Lowrance HDS User Manual

988-0176-06_A

HDS unit installation instructions

Read the following instructions carefully before attempting any installation.

Transducer installation recommended tools and supplies (not included)

If you plan to route the transducer cable through the transom, you will need either a 1" drill bit or a 5/8" drill bit depending on the size of the transducer cable connector. Each transom mount requires a high quality, marine grade aboveor belowwaterline sealant/adhesive compound. The following installations also call for these recommended tools and supplies.

One-piece bracket transom installation:

Tools: two adjustable wrenches or socket wrench, drill, #29 (0.136") drill bit, screwdriver. Supplies: none.

Two-piece bracket transom installation:

Tools: two adjustable wrenches or socket wrench, drill, #20 (0.161") drill bit, screwdriver. Supplies: four, 1" long, #12 stainless steel wood screws.

TMB-S bracket trolling motor installation:

Tools: two adjustable wrenches or socket wrench, screwdriver. Supplies: plastic cable ties.

Skimmer Transducer shoot-through hull installation:

Supplies: alcohol wipes, 60 and 160 grit sandpaper, and marine grade aboveor below-waterline epoxy adhesive.

Pod Transducer shoot-through hull installation:

Supplies: alcohol wipes, 60 and 160 grit sandpaper, and marine grade aboveor below-waterline epoxy adhesive.

Skimmer Transducer installation instructions

Transducer location and installation is one of the most critical steps in sonar installation.

1. Select a transducer location

To function properly the Skimmer transducer must be in the water at all times and in a location that has a smooth flow of water when the boat is moving.

Good location	Poor location
Poor location	Good location

Aluminum boats with strakes or ribs on the hull can create large amounts of turbulence at higher speeds. A good transducer location on these types of boats is between the ribs closest to the engine.

If the transducer is not placed in a smooth flow of water, interference caused by bubbles and turbulence may show on-screen in the form of random lines or dots. The unit also could lose bottom signal when the boat is on plane.

Do not mount the transducer

closer than approximately one foot from the engine’s lower

unit. This will prevent cavitation interference from the prop.

When mounting the transducer, make sure it does not interfere with the hauling of the boat.

2. Aligning Ratchets on Transducer bracket

Aligning ratchets on one-piece bracket:

The one-piece bracket assembly includes two black plastic ratchets. The ratchets are used to align the transducer with the boat hull. Each ratchet has the letters A-E molded into it.

Ratchet	1. Insert the ratchets in the bracket with the letter
Bracket	"A" aligned with the dot stamped on the outside
	of the transducer bracket, as shown in the fol-
	lowing series of diagrams.


		Align dot and
		letter "A".

2. Slide the transducer in the bracket and temporarily slide the bolt through the transducer bracket, as shown in the image at right.

Transom

3. Hold the transducer assembly against the transom. Look at the transducer from the side. Try to adjust the transducer so its face is parallel to the ground. If it does,

then the "A" position is correct.

If the transducer will not adjust with its face parallel to the ground, remove the transducer and ratchets from the bracket. Reinsert the ratchets into the bracket, this time with the letter "B" aligned with the dot stamped in the bracket. Reassemble the transducer and bracket and place it against the transom. Again, check to see if the transducer will adjust so its face is parallel with the ground. Repeat this process until the transducers face will adjust so that it is parallel with the ground.

Aligning ratchets on two-piece bracket:
The two-piece bracket includes four black plastic ratchets. The ratch-
ets are used to align the transducer with the boat hull. Each ratchet has
the letters A-F molded into it.	Ratchet
	Ratchet

1. Place two of the ratchets in each side of the bracket with the letter "A" aligned with the alignment mark molded into each bracket.

	2. Now place the other two ratchets on
Alignment	the transducer with the letter "A" aligned
mark	in the 12 o'clock position on the trans-
Bracket	ducer stem.
Bracket

3. Slide the transducer in the bracket and temporarily slide the bolt through the transducer bracket.

4. Hold the transducer assembly against the transom. Look at the transducer from the side. Try to adjust the transducer so its face is parallel to the ground. If it does,

then the "A" position is correct.

Transom

the dot stamped in the bracket. Reassemble the transducer and bracket and place it against the transom. Again, check to see if the transducer will adjust so its face is parallel with the ground. Repeat this process until the transducers face will adjust so that it is parallel with the ground.

3. Assembling the Transducer bracket

After determining the correct position for the ratchets, loosely assemble the transducer and bracket assembly as shown in one of the two diagrams below.

One-piece bracket assembly:

Metal washer

Lock nut

Rubber washers

Metal washer

Ratchets

Bolt

Do not tighten the transducer bracket assembly until you have aligned the transducer and bracket on the transom.

Two-piece bracket assembly:

Ratchets	Large flat
	Large flat
	washer

Bolt

Lock nut

Small flat washer

Thick rubber washer

Do not tighten the transducer bracket assembly until you have aligned the transducer and bracket on the transom.

4. Aligning and Attaching the Transducer on the Transom

Adjust the transducer so that its "face" is parallel with the ground and its center line is even with the bottom of the boat hull.

Transducer bracket	Transducer bracket
mounted too low.	mounted too high.
Transom	Transom

Bottom of hull.

When mounting the transducer to the transom, there are two extremes you should avoid, first, do not let the edge of the mounting bracket extend below the bottom of the hull, left image, above. Second, do not let the bottom of the transducer rise above the bottom of the hull, right image, above.

The center line of the transducer should be level with the bottom of the boat hull and its "face" parallel with the ground.

Transducer face

Do not over tighten the transducer bracket

lock nut. If you do, the transducer may not "kick-up" if it strikes an object in the water.

Transom

Bottom of hull.

For single frequency transducers, with a one-piece bracket, assemble it with the cable passing over the bolt and through the bracket, as shown

here.

1.Hold the transducer and bracket assembly against the transom. When the transducer and bracket are properly aligned mark its posi-

tion on the hull.

2.Drill the mounting holes for the transducer bracket. For the onepiece bracket use a #29 bit (for the #10 screws). For the two-piece bracket use a #20 bit (for the #12

screws).

Use the provided screws to secure the transducer assembly to the transom.

Be sure to use a below-waterline marine grade sealant on all of the transducer bracket screw holes.

When mounting a Skimmer transducer to a boat with a veehull, make sure the transducer center line is aligned to the bottom of the boat hull, as shown here.

Water line

	If you drill a hole in the transom
Clamp the transducer cable to	for the transducer cable, make
the transom near the transducer.	sure it is located above the
This will help keep the cable	waterline. Seal the hole with
secure.	an aboveor below-waterline
	marine grade sealant.

If you drill a hole in the transom for the transducer cable, make sure it is located above the waterline. Seal the hole with an above or below waterline marine grade sealant. Route the transducer cable to the sonar unit. Make sure to leave some slack in the cable near the transducer.

Use caution when routing the transducer cable near other wiring and cables. If you need to drill a hole in the transom to pass the connector through, the hole size will depend on the connector on the end of the transducer’s cable.

5. Make a test run to determine the results

At times you may need to adjust the transducer higher or lower. The slots in the mounting brackets allow you to loosen the screws and slide the transducer up or down.

Improper transducer angles

Partial sonar fish arches

Transducer face parallel with the bottom.

Full sonar fish arch

If the sonar screen is displaying partial fish arches, as shown in the previous top two images, the transducer could be at an improper angle. Check the transducer and make sure its face is parallel with the bottom, as shown in the bottom example. If you frequently lose bottom signal lock the transducer may be coming out of the water as the boat crosses waves or wakes.

Move the transducer a little lower in the water to see if that improves sonar performance. When fishing around underwater structure the transducer may be kicked up from object strikes. If the transducer is being kicked up too often, try moving it a little higher for more protection.

TMB-S trolling motor bracket installation

The TMB-S bracket is designed for one-piece bracket transducers only.

The TMB-S trolling motor bracket (Part No. 51-45) is an optional accessory and is available through LEI Extras at www.lei-extras.com. The TMB-S bracket is used to attach a one-piece bracket transducer to a trolling motor. If you regularly fish in water with a lot of underwater structure, such as rocks, stumps and trees, you may consider using a Pod transducer for trolling motor installation. Pod transducers cannot be "kicked up" by underwater structure.

Internal tooth washer

Plastic bracket

Bolt

Lock nut

Flat washer

Using the components supplied with the TMB-S bracket (adjustable strap, internal tooth washer and plastic bracket) attach it to the transducer as shown in the diagram above.

	Adjustable strap	Route the transducer ca-
	Adjustable strap	ble along the trolling mo-
		ble along the trolling mo-
		tor shaft. Use plastic ties
		(not included) to secure
		the cable to the shaft.

Slide the adjustable strap through the plastic bracket as shown above, left, then slip the strap around the trolling motor as shown in the image, at right. Position the transducer so its "face" is pointing straight down when the trolling motor is in the water. Tighten the adjustable strap securely to the trolling motor. Make sure there is enough slack in the transducer cable for the trolling

motor to turn freely.

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