I'm thinking of adding a depth sounder to my H23. Not because I want to know when I'll ground (I have 2' 3" draft), but to know water depth for proper anchor rode length. I could admittedly just use a line to gauge depth, but I'm lazy.
I can't speak for the other hunters, but I installed my sonar sensor in a h23 by epoxy gluing it to the inside of the hull. The hull is solid fiberglass about 6 inches forward of the partial bulkhead that is immediately forward of the porta-potty. I was sure of this because I had just cut a hole for the knot meter sensor.
Working through the access hole under the v-birth I did the following: I made a doughnut shaped dam out of electrical putty, stuck that to the inside of the hull bottom, filled the dam with about 1/4 inch of epoxy, then plunked down the sensor in the middle. I think I put a small weight on the sensor to hold it down till the epoxy set up.
It works fantastic! I sail freshwater and have good readings heeled with depths over 100 feet. The sonar is a cheap Eagle Fish ID or something like that. I think I had to buy a sensor extension to get back to the comapnion way area. The only trouble I had was when a beer can rolled against the sensor. I guess the echo got confused between the lake and the lager. I put some padding around the sensor after that.
I mounted the display on a board with two small hinges, and it swings up and is held with a small bungy on one side of the companionway.
I find having the depth is really handy, not just for anchor rode, but when glancing at the chart it is like a double check that I am where I think I am by looking at the chart depth. Also when tacking in a narrow channel it gives a little more comfort when nearing a shore.
-Chris, Lake of the Woods, Ontario
