Pub. 988-0151-59A

X51 Pro

Fish-finding & Depth Sounding Sonar

Installation and Operation

Instructions

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Capabilities and Specifications: X51 Pro

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Section 1: Installation

Thank you for buying a Lowrance??? sonar! Your unit is a high quality sonar designed for both professional and novice fishermen. All Lowrance sonars have an automatic mode that finds and displays the bottom, fish, underwater structure and more ??? right out of the box. All you have to do is press the on (PWR) key.

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 inside the manual's back cover.

Installation Preparations

You can install the sonar system 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 vessel!

1.Determine the approximate location for the sonar unit, so you can plan how and where to route the cables for the transducer and power. 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 unit.

5.Install the power cable and route it to the sonar unit.

6.Mount the sonar unit.

Transducer Installation

These instructions will help you install your Skimmer??? transducer on a transom, on a trolling motor or inside a hull. Read these instructions carefully before attempting the installation. Determine which of the

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installation methods is right for your boat. Use extreme care if mounting the transducer inside the hull, because once it is epoxied into position, the transducer usually cannot be removed.

Remember, the transducer installation is the most critical part of a sonar installation!

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.

Recommended Tools and supplies

If you prefer the option of routing the cable through the transom, you will need a 5/8" drill bit. The following installation types also call for these recommended tools and required supplies (supplies are not included):

Transom installation

Tools include: two adjustable wrenches, drill, #29 (0.136") drill bit, flat-

head screwdriver. Supplies: high quality, marine grade above- or below- waterline 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 sandpaper, specially formulated epoxy adhesive available from LEI (see ordering information inside the back cover of this manual). 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 in the form of random lines or dots whenever the boat is moving.

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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.

Left, vee pad hull; right, vee hull. 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.

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

Good and poor transducer locations.

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.

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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.

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 simply "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.

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 transom- mounted transducer. A transducer mounted inside the hull can't be knocked off when docking or loading on a trailer.

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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 segment 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.

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.

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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.

Ratchets

Insert bolt and check transducer position on transom.

Metal

Nut washer

Assemble transducer and bracket.

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.

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!

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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 shown at left and seen from above at 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 shown at left and seen from above at 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.

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.

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Bottom of 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.

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.)

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Nut

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.

Partial fish arches

Full fish arch

Proper transducer angle

Transducer angles and their effects on fish arches.

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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.

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.

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.

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

Epoxy the transducer to a solid portion of the hull.

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

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hours, fill the remaining space with polyester resin. When the job is finished, the hull is watertight and structurally sound. Remember, the sonar signal must pass through solid fiberglass. Any air bubbles in the fiberglass or the epoxy will reduce or eliminate the sonar signals.

Shoot-thru-hull transducer locations for high speed or trolling speed operation.

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.

To choose the proper location for shoot-thru-hull mounting, follow these testing procedures:

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.

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 the following page.) 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.

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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.

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. 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.

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

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

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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.

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 when you bottom out on the hull. When you're finished, the face of

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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.

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.

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Power and transducer connections for the X51 Pro sonar unit (direct battery connection shown).

CAUTION:

Do not use this product without a 3-amp fuse wired into the power cable! Failure to use a 3-amp fuse will void your warranty.

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

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[6.26]

Front view (left) and side view (right) showing dimensions of the X51 Pro when mounted on quick release bracket. The swivel base (not shown) adds 0.4" (10 mm) to the height. The swivel base width is 4.25" (10.7 cm) and the depth is 3.12" (79.47 mm).

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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 X51 Pro.)

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 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.

If you wish, you can fill in the hole around the cable with a good marine sealant/adhesive compound. (Some marine dealers stock cable hole covers to conceal the opening.) No matter what type of installation you prefer, be sure to leave enough slack in the cable to allow tilting or swiveling the unit.

Ratchet

Rear

(away from viewer)

Screw hole

Cable slot

Power/transducer cable

X51 Pro quick release mounting bracket. Slots in the base allow routing the cable from beneath the mount. Shown on swivel base.

These units use a quick release mounting bracket with a swivel base. When you run the cable through the hole, make sure you allow enough

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slack for tilting and turning the unit and attaching the connector. (The snug fit of the push-on waterproof connector requires some force to attach.)

Align the bracket over the cable hole with the cable slots facing away from you and fit the cable through the slots. Fasten the bracket to the dash using the two screw holes.

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.

Depress ratchets to release

Swivel base

Adjust viewing angle: use one hand to press and release the spring- loaded ratchets while you move the unit with the other hand.

To adjust the vertical 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. You can also turn the unit on its special swivel base for a better horizontal viewing angle. To dismount the unit for storage, press the ratchets and lift the unit off the bracket.

Portable Sonar Installation

Like many Lowrance products, these sonar units are capable of portable operation. The X51 Pro uses the optional PPP-12 portable power pack. The PPP-12 package includes the power pack, battery adapter and a portable transducer. Batteries are not included. Each power pack has a storage compartment for the portable transducer. The PPP-12 can be used with eight AA alkaline batteries. To use a portable power pack, you simply install the batteries and then attach the sonar unit to the power pack's bracket.

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Installing the Batteries

Release the latch on the front of the case. Open the case and install eight AA batteries in the battery compartment. After installing the batteries, plug the sonar unit's power cable into the battery compartment socket. Route the other end of the cable through the opening under the mounting bracket and close the case.

WARNING:

Never heat the batteries over an open flame or direct hot air onto them. A fire or explosion could result.

Hull

Transducer

Portable transducer installed on boat transom.

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.

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.

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Section 2: Operation

Keyboard

Numbers in the following photo correspond to the following key explanations:

1 2

4

3

X51 Pro

1. PWR/CLEAR

This key appears in the manual text simply as PWR. Press this key to turn the unit on and off. It also clears menu selections and the menus from the screen. To clear a menu from the screen, press PWR one time.

NOTE:

Hold the PWR key down for five seconds to turn off the unit.

2.MENU UP

3.MENU DOWN

These keys appear in the manual text as MENU UP or MENU DOWN. Most of the time, the instructions require you to press either menu key, so the text simply uses the word MENU. Usually, when we say MENU, you can simply press the MENU UP key for consistency.

This sonar unit has many features that are accessed with the menu keys. The MENU UP key moves up or forward through the menus, the MENU DOWN key moves down or backward. To see the first menu, simply press either MENU key. To see the other menus, press a MENU key repeatedly to cycle through the menu list.

4. UP & DOWN ARROWS

These keys appear in the manual text as DOWN ARROW or UP ARROW. Use these keys to adjust virtually every feature and function on the sonar unit.

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Menus

The menu keys access these features, allowing you to customize the unit to your particular needs and water conditions. All you have to do to leave one menu and enter another is press MENU repeatedly. If you ever get lost in the menus, simply press the PWR key. This clears the menus from the screen.

Menus change depending on the mode the unit is in. Messages may appear in menu boxes or new menus can appear, depending on previous selections.

Menu

This screen shows a typical menu, the Scroll Speed menu.

Display

The lights flash for about 20 seconds when the unit is turned on. The backlight menu first appears on the screen. To turn the lights on, press UP ARROW. If you don???t press a key, the menu will disappear after a few seconds. If you don't want to wait, press PWR to clear the menus from the screen.

Depth range

at bottom of Grayline??? depth scale

Full Chart page, showing digital depth (above) and temp (below). The factory default setting has the Fish I.D. (fish symbols) turned off.

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Chart Scroll

In normal operation, the sonar chart will scroll from right to left across the screen. You can stop the chart from scrolling across the screen. This is useful when you want to "freeze" the picture to study it more closely.

To stop the chart, press MENU until the SCROLL SPEED menu appears. Use the DOWN ARROW to select MIN. The menu remains visible and a stationary "Stop" message appears in the screen's top right corner.

To resume scrolling, use the UP ARROW to select MAX (or any speed other than minimum), then press PWR to clear the menu. For most fishing conditions you should return the chart to maximum speed. (Read more about this in the later entry on Chart Scroll Speed.)

NOTE:

You cannot clear the menu until you raise the chart speed again. If you accidentally press PWR to clear the menu while the chart is stopped, you must press MENU until the SCROLL SPEED menu reappears, then follow the instructions from the preceding paragraph.

Full Chart

This shows all echoes scrolling across the full screen. This is the default page. The bottom signal scrolls across the screen from right to left. The line at the top of the screen represents the surface. The bottom depth (as determined by the digital sonar) shows in the upper left corner.

Water Temp

Fish symbols

Opening screen, Full Chart page, or mode.

The Fish I.D. feature is turned on.

If the transducer with a built-in temperature sensor is connected, a digital display for water temperature will also be shown. This temperature display can be turned on and off. See the later entry on Temperature Size for off and on instructions.

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Depth Range Zoom

When turned on, the unit automatically adjusts the depth range according to water conditions. When in auto range mode, it always keeps the bottom displayed in the lower portion of the screen. You can over-ride the automatic depth range control and manually select a depth range.

To do this, press MENU until the RANGE ZOOM menu appears. Press the DOWN ARROW to select MANUAL, then press MENU UP to display the RANGE SIZE menu. Use the arrow keys to select a desired depth range. When you're finished, press PWR to clear the menu from the display. This unit has the following depth ranges: 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 320 and 640 feet.

Range Size menu with manual depth range set to 40 feet. This in effect "zooms" or enlarges the display to show the water column from 0 to 40 feet deep. In this figure, the boat is in 57.5 feet of water, but only the top 40 feet of the water column is shown on the screen.

Zoom

The zoom feature enlarges all images on the screen by doubling the size of the echoes (a 2X zoom). To zoom the display, press the MENU key until the ZOOM menu appears. Press the UP ARROW key to select ON, then press PWR to clear the menu. To turn the zoom feature off, press the MENU key until the ZOOM menu appears. Press the DOWN ARROW key to select OFF, then press PWR to clear the menu. The top of the depth

range scale returns to zero.

NOTE:

Using the Zoom command while in auto depth Range Zoom mode will always enlarge the echoes near the bottom, because auto Range always keeps the bottom displayed in the lower portion of the screen.

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When you Zoom while the unit is in manual depth Range Zoom mode, you can select one of 13 pre-set Zoom Sizes. This lets you enlarge some other particular segment of the water column.

Enlarged fish arches

Zoom Size menu with the 5-15 foot zoom selected. The boat is in 28 feet of water, but the screen has zoomed in on the water column from 5 to 15 feet below the surface.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity controls the unit's ability to pick up echoes. If you want to see more detail, try increasing the sensitivity, a little at a time. There are situations when too much clutter appears on the screen. Decreasing the sensitivity can reduce the clutter and show the strongest fish echoes, if fish are present. As you change the sensitivity setting, you can see

the difference on the chart as it scrolls.

These figures show results of different sensitivity levels on the same location. Fig. 1: Sensitivity at 98 percent, determined by Auto Sensitivity. Typical of full auto mode. Fig. 2: Sensitivity set at 71 percent. Fig. 3: Sensitivity set at 47 percent. Fig. 4: Sensitivity set at 100 percent.

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To adjust Sensitivity, press MENU until the SENSITIVITY ADJUSTMENT menu appears. Press UP ARROW to increase the sensitivity, DOWN ARROW to decrease it. When it's set at the desired level, press PWR to clear the menu.

NOTE:

If you want to change the sensitivity in Manual

Mode, first turn off Auto Sensitivity: press MENU

until the SENSITIVITY AUTOMATIC/MANUAL menu appears.

Press DOWN ARROW to select MANUAL, then press PWR to clear the menu. To adjust the sensitivity, follow the same steps used for adjusting sensitivity in auto mode above.

Grayline??

Grayline??? lets you distinguish between strong and weak echoes. It "paints" gray on targets that are stronger than a preset value. This allows you to tell the difference between a hard and soft bottom. For example, a soft, muddy or weedy bottom returns a weaker signal which is shown with a narrow or no gray line. A hard bottom returns a strong

signal which causes a wide gray line.

To change the Grayline level, press MENU until the GRAYLINE menu appears.

At left, little Grayline indicates a soft bottom, probably sand or mud. At right, the wider Grayline indicates a harder, rocky bottom.

Press UP ARROW to increase the level or press DOWN ARROW to decrease it. The percentage of Grayline in use shows in this menu. Echoes scrolling onto the screen will also show the effects of the Grayline change. If you reach the maximum or minimum level, a tone sounds alerting you to the limits. Press PWR to clear the menu.

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Fish I.D.???

The Fish I.D. feature displays fish symbols in place of the actual fish echoes. There are three symbol sizes: small, medium and large.

Fish

arches

Fish I.D. symbols

At left, underwater scene in normal fish arch mode. Right, Fish I.D. menu with the feature turned on.

Fish I.D. is an easier way for a sonar novice to recognize a fishy signal return when he sees it.

To see what's under your boat in maximum detail, we recommend you turn off Fish I.D. and begin learning to interpret fish arches.

You may see Fish I.D. symbols on the screen when actually, there are no fish. The reverse is also true ??? Fish I.D. can actually miss fish that are present.

To turn Fish I.D. on, press MENU until the FISH ID menu appears. Press UP ARROW to select ON, then press PWR. To turn it back off, repeat the above steps, but press DOWN ARROW to select OFF.

Fish I.D. symbols showing FishTrack depth indicator

Fish ID menu and symbol with FishTrack on. The fish is 44 feet deep.

Fishtrack???

The FishTrack??? feature shows the depth of a fish symbol when it appears on the display.

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To turn it on, press MENU until the FISH ID menu appears. Press UP ARROW to select TRACK ON, then press PWR. To turn it off, repeat the above steps, but press DOWN ARROW to select OFF. (If you want to turn off FishTrack depths but leave Fish I.D. on, press DOWN ARROW to select ON, then press PWR.) Remember, Fish I.D. must be on in order to use the FishTrack feature.

Chart Scroll Speed

The rate that echoes scroll across the screen is called the chart scroll speed. The default for this unit is "max" (100 percent). Adjust scroll speed by pressing MENU until SCROLL SPEED appears. Press UP ARROW to increase it and press DOWN ARROW to decrease it. Press PWR to clear the menu.

Noise Reject and ASP??? (Advanced Signal Processing)

The ASP??? (Advanced Signal Processing) constantly evaluates the effects of boat speed, water conditions and electrical interference and automatically gives you the best display possible under most conditions. The ASP feature has three settings ??? Off, Low and High.

To change the ASP setting, press MENU DOWN until NOISE REJECT appears. Use the up and down arrow keys to select the desired setting, then press PWR to clear the menu.

Pro Tips

Your unit has a Pro Tips menu featuring fishing tips from professional anglers.

To access Pro Tips, press the MENU key until the Pro Tips menu appears. Use the arrow keys to highlight ON. The menu will close and a fishing tip will appear. Use the arrow

keys to scroll through other fishing tips. Press PWR to clear Pro Tips from the screen.

Alarms

The sonar unit has three different types of alarms: fish, shallow and deep.

Fish Alarm

With Fish I.D. turned on, the Fish Alarm will sound a tone when a fish symbol appears on the screen. Fish I.D. is turned on by default.

To turn Fish I.D. on, press MENU until the FISH ID menu appears. Press UP ARROW to select ON and then press PWR.

Press MENU until the FISH ALARM menu appears. Press UP ARROW to select ON and then press PWR.

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To turn off the fish alarm without turning off fish symbols, press MENU DOWN until FISH ALARM appears. Press DOWN ARROW to select OFF, then press PWR to clear the menu. Repeat the above steps to turn the alarm back on, but press UP ARROW to select ON before clearing the menu.

Depth Alarms

The depth alarms are triggered only by the bottom signal. No other echoes will activate these alarms. The depth alarms consist of a shallow and a deep alarm. The shallow alarm sounds an alarm tone when the bottom goes shallower than the alarm's setting. The deep alarm sounds a tone when the bottom goes deeper than its setting. Both alarms adjust the same way, although through different menus.

Shallow Alarm

To set the shallow alarm depth, press MENU DOWN repeatedly until SHALLOW ALARM appears.

Press UP ARROW to increase the shallow alarm's depth setting or press DOWN ARROW to decrease it. The number in the shallow alarm???s menu box shows the current shallow

alarm setting. When the number reaches the desired setting, press PWR to clear the menu. When the bottom depth goes shallower than the alarm???s setting, an alarm tone sounds and a message box appears on the screen.

Press PWR to silence the alarm. This turns the alarm sound off until the shallow alarm is triggered again.

To turn the alarm off, press MENU DOWN repeatedly until SHALLOW ALARM appears. Press DOWN ARROW until the words OFF FEET appear, then press PWR to clear the menu.

Deep Alarm

To set the deep alarm depth, press MENU DOWN repeatedly until DEEP ALARM appears.

Press UP ARROW to increase the deep alarm's depth setting or press DOWN ARROW to decrease it. The number in the deep alarm???s menu box shows the current deep alarm

setting. When the number reaches the desired setting, press PWR to clear the menu. When the bottom depth goes deeper than the alarm???s setting, an alarm tone sounds and a message box appears on the screen. Press PWR to silence the alarm. This turns the alarm sound off until the deep alarm is triggered again.

To turn the alarm off, press MENU DOWN repeatedly until DEEP ALARM appears. Press DOWN ARROW until the words OFF FEET appear, then press PWR to clear the menu.

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Backlight

The display is backlit for night use. To turn the backlight on or off, press MENU repeatedly until the BACK LIGHT menu appears. Press UP ARROW to turn the light on or the DOWN ARROW to turn it off.

Display Contrast

To adjust the contrast, press MENU DOWN until the DISPLAY CONTRAST menu appears. To decrease screen contrast, press the DOWN ARROW key. Press the UP ARROW key to increase screen contrast. The bar graph in the Contrast menu box shows a graph of the contrast. The screen will also show the effects of the change. If you reach the maximum or

minimum level, a tone sounds alerting you to the limits. Press the PWR key to clear the menu.

Battery Voltage

The unit can display your battery voltage. When activated, Voltage will appear just below the temp display. To turn this data on or off, press MENU DOWN until the BATTERY VOLTAGE menu appears. Use the arrow keys to select on or off, then press the PWR key to clear the menu.

Depth Units of Measure

This unit can show the depth in feet or meters. To change the depth units of measure, press MENU DOWN until the UNITS menu appears. Use the arrow keys to select the desired unit of measure, then press the PWR key to clear the menu.

Preset Unit

This command is used to reset all features, options and settings to their original factory defaults. This is useful when you have changed several settings and want to return the unit to basic automatic operation.

Turn the unit off. Press and hold the DOWN ARROW key and the MENU DOWN key at the same time while you press the PWR key. Release the keys as the unit powers up. The unit will turn on with factory settings restored.

System Info

To show the operating software system information, press MENU DOWN until the UNIT INFO menu appears. Press PWR to clear the screen.

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Simulator

This unit has a built-in simulator that shows a simulated bottom signal with fish signals. This lets you practice with the unit as if you were on the water; all features and functions of the unit are usable.

To use the simulator, press MENU DOWN repeatedly until the SIMULATOR menu appears. Press UP ARROW to turn it on, and press PWR to clear the menu. Repeat the above steps to turn it off, or you can simply turn the unit off and back on again.

Digital Data Size (Depth and Temp)

The size of the digital numbers for the depth be changed to medium or large. The digital display for both Depth and

Temperature can also be turned off or on.

To change either of these options, press MENU DOWN until either the DEPTH SIZE or TEMP SIZE

menu appears, then use the ARROW keys to select the desired option. Press the PWR key to clear the menus.

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Index

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Troubleshooting

Unit won't turn on:

1.Check the power cable's connection at the unit. Also check the wiring.

2.Make certain the power cable is wired properly. The red wire connects to the positive battery terminal, black to negative or ground.

3.Check the fuse.

4.Measure the battery voltage at the unit's power connector. It should be at least 11 volts. If it isn't, the wiring to the unit is defective, the battery terminals or wiring on the terminals are corroded, or the battery needs charging.

Unit turns on only in simulator mode:

There is a problem with the transducer or the transducer cable. Check the cable for damage.

Unit freezes, locks up, or operates erratically:

1.Electrical noise from the boat's motor, trolling motor, or an accessory may be interfering with the sonar unit. Rerouting the power and transducer cables away from other electrical wiring on the boat may help. Route the sonar unit's power cable directly to the battery instead of through a fuse block or ignition switch

2.Inspect the transducer cable for breaks, cuts, or pinched wires.

3.Check both the transducer and power connectors. Make certain both are securely plugged in to the unit.

Weak bottom echo, digital readings erratic, or no fish signals:

1.Make certain the transducer is pointing straight down. Clean the face of the transducer. Oil, dirt and fuel can cause a film to form on the transducer, reducing its effectiveness. If the transducer is mounted inside the hull, be sure it is shooting through only one layer of fiberglass and that it is securely bonded to the hull.

2.Electrical noise from the boat's motor can cause the sonar to automatically increase noise rejection level. This can cause the unit to eliminate weaker signals (fish) from the display.

3.The water may be deeper than the sonar's ability to find the bottom. If the sonar can't find the bottom signal while it's in the automatic mode, the digital sonar display will flash continuously.

4.Check the battery voltage. If the voltage drops, the unit's transmitter power also drops, reducing its ability to find the bottom or targets.

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Bottom echo disappears at high speeds or erratic digital reading or weak bottom echo while boat is moving

1.The transducer may be in turbulent water. It must be mounted in a smooth flow of water for the sonar to work at all boat speeds.

2.Electrical noise from the boat's motor can interfere with the sonar. This causes the sonar to automatically increase the noise rejection level. This can cause the unit to eliminate weaker signals (fish) from the display. Try using resistor spark plugs or routing the sonar unit's power and transducer cables away from other electrical wiring on the boat.

No fish arches when the Fish I.D. feature is off:

1.Make certain the transducer is pointing straight down. This is the most common problem if a partial arch is displayed.

2.The sensitivity may not be high enough. If the sensitivity is not high enough, the unit shows the fish only when it is in the center of the cone.

3.Use the Zoom feature. It is much easier to display fish arches when zoomed in on a small range of water than a large one. 4. The boat must be moving at a slow trolling speed to see fish arches. If the boat is motionless, fish are displayed as straight horizontal lines.

NOISE

Noise usually appears on the sonar's display as random patterns of dots or lines. In severe cases, it can completely cover the screen with black dots, or cause the unit to operate erratically, or not at all.

To eliminate or minimize the effects of electrical noise, try to determine the cause. With the boat at rest in the water, turn all electrical equipment on the boat off. Make sure the engine is also off. Turn on your sonar, then turn off Noise Reject {ASP feature (Advanced Signal Processing)]. Sensitivity should be set at 90-95 percent. There should be a steady bottom signal on the display. Now turn on each piece of electrical equipment on the boat and view the effect on the sonar's display. If you find noise interference from an electrical instrument, trolling motor, pump, or radio, try to isolate the problem. You can usually reroute the sonar unit's power cable and transducer cable away from the wiring that is causing the interference.

If no noise displays on the sonar unit from electrical equipment, start the engine and increase the RPM with the gearshift in neutral. If noise appears on the display, the problem could be one of three things; spark plugs, alternator, or tachometer wiring. Try using resistor spark plugs, alternator filters, or routing the sonar unit's power cable away from engine wiring. When no noise appears on the sonar unit after all of the above tests, then the noise source is probably cavitation.

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NAVICO

FULL ONE-YEAR WARRANTY

"We," "our," or "us" refers to NAVICO, INC., the manufacturer of this product. "You" or "your" refers to the first person who purchases this product as a consumer item for personal, family or household use.

We warrant this product against defects or malfunctions in materials and workmanship, and against failure to conform to this product's written specifications, all for one (1) year from the date of original purchase by you. WE MAKE NO OTHER EXPRESS

WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER CONCERNING THIS PRODUCT. Your remedies under this warranty will be available so long as you can show in a reasonable manner that any defect or malfunction in materials or workmanship, or any non-conformity with the product's written specifications, occurred within one year from the date of your original purchase, which must be substantiated by a dated sales receipt or sales slip. Any such defect, malfunction, or non-conformity which occurs within one year from your original purchase date will either be repaired without charge or be replaced with a new product identical or reasonably equivalent to this product, at our option, within a reasonable time after our receipt of the product. If such defect, malfunction, or non-conformity remains after a reasonable number of attempts to repair by us, you may elect to obtain without charge a replacement of the product or a refund for the product. THIS REPAIR, OR REPLACEMENT OR REFUND (AS JUST

DESCRIBED) IS THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY AVAILABLE TO YOU AGAINST US FOR

ANY DEFECT, MALFUNCTION, OR NON-CONFORMITY CONCERNING THE

PRODUCT OR FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM ANY OTHER

CAUSE WHATSOEVER. WE WILL NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE LIABLE

TO ANYONE FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR OTHER

INDIRECT DAMAGE OF ANY KIND.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.

This warranty does NOT apply in the following circumstances: (1) when the product has been serviced or repaired by anyone other than us; (2) when the product has been connected, installed, combined, altered, adjusted, or handled in a manner other than according to the instructions furnished with the product; (3) when any serial number has been effaced, altered, or removed; or (4) when any defect, problem, loss, or damage has resulted from any accident, misuse, negligence, or carelessness, or from any failure to provide reasonable and necessary maintenance in accordance with the instructions of the owner's manual for the product.

We reserve the right to make changes or improvements in our products from time to time without incurring the obligation to install such improvements or changes on equipment or items previously manufactured.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which may vary from state to state.

REMINDER: You must retain the sales slip or sales receipt proving the date of your original purchase in case warranty service is ever required.

LOWRANCE ELECTRONICS

12000 E. SKELLY DRIVE, TULSA, OK 74128

(800) 324-1356

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How to Obtain Service???

???in the USA:

We back your investment in quality products with quick, expert service and genuine Lowrance parts. If you're in the United States and you have technical, return or repair questions, please contact the Factory Customer Service Department. Before any product can be returned, you must call customer service to determine if a return is necessary. Many times, customer service can resolve your problem over the phone without sending your product to the factory. To call us, use the following toll-free number:

800-324-1356

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Standard Time, M-F

Lowrance Electronics may find it necessary to change or end our shipping policies, regulations, and special offers at any time. We reserve the right to do so without notice.

???in Canada:

If you're in Canada and you have technical, return or repair questions, please contact the Factory Customer Service Department. Before any product can be returned, you must call customer service to determine if a return is necessary. Many times, customer service can resolve your problem over the phone without sending your product to the factory. To call us, use the following toll-free number:

800-661-3983

905-629-1614 (not toll-free)

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Standard Time, M-F

???outside Canada and the USA:

If you have technical, return or repair questions, contact the dealer in the country where you purchased your unit. To locate a dealer near you, visit our web site, www.lowrance.com and look for the Dealer Locator.

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