Which do you prefer and why. Do you use a positive offset on your depth gauge, which will give you the actual water depth? Do you use the negative offset, which reads from the bottom of your keel to the water bottom? I just installed a new Navman 3100 depth gauge and my buddies and I were discussing the pros and cons. I figured I would ask you guys!
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This was just discussed a few weeks ago
Try this: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=2936.0 You could also do an archive search on offset or other pertinent words. Hope this helps you and your guys.
Try this: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=2936.0 You could also do an archive search on offset or other pertinent words. Hope this helps you and your guys.
I prefer actual water depth.
Rad: I prefer actual water depth. I use this to determine my postion on the charts without having to worry about the offset. It is easier for me to just set the alarm to 10 ft and know that I have another 5' of water under the keel. I also understand using an offset, but it is just not for me.
Rad: I prefer actual water depth. I use this to determine my postion on the charts without having to worry about the offset. It is easier for me to just set the alarm to 10 ft and know that I have another 5' of water under the keel. I also understand using an offset, but it is just not for me.
water under keel
is my preference. Just what I like better,the real answer here is you and what you perfer. to me it is more important to know the water under the keel then actual depth,especialy if you operate in shallow waters. On the other hand actual water depth is good when figuring out lenght of rode etc. Either way you will need to add or subtract from the gauge reading for what you are doing,your choice.
is my preference. Just what I like better,the real answer here is you and what you perfer. to me it is more important to know the water under the keel then actual depth,especialy if you operate in shallow waters. On the other hand actual water depth is good when figuring out lenght of rode etc. Either way you will need to add or subtract from the gauge reading for what you are doing,your choice.
I prefer actual depth
I think this is a personal preference based on the way we 'think' as individuals. Either way, u will have to subtract something. Its just less confusing to me when i know my actual depth. It gives the chart more meaning. I recently purchased an older boat and the depth finder was set for water under the keel. When someone asked me the depth of the water at the marina, i had to stop and remember to add my draft to it. I also sail and anchor a lot in very shallow waters of the gulf of mexico and when i have to follow the sounding lines on a chart, it gets confusing when i constantly have to factor in the offset. If my depth finder is set for the actual water depth, all i have to remember is that my draft is 4 1/2 feet
I think this is a personal preference based on the way we 'think' as individuals. Either way, u will have to subtract something. Its just less confusing to me when i know my actual depth. It gives the chart more meaning. I recently purchased an older boat and the depth finder was set for water under the keel. When someone asked me the depth of the water at the marina, i had to stop and remember to add my draft to it. I also sail and anchor a lot in very shallow waters of the gulf of mexico and when i have to follow the sounding lines on a chart, it gets confusing when i constantly have to factor in the offset. If my depth finder is set for the actual water depth, all i have to remember is that my draft is 4 1/2 feet
Actual depth
I sail on the Great South Bay where close to shore its shallow and I don't have to think about adding or subtracting.The boats draft is 3'6" and my alarm is set for 4'6 and if it reads 4 foot I know I'm to close for comfort. I also use my depth sounder for setting anchor rode. The other RAD
I sail on the Great South Bay where close to shore its shallow and I don't have to think about adding or subtracting.The boats draft is 3'6" and my alarm is set for 4'6 and if it reads 4 foot I know I'm to close for comfort. I also use my depth sounder for setting anchor rode. The other RAD
To me
the key is knowing when you are getting into water too thin for your boat. Regardless of how you set up your depth finder, just knowing that when it reads a certain depth, you've got to take evasive action to get into deeper water. This isn't a question of remembering to add or substract, it's a question of being able to remember one number on your depth sounder -- the one that tells you to turn, stop, or back up before that awful feeling of the keel digging into the bottom hits you in the gut.
the key is knowing when you are getting into water too thin for your boat. Regardless of how you set up your depth finder, just knowing that when it reads a certain depth, you've got to take evasive action to get into deeper water. This isn't a question of remembering to add or substract, it's a question of being able to remember one number on your depth sounder -- the one that tells you to turn, stop, or back up before that awful feeling of the keel digging into the bottom hits you in the gut.
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