Eagle FishEasy 320C User manual

Pub. 988-0143-781
www.eaglesonar.com
Fish-Finding & Depth-Sounding Sonar
Installation and Operation
Instructions

Copyright © 2004 LEI-Eagle
All rights reserved.
Eagle®is a registered trademark of LEI
FishEasy®320C is a registered trademark of LEI
Eagle Electronics may find it necessary to change or end our policies,
regulations, and special offers at any time. We reserve the right to do so
without notice. All features and specifications subject to change without
notice. All screens in this manual are simulated.
No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished,
transmitted or distributed for any purpose, without prior written
consent of Eagle Electronics. Any unauthorized commercial
distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited.
For free owner's manuals and the most current information on
this product, its operation and accessories,
visit our web site:
www.eaglesonar.com
Eagle Electronics
P.O. Box 669
Catoosa, OK USA 74015
Printed in USA.

i
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................... I
Capabilities and Specifications: Fisheasy 320c........................... 5
How Sonar Works ......................................................................... 7
How to Use this Manual: Typographical Conventions................ 8
Installation & Accessories..................................................... 11
Preparations................................................................................ 11
Transducer Installation.............................................................. 11
Recommended Tools and Supplies ......................................... 12
Transom Installation .......................................................... 12
Trolling Motor Installations ............................................... 12
Shoot-Through Hull Installations ...................................... 12
Selecting a Transducer Location............................................ 13
How Low Should You Go?....................................................... 14
Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting ............................... 15
Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting ..................... 16
Trolling Motor Bracket Installation....................................... 20
Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches .............................. 21
Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation................................................. 23
Hulls with Floatation Materials......................................... 23
Testing Determines Best Location......................................... 24
Shoot-Thru-Hull Installation ................................................. 26
Speed/Temperature Sensors ................................................. 28
Speed Sensor Installation....................................................... 31
Power Connections.................................................................. 33
Mounting the Sonar Unit: in-Dash, Bracket or Portable...... 35
Bracket Installation................................................................ 35
Portable Sonar Installation .................................................... 38
Installing the Batteries .......................................................... 39
Portable Transducer Assembly .............................................. 41
Basic Sonar Operation ........................................................... 43
Keyboard Basics.......................................................................... 43
1. Menu/Pwr (Menu and Power)............................................. 43

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2. Ent/Pages (Enter and Pages).............................................. 44
3. Exit ...................................................................................... 44
4. Up and Down Arrows.......................................................... 44
Memory........................................................................................ 44
Menus .......................................................................................... 44
Main Menu .............................................................................. 45
Sonar Menu ............................................................................. 46
Pages ........................................................................................... 48
Basic Sonar Quick Reference ..................................................... 51
Sonar Operations ........................................................................ 52
Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart ........................................ 55
Other Free Training Aids ....................................................... 56
Advanced Sonar Options & Other Features...................... 58
ASP(Advanced Signal Processing) ......................................... 58
Alarms ......................................................................................... 59
Depth Alarms .......................................................................... 59
To Adjust and Turn on the Shallow Alarm:....................... 60
To Adjust and Turn on the Deep Alarm:............................ 60
Fish Alarm............................................................................... 61
Backlight Level ........................................................................... 61
Calibrate Speed........................................................................... 62
Chart Speed................................................................................. 63
Colorline................................................................................... 64
Contrast....................................................................................... 65
Depth Cursor............................................................................... 66
Depth Range - Automatic ........................................................... 67
Depth Range - Manual................................................................ 67
To Turn Auto Depth Range on Again .................................... 68
FasTrack.................................................................................. 68
Fish I.D.(Fish Symbols & Depths) ......................................... 69
FishTrack................................................................................. 70
Overlay Data ............................................................................... 71
To Change Displayed Data Font Size .................................... 73

iii
Ping Speed & HyperScroll....................................................... 74
To Change Ping Speed: ........................................................... 75
To Adjust Sensitivity: ............................................................. 75
To Turn Off HyperScroll:........................................................ 75
Pop-Up Help................................................................................ 76
Reset Options .............................................................................. 76
Reset Water Distance ................................................................. 77
Sensitivity & Auto Sensitivity.................................................... 77
Automatic Sensitivity ............................................................. 78
To Turn Auto Sensitivity Back On......................................... 79
Set Keel Offset ............................................................................ 80
Set Language .............................................................................. 81
Software Version Information.................................................... 81
Sonar Chart Mode....................................................................... 82
Sonar Page & Sonar Chart Display Options ............................. 82
Full Sonar Chart ..................................................................... 83
Split Zoom Sonar Chart.......................................................... 83
Digital Data/Chart .................................................................. 84
Sonar Simulator.......................................................................... 85
Stop Chart ................................................................................... 85
Surface Clarity............................................................................ 86
Transparency .............................................................................. 87
Units of Measure......................................................................... 88
Zoom Pan..................................................................................... 91
Troubleshooting ...................................................................... 93
Noise ........................................................................................ 95

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Notes

5
Introduction
Thank you for buying an Eaglesonar! Your unit is a high-quality, re-
markably-priced color sonar designed for both professional and novice
fishermen. All Eagle 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 (MENU/PWR) key.
However, if you want to fine-tune your unit, press the MENU key again.
The FishEasy®320C has several powerful features you can control by
scrolling through easy-to-use menus with the arrow and menu keys.
To get started with your Eagle sonar, first read the installation section.
It contains instructions for mounting the sonar unit, the transducer
and any optional accessories, such as a speed sensor.
Following recommended installation practices will pay off in optimum
performance of your FishEasy 320C. Improper installation can cause
problems down the road, especially if the transducer is badly mounted.
After you've read the installation instructions, install the unit and ac-
cessories. Then, read the rest of the manual. The more you know about
your sonar, the better it will work for you.
Take advantage of the Simulator feature. It allows you to practice oper-
ating your sonar before you get it in the water. And when you finally
head for your favorite fishing hole, take this manual along for reference.
Capabilities and Specifications: FishEasy 320C
General
Case size:......................... 5.8" H x 4.3" W x 2.5" D (14.7 cm H x 10.8 cm
W x 6.6 cm D) sealed, waterproof; suitable for
saltwater use.
Display:............................ 1/4 VGA color, transflective TFT display; 3.5"
(8.9 cm) diagonal viewing area.

6
Resolution:...................... 320 pixels (vert.) x 240 pixel (horiz.) resolu-
tion; 153,600 total pixels
Backlighting:.................. Backlit screen and keypad for night use.
Input power:................... 10 to 17 volts DC.
Current drain: ............... 200 ma lights off; 250 ma lights on.
Back-up memory: .......... Built-in memory stores sonar settings when
unit is turned off.
Sonar
Frequency:...................... 200 kHz.
Transducers: .................. A model HST-WSU Skimmertransducer
comes packed with your sonar unit. Operates
at speeds up to 70 mph (61 kts). Optional thru-
hull, portable and trolling motor transducers
are available.
Transmitter: ................... 800 watts peak-to-peak power (typical); 100
watts RMS power (typical).
Sonar sounding
depth capability: ........... 600 feet (182 meters). Actual capability de-
pends on transducer configuration and in-
stallation, bottom composition and water con-
ditions. All sonar units typically read deeper
in fresh water than in salt water.
Depth display:................ Continuous digital readout.
Audible alarms: ............. Deep/shallow/fish.
Automatic ranging:....... Yes, with instant screen updates.
Zoom bottom track: ...... Yes.
Split-screen zoom:......... Yes.

7
Surface water temp: ..... Yes, built into transducer. Optional addi-
tional temp sensors for live well, bait well,
etc. are available.
Speed/distance log: ....... Yes, with optional speed sensor.
NOTICE!
The storage and operation temperature for your unit is from -4 de-
grees to +167 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees to +75 degrees Cel-
sius). Extended storage in temperatures higher or lower than speci-
fied will damage the liquid crystal display in your unit. This type of
damage is not covered by the warranty. For more information, con-
tact the factory's Customer Service Department; phone numbers
are inside the manual's back cover.
How Sonar Works
Sonar has been around since the 1940s, so if you already know how it
works, skip ahead to the next segment on the typographical conventions
used in this manual. But, if you've never owned a sonar fish finder, this
segment will tell you the underwater basics.
Sonar is an abbreviation for SOund NAvigation and Ranging, a technol-
ogy developed during World War II for tracking enemy submarines. (Ea-
gle developed the world's first transistorized sportfishing sonar in 1957.)
A sonar consists of a transmitter, transducer, receiver and display. In
simple terms, here's how it finds the bottom, or the fish:
The transmitter emits an electrical impulse, which the transducer con-
verts into a sound wave and sends into the water. (The sound frequency
can't be heard by humans or fish.) The sound wave strikes an object
(fish, structure, bottom) and bounces back to the transducer, which
converts the sound back into an electrical signal.
The receiver amplifies this return signal, or echo, and sends it to the
display, where an image of the object appears on the scrolling sonar

8
chart. The sonar's microprocessor calculates the time lapse between the
transmitted signal and echo return to determine the distance to the
object. The whole process repeats itself several times each second.
How to use this manual: typographical conventions
Many instructions are listed as numbered steps. The keypad and arrow
"keystrokes" appear as boldface type. So, if you're in a real hurry (or
just need a reminder), you can skim the instructions and pick out what
menu command to use by finding the boldface command text. The fol-
lowing paragraphs explain how to interpret the text formatting for
those commands and other instructions:
Arrow Keys
The arrow keys control a horizontal line depth cursor on the sonar
screen. The arrow keys also help you move around the menus so you
can execute different commands. They are represented by symbols like
these, which denote the down arrow key and the up arrow: ↓↑.
Keyboard
The other keys perform a variety of functions. When the text refers to a
key to press, the key is shown in bold, sans serif type. For example, the
"Enter/Pages" key is shown as ENT and the "Menu/Power" key is shown
as MENU.
Menu Commands
A menu command or a menu option will appear in small capital letters,
in a bold sans serif type like this: DEPTH CURSOR. These indicate that you
are to select this command or option from a menu or take an action of
some kind with the menu item. Text that you may need to enter or file
names you need to select are show in italic type, such as data type.

9
Instructions = Menu Sequences
Most functions you perform with the sonar unit are described as a se-
quence of key strokes and selecting menu commands. We've written
them in a condensed manner for quick and easy reading.
For example, instructions for turning on the Fish IDfeature would
look like this:
1. From the Sonar Page, press MENU|↓to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.
2. Press ↓to FISH ID SYMBOLS|ENT|EXIT|EXIT.
Translated into complete English, step 1 above would mean: "Start on
the Sonar Page. Press the Menu key then repeatedly press (or press and
hold) the down arrow key to scroll down the menu and select (highlight)
the Sonar Features menu command. Then press the Enter key."
Step 2 would mean: "Press the down arrow key to select (highlight) the
Fish ID symbols command. Next, press the Enter key, then press the
Exit key twice."

10
Notes

11
Installation & Accessories
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 drill-
ing any holes in your vehicle or 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 de-
sired 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. Route the power cable from the unit's location to an appropriate
power source and connect it there.
6. Connect the transducer/power cable to the unit and mount the sonar
unit on the bracket.
Transducer Installation
These instructions will help you install your Skimmertransducer on a
transom, on a trolling motor or inside a hull. Please read all instruc-
tions before proceeding with any 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 pre-

12
vent 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.
Read these instructions carefully before attempting the installation.
Determine which of the installation methods is right for your boat.
Remember, the transducer location and installation is the most
critical part of a sonar installation.
Recommended Tools and supplies
If you prefer the option of routing the cable through the transom, you
will need a 5/8" drill bit. (If you intend to install an additional speed or
temp sensor and route its cable through the same hole in the transom,
you will need a 1" (25.4 mm) drill bit to accommodate all the cables.)
NOTE:
The following installation types also call for these recommended
tools and required supplies that you must provide (supplies listed
here 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 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 on the inside back cover). A sandwich hull also
requires polyester resin.

13
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.
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.
5. If possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the
boat. Electrical noise from engine wiring, bilge pumps and aerators can
Deadrise less than 10
°
Pad Strakes

14
be displayed on the sonar's screen. Use caution when routing the trans-
ducer cable around these wires.
Good and poor transducer locations.
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 protec-
tion from bangs and bumps.
Align transducer centerline with hull bottom.
CAUTION: Clamp the trans-
ducer 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 location
Poor angle
Poor location
Good
location
Transom
Hull bottom
Transducer
centerline

15
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 fre-
quently lose bottom signal lock while running at high speed, the trans-
ducer 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 installa-
tion (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 opera-
tion 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.
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.)

16
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 lesson 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.
Align plastic ratchets in bracket.
2. Aligning the transducer on the transom. Slide the transducer be-
tween the two ratchets. Temporarily slide the bolt though the transducer
assembly and hold it against the transom. Looking at the transducer
Dot

17
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.
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 par-
allel 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.
Insert bolt and check transducer position on transom.
3. Assembling the transducer. Once you determine the correct posi-
tion for the ratchets, assemble the transducer as shown in the following
figure. Don't tighten the lock nut at this time.
Ratchets

18
Assemble transducer and bracket.
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!
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).
Position transducer mount on transom and mark mounting holes.
Side view shown at left and seen from above at right.
Nut Metal
washer
Metal washer
Bolt
Rubber
washers
Transom
Transom