Sonar
- Thread starter All U Get
- Start date
- Status
shallow water sailing
I have a Garmin GPS that has the capability to add the sonar.
Lorrance developed the sonar as a fish finder and now it has other applications. Garmin merges its info with its navigation maps and some friends told me it is great.
I am probably going to add it after I do some major holding tank modifications. I use the depth finder to navigate the ICW and inlets. That picture of bottom would be helpful. Figure out which way that sand bar is laying. There is no real way to avoid some of them, they go bump in the night.
I would get the upgrade if you do any shallow water sailing in the south east...
Ed K
- - - - // - - - -
I have a Garmin GPS that has the capability to add the sonar.
Lorrance developed the sonar as a fish finder and now it has other applications. Garmin merges its info with its navigation maps and some friends told me it is great.
I am probably going to add it after I do some major holding tank modifications. I use the depth finder to navigate the ICW and inlets. That picture of bottom would be helpful. Figure out which way that sand bar is laying. There is no real way to avoid some of them, they go bump in the night.
I would get the upgrade if you do any shallow water sailing in the south east...
Ed K
Attachments
This might be different transducer model...
Due to having to project a beam forward, these are a different sort of transducer and they have an external component that protrudes a bit from the hull. Or at least that's been my understanding. Pretty cool idea, on the whole, although I would worry about it being quite vulnerable to a whack from a floating limb or log (we get a lot of those some parts of the year).
You need to contact Furuno. I spoke to one of their factory reps at the Seattle Boat Show today about some other questions, BTW.
They should all be back in their regular office in Camas, WA, by Tuesday to be available for questions like this.
Very helpful folks every time I have asked them anything about their products.
L
Due to having to project a beam forward, these are a different sort of transducer and they have an external component that protrudes a bit from the hull. Or at least that's been my understanding. Pretty cool idea, on the whole, although I would worry about it being quite vulnerable to a whack from a floating limb or log (we get a lot of those some parts of the year).
You need to contact Furuno. I spoke to one of their factory reps at the Seattle Boat Show today about some other questions, BTW.
They should all be back in their regular office in Camas, WA, by Tuesday to be available for questions like this.
Very helpful folks every time I have asked them anything about their products.
L
Since the depth transducer is ahead of the fin keel, I'd have to remember to replace it with a plug like I do with the speed paddlewheel. Worth the call to Furuno.
@ Ross, good thought on the speed although I usually slow to 2 knots or less while in shallow areas.
All U Get
The last time I went aground, I had to look at the GPS to be sure. When your boat starts spinning in circles on the screen but not on the water, hmmmmm? Time to reverse.
I knew the channel was shoaling up but it is now completely closed. It's the western leg going from the ICW to Offatt's Bayou in Galveston. Ended up going in via the eastern leg with no problems.
I knew the channel was shoaling up but it is now completely closed. It's the western leg going from the ICW to Offatt's Bayou in Galveston. Ended up going in via the eastern leg with no problems.
I enjoy sailing close to shore because it affords a nice liesurely way to go sight seeing. I sail the 8 foot line, as the bottom contours show on my fish finder I can adjust my course in good time. But if I am approaching an area that shoals rapidly I have to be very careful. Running parallel to the shoal is easy.
Bardi Sea has one and it works great. The transducer does have a 2" "bump" that sticks out from the hull. Gives a 10 degree fan ahead of the boat from the surface to directly below the transducer. only goes out to 500 feet though. That is 12is boat lengths so you still want to go slowly but it does show the channel if you can mentally paint the picture. I've found that since you only see the "closest" bottom contour you have to pan the unit using the rudder to "see" the profile of the bottom. going around corners in twisty creeks takes a lot of concentration. But you do not get surprised from rapidly rising bottoms.
- Dec 30, 2009
- 680
I got myself the garmin 540s for xmas this year, I installed the garmin transducer and look forward to using it for depth. I have an old loran with depth hard to see in the cabin. I had the garmin 478 and was going to get the gsd -21 black box to give me the sonar capability, they are expensive and impossible to find, discontinued, were available for around 500$, a garmin sales person advised me to sell my 478 and get the 540s with the sonar built in. I have yet to try, as I am on the hard. It should help, I need a crew standing in companionway yelling out depths, pain, it will be a real luxury to have the depth in the corner of my screen at all times....I don,t ask for much...... Red
- Status