Another ChartPlotter/Fishfinder Question

[Ward H]

Will a CP/Fish Finder read depths as shallow as 2 feet?

All literature talks about max depth. I found one reference to "as shallow as 10'". I talked to one store who said most fish finders read 5 to 10' min depth.
My Humminbird digital stand alone depth sounder reads down to 2' and since I have a shallow draft, I want to know if I am getting into water 3' or less.

Was wondering what you guys have seen on your CP/FFs?

 

[Monterey385]

My Raymarine Fishfinder reads as low as 4.2 feet but since its 2 feet beneath the surface its lower limit appears to be 2.2 feet from the sounder.

 

[Ukeluthier]

My older Humminbird GPS/depthsounder/fishfinder reads to less than 3', maybe 2'.

 

[Bill Roosa]

What kind of sail boat draws 2 feet of water????
You can just use your eyes to see the fish in water that shallow and surly the boat will spook them away in any case.

 

[Ukeluthier]

What kind of sail boat draws 2 feet of water????
You can just use your eyes to see the fish in water that shallow and surly the boat will spook them away in any case.

A Menger 19 catboat, that's what (actually, it draws 22" with the centerboard up).
Beachable, too.

I don't fish and don't use the fishfinder functions... the boat came equipped with the Humminbird from the previous owner. It does serve as a very primitive chartplotter, though.

If you think you can see fish 2' down in the Chesapeake, you haven't sailed here for a very long time.

 

[Ward H]

Bill, my O'day 25 draws 2' 4". Rudder extends below shoal draft keel about another 2 or 3". I set my low water alarm for 3.5' and the sounder is adjusted for true water depth.

I was out a couple of weeks ago when there was a blow out tide. I went out in 3.5', one of the few boats that could get out. Didn't realize it would drop another 1' while I was out.
I was able to push through 2.5' to get back into my slip but just barely.

I'm not fishing but if I am going to buy a chart plotter and if I can use the FF feature for depth, I will. (That was my first chart/plotter/fishfinder question and most said get the FF feature).

So I was talking to a vender who said they stop working under 5 to 10' of water. If a CP/FF doesn't read less than 5' it does me no good because I spend a lot of time in 4 to 5' of water. If it does read down to 2 to 3' then it works for me.