(Help) Raymarine Dragonfly -Hobie outback - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Apex · 06-09-2015, 10:55 PM

Upgraded to this dragonfly, looks cool and all but can't get this thing to work for me. Went to basspro and exchanged for a new one thinking the original was faulty. Didn't solve the problem so here's the issue, for the last 2 days I've been testing the fishfinder out at my local lake to dial it in. But can't seem to figure out the problem. While on the water at a drift, depth will zero out. I know I'm in more than 3 ft of water and then out of no where it starts reading. Really annoying and inconsistent, even the bottom reads with lots of detail then on some passes really unclear. At times it loses the bottom completely and for a minute or so won't read at all. Speed and temp work fine and never glitche out, I'm using 12volt 12 amp lead acid battery rechargeable (new).. Tansducer is mounted in my lowrance ready slot in my hobie outback level and exposed enough for a good read all connections are solid . Used the same battery on my elite dsi no problems. I've come to the conclusion that the unit is not getting enough juice to power the unit to its full potential ? Any advise would be greatly apreciated thanks for reading

YakDout · 06-10-2015, 05:42 AM

If you are using a 12 volt 12 ah battery it is more than enough to power your FF. as long as the battery is good. Have you tried putting a volt meter on the battery after charging. It should be closer to 13v after a full charge, and maintain that voltage for a while. You may also want to look into your charger. Third thing would be transducer. If not mounted properly, it could read that plate underneath it. Did you leave enough gap between the plate and transducer so that water can pas in between the two? How about cabling? Did you use all the right size and fuse it properly? Connections tight on everything? After all of those tests and everything checks out, I would try to return the transducer for another one. Did they give you another transducer when you did an exchange?

cell128 · 06-10-2015, 05:47 AM

I been using the dragonfly for about 6 months. Mine also has some problems reading correct depths when on auto. Mainly when in the kelp. I just set the range to manual and adjust it until you can see the bottom. Other than that its a great unit very detailed readings.

TJones · 06-10-2015, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cell128

I been using the dragonfly for about 6 months. Mine also has some problems reading correct depths when on auto. Mainly when in the kelp. I just set the range to manual and adjust it until you can see the bottom. Other than that its a great unit very detailed readings.

Problem solved .

jorluivil · 06-10-2015, 06:35 AM

If it was a battery issue I believe the entire unit would fail and not just a certain part of it, the GPS (if it has one) and the sonar do not pull their own individual power from the battery. If your unit powers up with any issues it has to be something in your settings.

Try Google, I'm sure you'll find that someone else has had a similar problem

Apex · 06-10-2015, 07:41 AM

Dragonfly 4 pro- not so pro.. Yup that's the only way I've been able to get a good read on structure is in manual mode and adjust the contrast. Bummer sucks to have to look at the grid for depth half the time, instead of just look at just the read out . I'll take some pictures later of my transducer I'm pretty sure that's not the issue. Looks like this thing is going back and now gives an excuse to fork up the cash on a Hds 7

octico · 06-10-2015, 07:42 AM

I had this similar issue. Are you sure there is no sand or dirt between the transducer and the Lowrance plate on the Hobie?

tsugg · 06-10-2015, 07:51 AM

When wiring the unit to the battery be sure the ground sheild wire and the negative are connected together. In a boat they(ground sheild wire and negative wire) stay separate but in your kayak they have to be together. Make sure all your connections are solid.

YakDout · 06-12-2015, 04:39 AM

Yep, HDS all the way!

Apex · 06-12-2015, 09:42 PM

Well figured out the problem duhhh. New update v.11.46 and works flawless took out for a test run today @the cove and not a hiccup .

radastaff · 06-13-2015, 09:36 PM

went to give update a try
found card area corroded
guess water got in
my ver is 6.sumthin
so kinda old
prob my prob too

thanks for the info

P

Cadillyak · 06-13-2015, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ful-rac

HDS works pretty bitchen'!

It's ok...you guys can switch back....

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

Yep, HDS all the way!

Glad u got it fixed. But yea, what they said!!!

kauaiboy04 · 06-15-2015, 03:32 PM

yup, upgrade to the newest software or place in manual. if you're biggest problem is losing your depth reading in AUTO, that's really not a big problem to have. I like to keep mine in MANUAL majority of the time, since I'm always in the same depth range all day.

TJones · 06-15-2015, 05:01 PM

after switching from " The Dark Side " , I figured this would make me happy . Lets be real , I switch head units , like a roll of toilet paper . I have spent thousands on sonar , only to have the guy next to me with an Elite 4 tell me the fish are coming through. I have read reviews about this unit that everything works miraculously in auto mode . "That is the great thing about it" . I was about to do , what half the other guys did and return it . That is when I discovered the meter works as should in manual mode .The overall combination of sonar and down scan is good , but I think an Elite 5 might have more power . The Dragon Fly seems to come up a little short in watts . The HDs 3 , which I also have on my other yak , is failing in the down imaging department . Maybe I am doing something wrong ? Navico support did not seem to be of help . I am not running a LSS2 . Obviously if I were , the down scan would be primo.

06-09-2015, 10:55 PM	#1
Apex Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Riverside Posts: 130	(Help) Raymarine Dragonfly -Hobie outback Upgraded to this dragonfly, looks cool and all but can't get this thing to work for me. Went to basspro and exchanged for a new one thinking the original was faulty. Didn't solve the problem so here's the issue, for the last 2 days I've been testing the fishfinder out at my local lake to dial it in. But can't seem to figure out the problem. While on the water at a drift, depth will zero out. I know I'm in more than 3 ft of water and then out of no where it starts reading. Really annoying and inconsistent, even the bottom reads with lots of detail then on some passes really unclear. At times it loses the bottom completely and for a minute or so won't read at all. Speed and temp work fine and never glitche out, I'm using 12volt 12 amp lead acid battery rechargeable (new).. Tansducer is mounted in my lowrance ready slot in my hobie outback level and exposed enough for a good read all connections are solid . Used the same battery on my elite dsi no problems. I've come to the conclusion that the unit is not getting enough juice to power the unit to its full potential ? Any advise would be greatly apreciated thanks for reading __________________ Louis

06-10-2015, 06:35 AM	#5
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	If it was a battery issue I believe the entire unit would fail and not just a certain part of it, the GPS (if it has one) and the sonar do not pull their own individual power from the battery. If your unit powers up with any issues it has to be something in your settings. Try Google, I'm sure you'll find that someone else has had a similar problem __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer Last edited by jorluivil; 06-10-2015 at 06:42 AM.

06-10-2015, 07:41 AM	#6
Apex Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Riverside Posts: 130	Dragonfly 4 pro- not so pro.. Yup that's the only way I've been able to get a good read on structure is in manual mode and adjust the contrast. Bummer sucks to have to look at the grid for depth half the time, instead of just look at just the read out . I'll take some pictures later of my transducer I'm pretty sure that's not the issue. Looks like this thing is going back and now gives an excuse to fork up the cash on a Hds 7 __________________ Louis Last edited by Apex; 06-10-2015 at 07:50 AM.

06-10-2015, 07:51 AM	#8
tsugg LOWSPARK Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: CARLSBAD Posts: 251	just a thought When wiring the unit to the battery be sure the ground sheild wire and the negative are connected together. In a boat they(ground sheild wire and negative wire) stay separate but in your kayak they have to be together. Make sure all your connections are solid.

06-12-2015, 09:42 PM	#10
Apex Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Riverside Posts: 130	Well figured out the problem duhhh. New update v.11.46 and works flawless took out for a test run today @the cove and not a hiccup . __________________ Louis

06-10-2015, 05:42 AM	#2
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	If you are using a 12 volt 12 ah battery it is more than enough to power your FF. as long as the battery is good. Have you tried putting a volt meter on the battery after charging. It should be closer to 13v after a full charge, and maintain that voltage for a while. You may also want to look into your charger. Third thing would be transducer. If not mounted properly, it could read that plate underneath it. Did you leave enough gap between the plate and transducer so that water can pas in between the two? How about cabling? Did you use all the right size and fuse it properly? Connections tight on everything? After all of those tests and everything checks out, I would try to return the transducer for another one. Did they give you another transducer when you did an exchange?

06-10-2015, 05:47 AM	#3
cell128 lizard king Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lakewood Posts: 520	I been using the dragonfly for about 6 months. Mine also has some problems reading correct depths when on auto. Mainly when in the kelp. I just set the range to manual and adjust it until you can see the bottom. Other than that its a great unit very detailed readings.

06-10-2015, 07:42 AM	#7
octico Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: The city of Orange Posts: 1,278	I had this similar issue. Are you sure there is no sand or dirt between the transducer and the Lowrance plate on the Hobie?

06-12-2015, 04:39 AM	#9
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	Yep, HDS all the way!

06-13-2015, 09:36 PM	#11
radastaff Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 314	went to give update a try found card area corroded guess water got in my ver is 6.sumthin so kinda old prob my prob too thanks for the info P

06-15-2015, 03:32 PM	#13
kauaiboy04 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Sandy Eggo Posts: 215	yup, upgrade to the newest software or place in manual. if you're biggest problem is losing your depth reading in AUTO, that's really not a big problem to have. I like to keep mine in MANUAL majority of the time, since I'm always in the same depth range all day. __________________ http://socalkayak.blogspot.com

06-15-2015, 05:01 PM	#14
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,526	what a pos after switching from " The Dark Side " , I figured this would make me happy . Lets be real , I switch head units , like a roll of toilet paper . I have spent thousands on sonar , only to have the guy next to me with an Elite 4 tell me the fish are coming through. I have read reviews about this unit that everything works miraculously in auto mode . "That is the great thing about it" . I was about to do , what half the other guys did and return it . That is when I discovered the meter works as should in manual mode .The overall combination of sonar and down scan is good , but I think an Elite 5 might have more power . The Dragon Fly seems to come up a little short in watts . The HDs 3 , which I also have on my other yak , is failing in the down imaging department . Maybe I am doing something wrong ? Navico support did not seem to be of help . I am not running a LSS2 . Obviously if I were , the down scan would be primo.