotter Page. Press the Menu key twice. Next, repeatedly press (or press and hold) the down arrow key to scroll down the menu and select (highlight) the My Trails menu command. Finally, press the Enter key." Step 2 would mean: "Press the down arrow key repeatedly to scroll to the trail named Trail 1, and press Enter. Next, press the right arrow key and then the down arrow key to highlight the Navigate command, then press Enter." 11 Notes 12 Section 2: Installation Preparations You can install the sonar and GPS systems in some other order if you prefer, but we recommend this installation sequence: CAUTION: You should read over this entire installation section before drilling any holes in your vehicle or vessel! 1. Determine the approximate location for the sonar/GPS unit, so you can plan how and where to route the power/transducer cable. This will help you make sure you have enough cable length for the desired configuration. 2. Determine the approximate location for the transducer and its cable route. 3. Determine the location of your battery or other power connection, along with the power cable route. 4. Install the transducer and route the transducer cable to the sonar/GPS unit. 5. Route the power cable from the unit's location to an appropriate power source and connect it there. 6. Connect the transducer/power cable to the unit and mount the sonar/GPS unit to the bracket. Transducer Installation These instructions will help you install your Skimmer transducer on a transom, on a trolling motor or inside a hull. Please read all instructions before proceeding with any installation. 13 Your Skimmer transducer typically comes packaged with a one-piece stainless steel bracket for mounting it to the transom of your boat. The optional trolling motor mount uses a one-piece plastic bracket with an adjustable strap. These are "kick-up" mounting brackets. They help prevent damage if the transducer strikes an object while the boat is moving. If the transducer does "kick-up," the bracket can easily be pushed back into place without tools. Read these instructions carefully before attempting the installation. Determine which of the installation methods is right for your boat. Remember, the transducer location and installation is the most critical part of a sonar installation. Recommended Tools and supplies If you prefer the option of routing the cable through the transom, you will need a 5/8" drill bit. NOTE: The following installation types also call for these recommended tools and required supplies that you must provide (supplies listed here are not included): Transom installation Tools include: two adjustable wrenches, drill, #29 (0.136") drill bit, flathead screwdriver. Supplies: high quality, marine grade above- or belowwaterline sealant/adhesive compound. Trolling motor installations Tools: two adjustable wrenches, flat-head screwdriver. Supplies: plastic cable ties. Shoot-through hull installations Tools: these will vary depending on your hull's composition. Consult your boat dealer or manufacturer. Other tools are a wooden craft stick or similar tool for stirring and applying epoxy, and a paper plate or piece of cardboard to mix the epoxy on. Supplies: rubbing alcohol, 100 grit 14 sandpaper, specially formulated epoxy adhesive available from LEI (see ordering information on the inside back cover). A sandwich hull also requires polyester resin. Selecting a Transducer Location 1. The location must be in the water at all times, at all operating speeds. 2. The transducer must be placed in a location that has a smooth flow of water at all times. If the transducer is not placed in a smooth flow of water, interference caused by bubbles and turbulence will show on the sonar's display as random lines or dots when the boat is moving. NOTE: Some aluminum boats with strakes or ribs on the outside of the hull create large amounts of turbulence at high speed. These boats typically have large outboard motors capable of propelling the boat at speeds faster than 35 mph. Typically, a good transom location on aluminum boats is between the ribs closest to the engine. 3. The transducer should be installed with its face pointing straight down, if possible. For shoot-thru applications: Many popular fishing boat hulls have a flat keel pad that offers a good mounting surface. On vee hulls, try to place the transducer where the deadrise is 10° or less. Deadrise less than 10° Strakes Pad Vee pad hull (left); Vee hull (right). A pod style transducer is shown here, but the principle is the same for Skimmers inside a hull. 4. If the transducer is mounted on the transom, make sure it doesn't interfere with the trailer or hauling of the boat. Also, don't mount it closer than approximately one foot from the engine's lower unit. This will prevent cavitation (bubble) interference with propeller operation. 15 5. If possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the boat. Electrical noise from engine wiring, bilge pumps and aerators can be displayed on the sonar's screen. Use caution when routing the transducer cable around these wires. CAUTION: Clamp the transducer cable to transom near the transducer. This will help prevent the transducer from entering the boat if it is knocked off at high speed. Good location Poor location Good location Good location Poor angle Good and poor transducer locations. How low should you go? For most situations, you should install your Skimmer transducer so that its centerline is level with the bottom of the boat hull. This will usually give you the best combination of smooth water flow and protection from bangs and bumps. 16 Transom Transducer centerline Hull bottom Align transducer centerline with hull bottom. However, there are times when you may need to adjust the transducer slightly higher or lower. (The slots in the mounting brackets allow you to loosen the screws and slide the transducer up or down.) If you frequently lose bottom signal lock while running at high speed, the transducer may be coming out of the water as you cross waves or wakes. Move the transducer a little lower to help prevent this. If you cruise or fish around lots of structure and cover, your transducer may be frequently kicking up from object strikes. If you wish, you may move the transducer a little higher for more protection. There are two extremes you should avoid. Never let the edge of the mounting bracket extend below the bottom of the hull. Never let the bottom ­ the face ­ of the transducer rise above the bottom of the hull. Shoot-thru-hull vs. Transom Mounting In a shoot-thru-hull installation, the transducer is bonded to the inside of the hull with epoxy. The sonar "ping" signal actually passes through the hull and into the water. This differs from a bolt-thru-hull installation (often called "thru-hull"). In that case, a hole is cut in the hull and a specially designed transducer is mounted through the hull with a threaded shaft and nut. This puts the transducer in direct contact with the water. 17 Typically, shoot-thru-hull installations give excellent high speed operation and good to excellent depth capability. There is no possibility of transducer damage from floating objects, as there is with a transommounted transducer. A transducer mounted inside the hull can't be knocked off when docking or loading on a trailer. However, the shoot-thru-hull installation does have its drawbacks. First, some loss of sensitivity does occur, even on the best hulls. This varies from hull to hull, even from different installations on the same hull. This is caused by differences in hull lay-up and construction. Second, the transducer angle cannot be adjusted for the best fish arches on your sonar display. (This is not an issue for flasher-style sonars.) Lack of angle adjustment can be particularly troublesome on hulls that sit with the bow high when at rest or at slow trolling speeds. Third, a transducer CAN NOT shoot through wood and metal hulls. Those hulls require either a transom mount or a thru-hull installation. Fourth, if your Skimmer transducer has a built in temp sensor, it will only show the temperature of the bilge, not the water surface temp. Follow the testing procedures listed in the shoot-thru-hull installation section at the end of this lesson to determine if you can satisfactorily shoot through the hull. TRANSOM TRANSDUCER ASSEMBLY AND MOUNTING The best way to install the transducer is to loosely assemble all of the parts first, place the transducer's bracket against the transom and see if you can move the transducer so that it's parallel with the ground. 1. Assembling the bracket. Press the two small plastic ratchets into the sides of the metal bracket as shown in the following illustration. Notice there are letters molded into each ratchet. Place each ratchet into the bracket with the letter "A" aligned with the dot stamped into the metal bracket. This position sets the transducer's coarse angle adjustment for a 14° transom. Most outboard and stern-drive transoms have a 14° angle. 18 Dot Align plastic ratchets in bracket. 2. Aligning the transducer on the transom. Slide the transducer between the two ratchets. Temporarily slide the bolt though the transducer assembly and hold it against the transom. Looking at the transducer from the side, check to see if it will adjust so that its face is parallel to the ground. If it does, then the "A" position is correct for your hull. If the transducer's face isn't parallel with the ground, remove the transducer and ratchets from the bracket. Place the ratchets into the holes in the bracket with the letter "B" aligned with the dot stamped in the bracket. Reassemble the transducer and bracket and place them against the transom. Again, check to see if you can move the transducer so it's parallel with the ground. If you can, then go to step 3. If it doesn't, repeat step 2, but use a different alignment letter until you can place the transducer on the transom correctly. 19 Ratchets Insert bolt and check transducer position on transom. 3. Assembling the transducer. Once you determine the correct position for the ratchets, assemble the transducer as shown in the following figure. Don't tighten the lock nut at this time. Nut Metal washer Rubber washers Bolt Metal washer Assemble transducer and bracket. 4. Drilling mounting holes. Hold the transducer and bracket assembly against the transom. The transducer should be roughly parallel to the ground. The transducer's centerline should be in line with the bottom of the hull. Don't let the bracket extend below the hull! 20 Mark the center of each slot for the mounting screw pilot holes. You will drill one hole in the center of each slot. Drill the holes using the #29 bit (for the #10 screws). Transom Transom Position transducer mount on transom and mark mounting holes. Side view (left) and seen from above (right). 5. Attaching transducer to transom. Remove the transducer from the bracket and re-assemble it with the cable passing through the bracket over the bolt as shown in the following figures. Route cable over bolt and through bracket. Side view (left) and seen from above (right). Attach the transducer to the transom. Slide the transducer up or down until it's aligned properly with the bottom of the hull as shown in the preceding and following figures. Tighten the bracket's mounting screws, sealing them with the sealant/adhesive compound. 21 Adjust the transducer so that it's parallel to the ground and tighten the nut until it touches the outer washer, then add 1/4 turn. Don't over tighten the lock nut! If you do, the transducer won't "kick-up" if it strikes an object in the water. Bottom of hull Flat-bottom hull Deep-"vee" hull Align transducer centerline with hull bottom and attach to transom. 6. Route the transducer cable through or over the transom to the sonar unit. Make sure to leave some slack in the cable at the transducer. If possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the boat. Electrical noise from the engine's wiring, bilge pumps, VHF radio wires and cables, and aerators can be picked up by the sonar. Use caution when routing the transducer cable around these wires. WARNING: Clamp the transducer cable to the transom close to the transducer. This can prevent the transducer from entering the boat if it is knocked off at high speed. If you need to drill a hole in the transom to pass the connector through, the required hole size is 5/8". Caution: If you drill a hole in the transom for the cable, make sure it is located above the waterline. After installation, be sure to seal the hole with the same marine grade above- or below-waterline sealant/adhesive used for the mounting screws. 22 7. Make a test run to determine the results. If the bottom is lost at high speed, or if noise appears on the display, try sliding the transducer bracket down. This puts the transducer deeper into the water, hopefully below the turbulence causing the noise. Don't allow the transducer bracket to go below the bottom of the hull! TROLLING MOTOR BRACKET INSTALLATION 1. Attach the optional TMB-S bracket to the transducer as shown in the following figure, using the hardware supplied with the transducer. (Note: The internal tooth washer is supplied with the TMB-S.) Bolt Internal tooth washer Nut TMB-S bracket Flat washer Attach motor mounting bracket to transducer. 2. Slide the adjustable strap supplied with the TMB-S through the slot in the transducer bracket and wrap it around the trolling motor. Position the transducer to aim straight down when the motor is in the water. Tighten the strap securely. 3. Route the transducer cable alongside the trolling motor shaft. Use plastic ties (not included) to attach the transducer cable to the trolling motor shaft. Make sure there is enough slack in the cable for the motor to turn freely. Route the cable to the sonar unit and the transducer is ready for use. 23 Transducer mounted on trolling motor, side view. TRANSDUCER ORIENTATION AND FISH ARCHES If you do not get good fish arches on your display, it could be because the transducer is not parallel with the ground when the boat is at rest in the water or at slow trolling speeds. 24 Partial fish arches Transducer aimed too far back Transducer aimed too far forward Full fish arch Proper transducer angle Transducer angles and their effects on fish arches. If the arch slopes up ­ but not back down ­ then the front of the transducer is too high and needs to be lowered. If only the back half of the arch is printed, then the nose of the transducer is angled too far down and needs to be raised. NOTE: Periodically wash the transducer's face with soap and water to remove any oil film. Oil and dirt on the face will reduce the sensitivity or may even prevent operation. 25 SHOOT-THRU-HULL PREPARATION Hulls With Floatation Materials The transducer installation inside a fiberglass hull must be in an area that does not have air bubbles in the resin or separated fiberglass layers. The sonar signal must pass through solid fiberglass. A successful transducer installation can be made on hulls with flotation materials (such as plywood, balsa wood or foam) between layers of fiberglass if the material is removed from the chosen area. See the figure below. WARNING: Do not remove any material from your inner hull unless you know the hull's composition. Careless grinding or cutting on your hull can result in damage that could sink your boat. Contact your boat dealer or manufacturer to confirm your hull specifications. Fill with resin Fill with resin Flotation material Inner hull Outer hull Use epoxy to place the transducer in a solid portion of the hull. Epoxy to hull first For example, some (but not all) manufacturers use a layer of fiberglass, then a core of balsa wood, finishing with an outer layer of fiberglass. Removing the inner layer of fiberglass and the balsa wood core exposes the outer layer of fiberglass. The transducer can then be epoxied directly to the outer layer of fiberglass. After the epoxy cures for 24 hours, fill the remaining space with polyester resin. When the job is finished, the hull is watertight and structurally sound. 26 Remember, the sonar signal must pass through solid fiberglass. Any air bubbles in the fiberglass or the epoxy will reduce or eliminate sonar signals. Testing Determines Best Location Ideally, the shoot-thru transducer should be installed as close to the transom as possible, close to the centerline. This will give you the best performance during high speed maneuvers. Transducer location (high speed) Transducer location (trolling speed) Shoot-thru-hull transducer locations for high speed or trolling speed operation. To choose the proper location for shoot-thru-hull mounting, follow these testing procedures: (You may need a helper to complete these steps.) 1. Anchor the boat in about 30 feet of water. Add a little water to the sump of the boat. Plug the transducer into the sonar unit, turn it on, then hold the transducer over the side of the boat in the water. Adjust the sensitivity and range controls until a second bottom echo is seen on the display. (You'll need to turn off Auto Sensitivity, Auto Depth Range and ASP. Try a range setting that is two to three times the water depth. The harder (more rocky) the bottom, the easier it will be to get a second bottom signal.) Don't touch the controls once they've been set. 27 True bottom Second bottom Manual range setting Example of a second bottom signal. Unit is in 30 feet of water, with range set at 80 feet and sensitivity set at 87 percent. 2. Next, take the transducer out of the water and place it in the water in the sump of the boat, face down. (The transducer face is shown in the figure on page 30.) Notice how the signal strength decreases. The second bottom signal will probably disappear and the bottom signal intensity will likely decrease. 3. Now move the transducer around to find the best location with the strongest possible bottom signal. If you find a spot with an acceptable bottom signal, mark the location and move on to step 4. If you can't get an acceptable bottom signal, try turning up the sensitivity by three or five keystrokes and then move the transducer around once more. If you find a spot that works, mark it and move on to step 4. If you have to turn up sensitivity by more than five keystrokes to get a good signal, the transducer should be mounted on the outside of the hull. This is especially true if you have to turn sensitivity all the way up to get a decent bottom signal. 28 4. Most people can get good results by following steps 1 through 3, so this step is optional. If you want to make an extra effort to be absolutely sure that your selected location will work under all conditions, make a test run with the boat on plane and observe the bottom signal. You'll need to figure some way to prop the transducer into position while you make your test run. (A brick or two might be sufficient to hold it in place.) 5. When you're satisfied with a location, mark it and proceed with the installation. Shoot-thru-hull Installation If you are installing the transducer on a hull with floatation material sandwiched within the hull, refer to the text "Hulls With Flotation Materials" beginning on page 26. 1. Make sure the area is clean, dry and free of oil or grease, then sand both the inside surface of the hull and the face of the transducer with 100 grit sandpaper. The sanded hull area should be about 1-1/2 times the diameter of the transducer. The surface of the hull must be flat so the entire transducer face is in contact with the hull prior to bonding. After sanding, clean the hull and transducer with rubbing alcohol to remove any sanding debris. 29 Spread epoxy here Sand this surface Orient the Skimmer with the nose facing the bow of the boat. To bow Epoxy transducer to hull. WARNING: Use only the epoxy available from LEI. It has been formulated to work with these installation procedures. Other epoxy types may be too thin or may not cure to the right consistency for optimum transducer performance. 2. The epoxy consists of the epoxy itself and a hardener. Remove the two compounds from the package and place them on the paper plate. Thoroughly stir the two compounds together until the mixture has a uniform color and consistency. Do not mix too fast or bubbles will form in the epoxy. After mixing, you have 20 minutes to complete the installation before the epoxy becomes unworkable. Spread a thin layer of epoxy (about 1/16" or 1.5 mm thick) on the face of the transducer as shown in the previous figure. Make sure there are no air pockets in the epoxy layer! Then, apply the remaining epoxy to the sanded area on the hull. 3. Press the transducer into the epoxy, twisting and turning it to force any air bubbles out from under the transducer face. Stop pressing 30 when you bottom out on the hull. When you're finished, the face of the transducer should be parallel with the hull, with a minimum amount of epoxy between the hull and transducer. 4. Apply a weight, such as a brick, to hold the transducer in place while the epoxy cures. Be careful not to bump the transducer while the epoxy is wet. Leave the weight in place for a minimum of three hours. Allow the epoxy to cure for 24 hours before moving the boat. 5. After the epoxy has cured, route the cable to the sonar unit and it's ready to use. Power and Cable Connections The unit works from a 12-volt battery system. For the best results, attach the power cable directly to the battery. You can attach the power cable to an accessory or power buss, however you may have problems with electrical interference. Therefore, it's safer to go ahead and attach the power cable directly to the battery. CAUTION: When using the unit in a saltwater environment, we strongly recommend that you shut off the power supply to the power cable when the unit is not in use. When the unit is turned off but still connected to a power supply, electrolysis can occur in the power cable plug. This may result in corrosion of the plug body along with the electrical contacts in the cable and the unit's power socket. In saltwater environments we recommend you connect the power cable to the auxiliary power switch included in most boat designs. If that results in electrical interference, or if such a switch is not available, we recommend connecting direct to the battery and installing an inline switch. This will let you shut off power to the power cable when the unit is not in use. When you are not using the unit, you should always shut off power to the power cable, especially when the power cable is disconnected from the unit. 31 To unit Optional power off switch for saltwater installations Black wire 12 volt battery Red wire with 3 amp fuse Power and transducer connections for the Cuda 250 sonar units (direct battery connection shown). If possible, keep the power cable away from other boat wiring, especially the engine's wires. This will provide the best isolation from electrical noise. If the cable is not long enough, splice #18 gauge wire onto it. The power cable has two wires, red and black. Red is the positive lead, black is negative or ground. Make sure to attach the in-line fuse holder to the red lead as close to the power source as possible. For example, if you have to extend the power cable to the battery or power buss, attach one end of the fuse holder directly to the battery or power buss. This will protect both the unit and the power cable in the event of a short. It uses a 3-amp fuse. WARNING: This product must be independently fused with the enclosed 3-amp fuse (or equivalent), even if you connect to a fused accessory or power buss. If a malfunction happens inside the unit, extensive damage can occur if the enclosed fuse is not used. As with all electrical devices, this unit could be damaged to a point that it is unrepairable and could even cause harm to the user when not properly fused. 32 CAUTION: Failure to use the enclosed 3-amp fuse will void your warranty! For a replacement, use a type 3AG 3-amp fuse. This unit has reverse polarity protection. No damage will occur if the power wires are reversed. However, the unit will not work until the wires are attached correctly. Mounting the Sonar Unit: In-Dash or Bracket You can install the sonar unit on the top of a dash with the supplied bracket. It can also be installed in the dash with an optional FM-6 dash-mounting kit. Top ALWAYS VERIFY DIMENSIONS. Cut along this line In-dash mounting template for Cuda 250. NOTE: This figure is not printed to scale. 33 Bracket Installation Mount the unit in any convenient location, provided there is clearance when it's tilted for the best viewing angle. You should also make sure there is enough room behind the unit to attach the power/transducer cable. (See the following drawings, which show the dimensions of a mounted Cuda 250 sonar unit.) Holes in the bracket's base allow wood screw or through-bolt mounting. You may need to place a piece of plywood on the back side of thin panels to reinforce the panel and secure the mounting hardware. Drill a 5/8" (15.9 mm) hole in the dash for the power/transducer cable. The best location for this hole is immediately under the mounting bracket location. This way, the bracket can be installed so that it covers the hole, holds the cable in position and results in a neat installation. Some customers, however, prefer to mount the bracket to the side of the cable hole -- it's a matter of personal preference. After drilling the hole, pass the connector up through the hole from under the dash. 34 107.5 [4.23] 82.7 [3.26] 156 [6.26] 12.09 [0.48] 70.3 Millimeter [2.77] [Inch] Front view (left) and side view (right) showing dimensions of the Cuda 250 when mounted on quick release bracket. 76.9 [3.03] If you wish, you can fill in the hole around the cable with a good marine sealant compound. (Some marine dealers stock cable hole covers to conceal the opening.) This unit uses a quick release-mounting bracket. When you run the cable through the hole, make sure you allow enough slack for tilting the unit and attaching the connector. (The snug fit of the push-on waterproof connector requires some force to attach.) Also be sure there is enough cable slack for rotation if you decide to use the optional GBSA-3 swivel base. The swivel base lets you rotate the sonar so it can be seen from different parts of the boat. 35 Align the bracket over the cable hole with the cable slots facing away from you and fit the cable through one of the slots. Fasten the bracket to the dash using the three screw holes. Ratchet Rear (away from viewer) Screw hole Power/transducer cable Cable slot Cuda 250 quick release mounting bracket. Slots in the base allow routing the cable from beneath the mount. Attach the unit to the bracket by first connecting the power/transducer cable. Then, hold the sonar unit vertically and slide it onto the bracket from above. (The back of the unit should be touching the front of the bracket as you lower it into position.) As you push down, the unit will lock into place with a distinct click. To adjust the viewing angle, pinch the ratchets with one hand, then tilt the unit with your other hand. Release the ratchets and the unit locks into the new position. To dismount the unit for storage, press the ratchets and lift the unit off the bracket. 36 Bracket front Mount the sonar: slide the unit onto the bracket from above. Depress ratchets to release. Swivel base Adjust viewing angle: use one hand to press and release the springloaded ratchets while you move the unit with the other hand. An optional GBSA-3 swivel base is shown with the quick release bracket. 37 Portable Sonar Installation Like many Eagle products, the Cuda 250 sonar is capable of portable operation. It uses the optional PPP-12 portable power pack. The power pack and portable transducers expand the uses for your sonar. You can use your Cuda 250 sonar unit on your boat or take it to the dock, on a float tube, on an ice fishing trip or use it as a second sonar in a friend's boat. (An alternative to the PPP-12 is the PPP-15 portable power pack, which was designed especially for ice fishing. It includes a rechargeable gel cell battery and a transducer designed for stationary use. The entire rig is contained in a carry bag that fits inside a fivegallon plastic bucket.) The PPP-12 package includes the power pack, battery adapter and a portable transducer. The transducer can be stored inside the power pack. The PPP-12 requires eight AA alkaline batteries. Batteries are not included. To use a portable power pack, you install the batteries and then attach the sonar unit to the power pack's bracket. Plug in the power/transducer cable and you're ready to fish. The PPP-12 has a quick-release mounting bracket built into the case. Installing the Batteries Release the latch on the front of the power pack case. Open the compartment and install eight AA batteries into the adapter. For the longest life, we recommend you use alkaline batteries. NOTE: When the unit is not in use, we recommend you unplug the power connector to reduce the possibility of corrosion or battery drain. When you store the unit, always remove the batteries because dead batteries can leak and corrode the contacts. After installing the batteries, plug the cable's power connector into the socket on the battery compartment cover. Route the cable's unit connec38 tor and about 6 inches of cable through the opening under the sonar mount. Close the cover, plug the connector into the sonar unit and mount the unit on the built-in bracket. PPP-12 Portable Power Pack with a sonar unit stowed for transport. Turn the unit on. If it doesn't work, make sure the battery terminals are making good contact against the battery contacts. Also check the wiring connections on the battery adapter. The red wire on the power cable should be attached to the red wire on the battery adapter and the power cable's black wire should be connected to the black wire on the battery adapter. If it still doesn't work, check the battery voltage. Most of the complaints we receive about portable units result from stale batteries. Make sure the ones you buy are fresh. In cold weather the efficiency of dry cell batteries drops with the temperature. We find it a good idea to have the sonar unit good and warm along with the batteries before we leave home. 39 If the batteries do lose a charge, you can sometimes restore them by placing them in a warm room or car interior. A better way is to replace them with batteries that have been kept warm. WARNING: Never heat the batteries over an open flame or direct hot air onto them. A fire or explosion could result. Portable Transducer Assembly Recommended tools for installation include a slotted screw driver and two adjustable wrenches. Assemble the transducer and bracket as shown in the following figure. Attach the transducer to the bracket with the supplied hardware. Make sure there is one washer on each side of the transducer, inside the bracket. Slide the other washer over the end of the bolt and thread the nut onto it. Screw the suction cup onto the bracket using the supplied screw and flat washer. Tie the nylon cord through the hole in the top of the bracket. When using this transducer, tie the other end of the nylon cord to the boat. This will help prevent the loss of the transducer if it comes off the boat. 40 Tie nylon cord here Suction cup Nut Washer Transducer Portable transducer assembly: rear view (left) and side view (right.) Screw Bolt Washer Clean the chosen area of the hull before attaching the suction cup. Locate the transducer on the hull as shown in the following figure. Don't allow the bracket to extend below the hull, because water pressure against it can cause the suction cup to come off at speed. Moisten the cup, then press it onto the hull as firmly as possible. Tie the nylon cord to the boat and route the transducer cable to the sonar unit. Your portable sonar is now ready for use. Suction cup Hull Transducer Bracket Portable transducer installed on boat transom. 41 NOTE: For optimum operation, the portable transducer should be adjusted so that it is parallel to the ground. For more information on this, see the earlier segment on Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches. Now that you have your unit installed, move on to Sec. 3, Basic Sonar Operations. There, we'll present a series of step-by-step tutorials to teach you the basics of your sonar operation. 42