www.iFourWinns.com

I have a 1999 FW Horizon 200, VP 5.0Gi and SX drive. I have the "automotive style" dash with full gauge compliment (VDO?). If I follow a few hundred feet behind another boat or just cross over the "bubbled up" area in another boat's wake my depth gauge goes crazy thinking the water is only a foot deep and the alarm sounds. Now I know this sounds like a problem easily enough ignored but I swear I can pass through the "bubble zone" 300-400 feet behind another boat and off go the depth gauge and alarm. Reverse over the bubbles created by my own engine/outdrive?...beep! beep! beep!

Here's the question: The previous owner put this boat up for the winter without cleaning the hull (I'm guessing several years in a row actually). Consequently there is major staining on the hull below the waterline. I've had a professional gelcoat guy do a couple test spots to remove the staining and even he was astonished how difficult this would be to remove. Could the accumulation of lake stain on the hull be affecting the ability of the depth sounder?

I've placed a piece of tape over the alarm face and it's still pretty annoying. I'd hate to disconnect it considering my potential to do something bone-headed and actually NEED the depth alarm. Thanks in advance.

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1999 FW H200 - 305Gi - SX

Get the manual for that depth finder and turn off the alarm feature. You mention following in another boats wake. Depth finders don't usually work with any kind of accuracy if you are going much over idle speed. I've never seen one where you could not turn off the alarm.

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2007 FW Horizon 200 5.0GXi/SX-A

Sean,
It shows in the manual for the 1999's how to adjust or disable the shallow water alarm. If you don't have the manual, you should be able to download one from the FW site. Mine goes nuts if I back over my own bubbles, but not in someone else's white water. I would think that the thru-hull transducer cleaning would certainly help (couldn't hurt anyway). It could have gotten knocked out of whack somehow internally. My fish finder transducer doesn't like bubbles either, but yours seems a bit too sensitive.
I'd start by cleaning it and go from there.

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1999 180 Horizon LS 4.3 L GL Volvo SX
1994 Powerstroke
2002 Jeep Wrangler
not@work.gon
Happiness is an Empty Boat Trailer!!!

Right on. I have the manual and will adjust out the depth alarm. Now to see if I can procrastinate cleaning the transducer until next winter.

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1999 FW H200 - 305Gi - SX

I never had that OE depth finder working on mine but I've used 2 different ones with transom mount transducers and both worked at speed. The Garmin 441S I got last year holds bottom much better than the old Humminbird the boat came with. We have to paint the transducer with anti fouling just like the hull+drive and sometimes you have to clean off growth during the season. I'd say if you want a reliable depth finder get a Garmin or Standard Horizon with either a transom mount or you can use the shoot thru the hull style.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II