We recently purchased a 1980 Catalina 30. What are the depth sounder options? The boat is on Muskegon lake with future plans of cruising the west coast of Michigan.
Depth Sounder Options
- Thread starter GinBoat
- Start date
You may already have a thru hull transducer and just need a head unit. My 78' had one, I chose to remove it and glass up the hole.
You can install a in the hull transducer that sounds thru the glass. I installed one that works with my Garmin plotter. It sits under the vberth aft of my water tank in a lump of toilet wax. Made a big pile of it out of two rings and stuck the transducer into it making sure there were no air pockets. Perfect location since it is 6" to port of centerline and 2 feet forward of the keel.
You can install a in the hull transducer that sounds thru the glass. I installed one that works with my Garmin plotter. It sits under the vberth aft of my water tank in a lump of toilet wax. Made a big pile of it out of two rings and stuck the transducer into it making sure there were no air pockets. Perfect location since it is 6" to port of centerline and 2 feet forward of the keel.
Gin,
Your question is rather obscure without lending more info pal.
You are asking about depth sounder options, what options? These option settings are in the manual that came with the sounder. If not having the manual, simply go to the manuf. web site & download this.
After reading thru it, if having any specific questions, that's the time to ask the guys. The more detailed info you post, the better the answers.
Remember information is power, use it as such.
CR
Your question is rather obscure without lending more info pal.
You are asking about depth sounder options, what options? These option settings are in the manual that came with the sounder. If not having the manual, simply go to the manuf. web site & download this.
After reading thru it, if having any specific questions, that's the time to ask the guys. The more detailed info you post, the better the answers.
Remember information is power, use it as such.
CR
Other options
I am also looking at possible options for a depth sounder. I went to a Bass Pro shop and there are several options that will shoot through a hull. They will give depth, map bottom terrain, speed (not sure if knots are available, need further research) forward sonar and maps with way points. Pretty cheap at around $350.00. Not sure if I will go that route but always more than one option out there.
I am also looking at possible options for a depth sounder. I went to a Bass Pro shop and there are several options that will shoot through a hull. They will give depth, map bottom terrain, speed (not sure if knots are available, need further research) forward sonar and maps with way points. Pretty cheap at around $350.00. Not sure if I will go that route but always more than one option out there.
Great, thanks Sanfelice. I want to approach the salesman with a little knowledge and your post is helpful.
I just replaced my original Autohelm last weekend. I went with a Lowrance Elite 5HDI Gold. I combined combined the depth/knotmeter/charting function all in one with this one.
I mounted the transducer in PC7 epoxy on the centerline of the boat next to the existing depth transducer. The display and mounting bracket replaced the Edison triangular shape insturement pod on the wheel. I purchased the longest extension cable they sold and had about one foot extra! You cut off the coupling the coupling plugs from the transducer cable and mating extension cable. They joined following the route of the old cable behind the breaker panel. Just use red crimp connectors.
The replacement was fairly easy but involved. I added the required three amp fuse at the panel end of the circuit. Fishing the wires down thru the pedestal end making up those connections was the hardest. I drilled and tapped the Edison pod mount to mount the new instrument. Went sailing yesterday, no wind, and everything works perfectly.
Bruce
Sail # 5749
Roanoke, Va
I mounted the transducer in PC7 epoxy on the centerline of the boat next to the existing depth transducer. The display and mounting bracket replaced the Edison triangular shape insturement pod on the wheel. I purchased the longest extension cable they sold and had about one foot extra! You cut off the coupling the coupling plugs from the transducer cable and mating extension cable. They joined following the route of the old cable behind the breaker panel. Just use red crimp connectors.
The replacement was fairly easy but involved. I added the required three amp fuse at the panel end of the circuit. Fishing the wires down thru the pedestal end making up those connections was the hardest. I drilled and tapped the Edison pod mount to mount the new instrument. Went sailing yesterday, no wind, and everything works perfectly.
Bruce
Sail # 5749
Roanoke, Va
Nothing against Lowrance, but we have a Garmin 440s model GPS chartplotter with the optional sounder unit. Its nice to have the sounder readout on the same screen as the GPS unit, as it reduces clutter & is easier to read when mounted to the binnacle of the wheel right in front of you. Some sailors mount their units on a swinging arm that can be swung into the cabin when not in use. To me this is a lil' bulky, & its harder to read & impossible to hit reset or program buttons without a helper or leaving the helm seat position. The Garmin has been around for a few years & is pretty reliable & can be had for under $400. Check around online as they are on sale all the time. Garmin are pretty much the leader in GPS technology these days, but don't expect them to support your unit with parts for more then a 10 year period, which seems to be about the life of most marine electronics these days. Ray Marine are the best, but the most expensive may be a bit over board for what your needs are in a fresh water lake. At least you guys don't have to worry about the tides, but the Garmin also comes with good built in tides tables, all US coastal water maps, fuel & destination info, etc. As the above post noted, the hardest part is in wiring it up to the binnacle & remember to wire in fuses, if it is not wired to a breaker at your panel. A dedicated breaker panel circuit is a good idea.
any depth sounder/transducer has the ability to shoot thru the hull, but none of the shoot-thru's will give a speed reading... you must have the actual sensor outside the hull for that.
as for units of speed or depth that will be shown on the readout, that is a matter of setting up the preferences after the install... all brand name sounders have options to change the user preferences...
You have a Raynarine dealer right down the street in Muskegon. He is very knowledgeable and I'm sure would give you all kinds of helpful information. The store is named The Mariner Center and it's right near Hartshorn Marina.
Oh and another option is to give Sailplace a call. They are the highest volume Catalina dealer around and Dave Fulbright is a terrific guy. They sell em, install all kinds of equipment and I'm sure could give you a wealth of help. They are located right at Torresen Marine across the street from the ships store. Used to be in Cedar Springs but they moved to Muskegon over a year or so ago.
Oh and another option is to give Sailplace a call. They are the highest volume Catalina dealer around and Dave Fulbright is a terrific guy. They sell em, install all kinds of equipment and I'm sure could give you a wealth of help. They are located right at Torresen Marine across the street from the ships store. Used to be in Cedar Springs but they moved to Muskegon over a year or so ago.
Sounds like there are several good options. The Garmin 440 sounds affordable... Shooting thru the hull seems like the best idea. I will check out Sailplace...