FF has personal problems...

I am paddling along, minding my own business when my FF just freaks out.  I was in 180 feet of water and all of a sudden I am in 8, then 15, then 51, then 30 but a fish in marked at 85... I tried turning it off and back on, disconnecting it, checked the bottom to see if something was on the transducer - clear... I am baffled... the gps worked fine.  I finally just ignored it and then it started working about 30 minutes later... what in the world would cause this?  It is a hummingbird 383c

seamonsters?

Sounds similar to an aircraft sensor wiring issue, I'd check for corrosion around any electrical connector connected with the transducer. I'd imagine you'd only have one, connecting the FF to your transducer. Look for any odd color buildup on both female/male ends. If there is any, get a good solvent and spray it out, and maybe spray a protector on there if you do in fact find corrosion.

What should I use as a solvent... I am not sure I can see effectively down into the connectors at all... thinking maybe I should just try the solvent and apply dielectric grease of some type - based on other reading.

How do you have the transducer mounted? Mine does this when I don't have enough water in the puck. Or the waves knock it out

Sun spots? 


Actually Nick sounds like he nailed it. Clean the terminals and I use grease on mine. That cuts waaaay down on corrosion and the dreaded black wire.

Make sure the transducer is making a good couple if its inside the hull, and in the water if its in the water.

My transducer is a scupper hole model on my t13.  I am guessing it is a corrosion issue.

What should I use as a solvent... I am not sure I can see effectively down into the connectors at all... thinking maybe I should just try the solvent and apply dielectric grease of some type - based on other reading.

Take a gander at this thread:
http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=8770.0

your were at the southern end of hope Isl. Or you'v found Blakely rock.  either way your screwed.

I didn't get either of those references... although I believe I was supposed to chuckle... is there a story behind these references?

Blakely rock is a rock that sticks up only at low tide on the north side of black isl.  Its a really cool place to take the kids lots of tide pools and stuff to look at. Dad use to take me there when i was a kid.  But tough   on boats if you didn't know it was there. 

Hope is is in the south sound and the hubby and i were cruising along and all of a sudden the depth started to get real shallow i mean 15' in the middle of the bay ( side note THEIR IS A BIG RED BUOY NEAR THIS SPOT FOR A GOOD REASON).  We decided that we should move away  from this location asap!!!  it was scary, I mean serious pucker factor!!
And that's my story.

Cheers all