Which is best, fishfinder, sounder or lead line? Does a fishfinder help in anchoring by showing bottom type? If it does, is color better than monochrome?
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A depth sounder won't tell you much if anything about the bottom type. A lead line, depending upon your weights shape & design can tell you more through dragging it along the bottom but still not enough. My old lead line used to have a hole in the bottom so you could get a core sample to stick in the hole. It worked well in soft mud but nothing else..
A fishfinder will tell you more and a color one can even display some semblance of density on the bottom. Very fine silty layers tend to actually show up on some units.
The best device for determining bottom type will be a chart, guide book or your anchor...
If you've tried to unsuccessfully set your anchor somewhere two or three times, using proper techniques and scope, it's probably a good sign that you want to try the next anchorage...
A fishfinder will tell you more and a color one can even display some semblance of density on the bottom. Very fine silty layers tend to actually show up on some units.
The best device for determining bottom type will be a chart, guide book or your anchor...
If you've tried to unsuccessfully set your anchor somewhere two or three times, using proper techniques and scope, it's probably a good sign that you want to try the next anchorage...
Don't forget the charts and tide tables. None of them will work very well without a current chart. The chart will tell you what the bottom is and if you are sitting next to a ledge you might hit during a swing. Tide tables will tell you where the tide is which will help determine scope. A 12 ft. swing in depth can make a big difference if you set your anchor at low.
Fishfinders only tell you where you have been. Forward scanning sonar would be better.
Lead lines, in my opinion, are for when the electronics fail.
I use a chart, gps(tides and charts) and sounder.
Fishfinders only tell you where you have been. Forward scanning sonar would be better.
Lead lines, in my opinion, are for when the electronics fail.
I use a chart, gps(tides and charts) and sounder.
Don't forget that what anchor you have will often determine how successfully it will set in a given bottom. The next gen anchors, like the Rocna, Manson Supreme, Spade, will generally do better than some of the older designs, in a wider variety of conditions.
Yeah..
And the spade/shovel designed flukes will certainly tell you the bottom type as they'll bring half of it up with them...
And the spade/shovel designed flukes will certainly tell you the bottom type as they'll bring half of it up with them...
Lead line
Use a standard lead line. In the hollow at the bottom end be sure to fix the soft wax that will retrieve the bottom sample.
I use the chart for most anchoring. After sailing around the area to find a suitable spot you can use the lead line to determine if the chart is correct and then make an anchor type choice. You do have more than one anchor, right?
Use a standard lead line. In the hollow at the bottom end be sure to fix the soft wax that will retrieve the bottom sample.
I use the chart for most anchoring. After sailing around the area to find a suitable spot you can use the lead line to determine if the chart is correct and then make an anchor type choice. You do have more than one anchor, right?
I rely on the chart for bottom type. I use my fish finder for depth. Since I always try to choose a sheltered anchorage and our tidal range is less than four feet I rely on just my CQR. I have a small Northill for a back-up but I won't depend on it in a blow.
Thanks
Thanks for ideas. We use paper and Navionics now and wanted direct depth reading and wondered if additional, possibly useful info. could be had from a fishfinder. It seems like you can get additional info, but it might not be all that useful in the long run.
Thanks for ideas. We use paper and Navionics now and wanted direct depth reading and wondered if additional, possibly useful info. could be had from a fishfinder. It seems like you can get additional info, but it might not be all that useful in the long run.
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