4
FISH450 Tricolor FISHFINDER
Installation and Operation Manual
NAVMAN
1 Introduction
Congratulations on choosing the NAVMAN FISH450 Tricolor fishfinder. For maximum benefit, please
read this manual carefully before installation and use. Special terms are explained in Appendix C.
The NAVMAN FISH450 Tricolor
The FISH450 Tricolor is an ultrasonic fishfinder with powerful software and a three colour display. As well
as detecting fish the unit measures water depth, boat speed, water temperature and battery voltage and
has two distance logs (trip and total with one displayed at a time). With an optional fuel kit the FISH450
Tricolor is also a sophisticated yet easy to use fuel computer.
How the NAVMAN FISH450 Tricolor finds fish and determines the depth
An installed FISH450 Tricolor has two parts:
- a transducer attached to the hull
- the display unit.
The transducer generates an ultrasonic (sound) pulse, which travels down
towards the bottom. When the sound pulse meets an object, such as a
fish or the bottom, some of the pulse is reflected back up towards the boat
and is received by the transducer. The depth of an object can be calculated
by measuring the time between sending the pulse and receiving its echo.
The display unit analyses the reflections from each pulse, removes
unwanted reflections (from bubbles and other noise) and displays what is
in the water under the boat. The display shows three colours:
Blue
for the
strongest reflections,
Red
for medium and
Green
for the weakest reflections
(see section 3 - 2). These colours help users better interpret what is in the water.
There are several reasons the returned echo strength can vary. Larger fish usually return stronger echos, as
do fish in the centre of the beam where the pulse is stronger. Reasons for weak echos include the fish or
object being in deep water or turbid water, or in the edge of the beam where the pulse is weaker.
The unit will detect the bottom down to 1000 feet (300 metres), depending on the clarity of the water and
measures depths to an accuracy of 2%.
Assisting with navigation
The FISH450 Tricolor can be used to find fish, to locate features on the bottom such as reefs or wrecks
and to help recognise favourite fishing spots from the profile of the bottom. Use the FISH450 Tricolor to
assist navigation by following the depth contours marked on charts.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON USE
- While the FISH450 Tricolor can be used as an aid to navigation, its
accuracy can be influenced by many factors, including the location of the transducer. It is the user’s
responsibility to ensure the unit is installed and used correctly.
How to find fish
Underwater features like reefs, wrecks and rocky outcrops attract fish. Use the FISH450 Tricolor to find
these features, then look for fish by passing over the feature slowly several times using the
Zoom
screen
(See section 3-1). Where there is a current, the fish will often be found downstream of the feature.
For deep sea fishing, a rapid change in temperature may indicate the edge of a warm or cold current. The temperature
difference may form a barrier which fish tend not to swim through. Search for fish either side of the barrier.
Cleaning and maintenance
The FISH450 Tricolor should be cleaned with a damp cloth or mild detergent. Avoid abrasive cleaners
and petrol or other solvents.
Always cover or remove the stern mounted Aquaducer when repainting the hull. If painting over a through
hull transducer with antifouling then use only one coat of paint. When repainting the transducer remove
previous coats by lightly sanding.
Temperature warning
Do not expose the unit to temperatures exceeding 50°C (122°F) or the LCD may not be useable until it cools down.
Never leave the unit exposed to high temperatures even for a few minutes. (e.g. on the dashboard of a car).
