DST810 problems

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   I've had nothing but problems with the prior AIRMAR DST800 triducer on my boat.  Initially it was depth issues.   Reading the torpedo keel rather than the bottom.    Not having depth at all.   Off and on functioning.

AIRMAR helped me replace the DST800 with the DST810.   Supposedly the issues with the prior model were addressed.   It was functioning fine until the other day when I lost boat speed.   Depth works fine.   Sea temperature works fine.   

OK.   This is just the usual case of sea grass or some other crud wrapping itself around the paddle wheel.   Just clean it, right?     Wrong.   Cleaned it and its still missing boat speed. 

OK.   Lets do some diagnosis.      Take the unit out again.    Have someone spin the paddlewheel while I look at the data for the unit on the NMEA bus.   Guess what?  It provides speed when the paddle wheel is spun.   Hmmmm...  

OK... so maybe the flap that prevents *MOST* of the ocean from entering the boat has somehow jammed the paddle wheel when inserted?   How can you check this?  I have a long cable underwater camera that I can put on a stick to examine it.   I could dive on it with snorkel and mask... etc.

Or.... maybe there is something wrong with the unit once inserted.   Like some kind of growth or debris stuck immediately in front of the paddle wheel?    Unlikely since the boat was freshly painted and launched less than a month ago.  

Anyone have any ideas?   Has this happened to anyone else?    I'd be inclined to think its something physical/environmental blocking the paddle wheel but the DST810 has a bad reputation like the DST800, so I thought I'd ask.

This is where I am now.    

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Black Diamond Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 24 October 2015 Location: Newport, RI, US Status: Offline Points: 1275	Post Options Post Reply Quote Black Diamond Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: DST810 problems Posted: 28 May 2025 at 01:41
	I've had nothing but problems with the prior AIRMAR DST800 triducer on my boat. Initially it was depth issues. Reading the torpedo keel rather than the bottom. Not having depth at all. Off and on functioning. AIRMAR helped me replace the DST800 with the DST810. Supposedly the issues with the prior model were addressed. It was functioning fine until the other day when I lost boat speed. Depth works fine. Sea temperature works fine. OK. This is just the usual case of sea grass or some other crud wrapping itself around the paddle wheel. Just clean it, right? Wrong. Cleaned it and its still missing boat speed. OK. Lets do some diagnosis. Take the unit out again. Have someone spin the paddlewheel while I look at the data for the unit on the NMEA bus. Guess what? It provides speed when the paddle wheel is spun. Hmmmm... OK... so maybe the flap that prevents MOST of the ocean from entering the boat has somehow jammed the paddle wheel when inserted? How can you check this? I have a long cable underwater camera that I can put on a stick to examine it. I could dive on it with snorkel and mask... etc. Or.... maybe there is something wrong with the unit once inserted. Like some kind of growth or debris stuck immediately in front of the paddle wheel? Unlikely since the boat was freshly painted and launched less than a month ago. Anyone have any ideas? Has this happened to anyone else? I'd be inclined to think its something physical/environmental blocking the paddle wheel but the DST810 has a bad reputation like the DST800, so I thought I'd ask. This is where I am now.
	Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI

Wayne's World Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 18 July 2012 Location: Cruising Status: Offline Points: 1434	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wayne's World Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2025 at 02:38
	Rick, It would be boring if everything worked and kept working on board. What would we do with our spare time. Our paddle wheel often gets stuck - caused by marine growth after being at anchor or in a marina for a period. I normally snorkel on it and clean it and make sure it spins freely. Sometimes when I snorkel on it it doesn't take much force to get it spinning. Just a flick of the finger often frees it up. If it spins freely when out of the water I could only think 1. the sensor is not fitted with the paddlewheel fore and aft - if sideways or say 45 degrees off it will not work - but I can't see you fitting it incorrectly. 2. there could be some growth in front of the sensor which fouls the paddle wheel. 3. maybe the sensor is not pushed all the way in and not flush with the hull - again can't see you making this mistake. The test would be get the mask and snorkel out and jump in to have a look - also spin the paddlewheel whilst on snorkel and see if it registers speed on the system. I gather the sea water up your ay is not overly warm? After we hauled out last time our sensor wasn't working - I snorkeled and found the shipyard had not removed the masking tape.
	Wayne W Cruising, currently in the Pacific until the end of 2026.

Black Diamond Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 24 October 2015 Location: Newport, RI, US Status: Offline Points: 1275	Post Options Post Reply Quote Black Diamond Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2025 at 03:26
	Thanks for the comments. a. its been cleaned regularly. b. there is an arrow on the unit that is always aligned fore-and-aft when reinserted. c. Sea water is 52 degrees fahrenheit The only way to examine it and see it spinning while inserted is to dive on it. That will have to wait I suppose.. Rick
	Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI

marsella Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 21 June 2022 Location: Antigua Jolly H Status: Offline Points: 592	Post Options Post Reply Quote marsella Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2025 at 04:01
	I think "cleaned regularly" should mean very often (daily). My paddle wheel is also very inconsistent despite the boat sits on the yard most of the time and does not accumulate any growth. Some stuff sticks to it while sailing I guess, pretty much randomly, and you dont need a lot to block/unblock the spin. I reprogrammed all B&Gs to show the GPS speed, only one unit shows the speed from the DST800 and that solves my problem.

32mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 26 March 2020 Location: FLorida, US Status: Offline Points: 453	Post Options Post Reply Quote 32mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2025 at 13:10
	Probably a stretch, but, is the wheel on backwards?
	Mike S/V Dulces Sueños 458 #087 Tampa, FL

Miraculix Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 22 December 2020 Status: Offline Points: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote Miraculix Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2025 at 23:55
	Mike, I had problems with the log. Pulling out the sensor and cleaning it did not help. Sailing at rough sea brought some reading back, but not accurate. Realized the root cause, when the boat came out of the water for winter storage: not only the sensor itself has been fouled, the barnacles were growing on the plastic ring of the casing holing the sensor as well and the small wheel didn‘t see any/sufficient current. Adding some antifouling on that plastic ring helped. Possibly, you have a similar issue. Frank Miraculix, Hanse 418

kipwrite Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 14 October 2015 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 495	Post Options Post Reply Quote kipwrite Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 May 2025 at 12:27
	I got tired of chasing paddle wheel mysteries. Switched to this product - which has been virtually maintenance free and bullet proof for several years now. https://www.airmar.com/Product/UDST800
	Kipwrite

Black Diamond Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 24 October 2015 Location: Newport, RI, US Status: Offline Points: 1275	Post Options Post Reply Quote Black Diamond Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 June 2025 at 18:03
	OK. Problem solved (for now). It was what I thought. At least when I executed on my theory the result was success. :-). Apparently the rubber flap that prevents the ocean from entering your boat while you pull the DST810 and replace it with the dummy somehow caught and caused a flow blockage. By making sure the flap stayed out of the way while replacing the DST810 it seems to have avoided the problem. I'll be looking for this in the future, but the unit is working at this time.
	Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI

Sounder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 11 February 2021 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 130	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sounder Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 June 2025 at 12:46
	Glad this sorted out Rick. Another thing I learned to be wary of is the possibility of damaging the paddlewheel when the boat goes in and out of the water on slings; need to place dummy plug prior to pulling the boat. My paddlewheel broke and I'm now trying to source the proper replacement part.
	David S NADINE (Hanse 348 #199) Western Long Island Sound

Sounder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 11 February 2021 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 130	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sounder Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 June 2025 at 12:49
	Nice replacement. About $1,500?
	David S NADINE (Hanse 348 #199) Western Long Island Sound



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