help with depth finder not working right

[keakar]

I have a cheap ($98) entry level but still good quality little fish finder (Eagle - Cuda 242) and its no longer reading correct depth. (it looks just like the humming bird pirana ones)

recently I noticed when it says im in 4ft of water it didn't seam right so I stuck my 5ft paddle down plus my arm length and not hit bottom so it must be at least 7ft there (didn't have anything to check it with) but when im shallower like 2ft of water it looks like its accurate or couldn't be off by much.

just wondering is this a sign its going bad? im sure it was accurate when new because it was my first depth finder so I checked its accuracy by dropping baits and looking at my line depth

cant say how long its been reading off but as far as I can remember it was accurate to within 6" when I first bought it years ago.

other then depth being wrong it seams everything else such as locating fish and bottom structure seams to be accurate.

am I wrong to expect them to be very accurate at all depths and if I wanted to upgrade to a better unit, what is a good choice for a new basic good quality depth finder with view screen and I don't need gps or charting or any of that . its for mounting on a flatboat side console (nothing too big) that is in the $150-$300 range?

I was thinking about getting the Lowrance Mark-5X Pro Sonar, any opinions on this choice?

[MathGeek]

When mine is off, it's usually because the sensor has become reoriented in the mount and is not pointing directly downward. Fixing the orientation corrects the reading.

[keakar]

Originally Posted by MathGeek

When mine is off, it's usually because the sensor has become reoriented in the mount and is not pointing directly downward. Fixing the orientation corrects the reading.

that's the first thing I checked but its still situated correctly and has not moved so it must be something else is wrong.

its mounted under the hull so its not accessible from inside the boat so I guess I could hop in the water and point it forward or backwards and see if its any better but the transducer body would have to be pointed incorrectly to the angle with the hull.

could it be the transducer is out of whack internally?

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by keakar

that's the first thing I checked but its still situated correctly and has not moved so it must be something else is wrong.

its mounted under the hull so its not accessible from inside the boat so I guess I could hop in the water and point it forward or backwards and see if its any better but the transducer body would have to be pointed incorrectly to the angle with the hull.

could it be the transducer is out of whack internally?

Don't know.

[keakar]

well it has served me well for 8 years so I guess its time to just buy a new one.

i'll post another thread asking about a depth finder im thinking about getting to replace it.

thanks for the help