Beneteau 323 depth transducer correction factor
- Thread starter Paul8
- Start date
I believe you want the "" depth offset" number? You need from the transducer to the depth, and that could depend on where it is mounted. Below the VEE, I expect/ Is that the Raymarine that came with most 323s? I was getting tired of hitting bottom at 6 feet, so on a calm day I nudged up to the bottom to stop forward motion. I noted the depth and my 4'9" draft and programmed the difference. I will look at mine on Thursday and get back to you.
Okay, get a water level into the water, bring the other end to the closest thing, mark the water depth on that surface, measure down to the thruhull. Just about about ANY offset you program, that can be offset by the composition of the seabed. Mud,sand/clay.
Me, too. But I didn't program anything, I just know that when it reads 4.4 that means the ground is right at the bottom of the keel. Everyone has different preferences.
Your boat, your choice.
What I do is set my depth to let me know what the depth of water is and my boat draws 5' and so what I do is play
with the offset until I get the depth gauge to read what ever the water depth is and what I do is carry some line with heavy weight on one end and measure the water depth and do this every so often to double check that the depth gauge is reading correctly and do this when anchored out in a harbor.
Nick
with the offset until I get the depth gauge to read what ever the water depth is and what I do is carry some line with heavy weight on one end and measure the water depth and do this every so often to double check that the depth gauge is reading correctly and do this when anchored out in a harbor.
Nick
I just set the offset so that the instrument read six feet when the six foot tape mark on my boat hook was at the surface of the water when then end touched bottom. That was enough to allow for just over a foot of clearance between the bottom of the keel and the actual bottom. Then I set my depth alarm for 8 feet.
Its not important in my case, because my marina chart depth is nine feet and lately the water has been about three feet above the low water datum. Where I sail, the water depth goes to 300 feet at about 2 miles out and over 700 feet beyond that.
If I was somwhere like Chesapeake bay, I would certainly be much more interested in a precise measurement for sure.
Its not important in my case, because my marina chart depth is nine feet and lately the water has been about three feet above the low water datum. Where I sail, the water depth goes to 300 feet at about 2 miles out and over 700 feet beyond that.
If I was somwhere like Chesapeake bay, I would certainly be much more interested in a precise measurement for sure.
Exactly, that’s why I measured down on the waterline of my boat to the transducer (1 ft) and used this as a positive w/l setting for the offset calibration. My boat draws 5 ft so if it reads 7 (water depth) I get nervous.
I like having a 5' buffer because I know how quickly the bottom contour can change.
If you want a 5’ buffer and you know your boat draws 6’, calibrate your depth finder to water level and just don’t go in any further if the depth finder reads 11’.
Maybe I’m not explaining myself clearly. What I’m trying to argue is that you should calibrate your depthfinder so that it shows the true depth of the water (so it doesn’t include a buffer).7-5=2.
My last boat was calibrated for the actual depth which I liked. When I first started sailing my new to me boat it took me a while to realize the PO had set 0 at the bottom of the keel. I had a heart when I saw 5' knowing I draw 5'2" didn't hit bottom at 1 foot! Thank God I didn't anchor out this season as I would have calculated my scope based on the transducer depth!
Depends where you are, charts list mean low water depths in the Great Lakes there could be a big difference from year to year in actual depth, one must also know the corrected soundings for the year so as to adjust for the current depth, I guess at which point the depth gauge could be adjusted to match the chart numbers.