Hi all, I just bought an '87 Catalina 22 that I'll use here on the west coast of Florida. It's a great little boat that I'm sure will get lots of use. I was thumbing through the marine catalogs looking at depth sounders - something basic for $125-$150. There are several. Then I thought, "Hey, what about a fish finder?" They're about the same money but they provide a bit more data on what's down there instead of just a digital readout of the depth. Some show the water temp and you can see the trend in depth over the last few seconds.... Anyone have any thoughts on this issue? Is a fish finder kind of hokey? I'd appreciate some feedback. Thanks, Chris I. Clearwater, FL
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No Answer to be found here!!!!
I like a fish finder!!! More information. Many swear by a depth sounder. They both work your choice. Tom
I like a fish finder!!! More information. Many swear by a depth sounder. They both work your choice. Tom
Fish finder!
As you say, much more information on a fish finder. Had one on my old 28.5 Hunter and I really miss it. You'll need thru hull transducer for speed and temp, but I think it's worth it. Bottom "trend" shown graphically is great entertainment as are other bottom features. No reason NOT to use fish finders.
As you say, much more information on a fish finder. Had one on my old 28.5 Hunter and I really miss it. You'll need thru hull transducer for speed and temp, but I think it's worth it. Bottom "trend" shown graphically is great entertainment as are other bottom features. No reason NOT to use fish finders.
Forward-scanning sonar is the new kid on the block
Depthsounders are the most economical choice, but if you're willing to pay the bucks this year has seen the advent of forward-scanning sonar, formerly available only to militaries. The better units cost about the same as deluxe fishfinders and can scan forward about 1200 feet (or is that yards)?. These make more sense for navigation purposes as they give you the contours ahead rather than below. The newest West Marine catalog has a good description of the models they are selling...
Depthsounders are the most economical choice, but if you're willing to pay the bucks this year has seen the advent of forward-scanning sonar, formerly available only to militaries. The better units cost about the same as deluxe fishfinders and can scan forward about 1200 feet (or is that yards)?. These make more sense for navigation purposes as they give you the contours ahead rather than below. The newest West Marine catalog has a good description of the models they are selling...
Fish finder
My buddy put a fish finder on his 24 footer, soots through hull. At 4-5kts. it acts as a forward looking sonar. It predicts ledges and shoals in time to stop or turn.
My buddy put a fish finder on his 24 footer, soots through hull. At 4-5kts. it acts as a forward looking sonar. It predicts ledges and shoals in time to stop or turn.
fishfinder 
Hello, IMHO, it's sort of silly to spend money on a depthfinder when a fishfinder is cheaper and shows a lot more information. If you are on a real tight budget then humminbird has units for under $100. For a little more money, (less than $200) you can get units that will display depth, water temp, battery voltage. If you want more features, there are combo GPS / fishfinder units that display maps, charts, and the depth. I recently bought a Lowrance unit for under $400 that has color, GPS, built in charts, depthfinder, etc. Barry
Hello, IMHO, it's sort of silly to spend money on a depthfinder when a fishfinder is cheaper and shows a lot more information. If you are on a real tight budget then humminbird has units for under $100. For a little more money, (less than $200) you can get units that will display depth, water temp, battery voltage. If you want more features, there are combo GPS / fishfinder units that display maps, charts, and the depth. I recently bought a Lowrance unit for under $400 that has color, GPS, built in charts, depthfinder, etc. Barry
I agree
with Barry. I couldn't justify a depth sounder when a Humminbird Piraha fish finder is under $100 and gives you a chart of the bottom, too. Plus it helps you find fish when there's no wind. One potential drawback, however, is how to mount a fish finder since they are bulkier than a round flush-mount depth sounder. My solution? Create a swing-arm bracket so it folds out of the way when not in use. Get a self-closing cabinet hinge from the hardware store (about 4 bucks). Get a piece of wood about 8 inches long that the finder can mount to - a 1x3 should be plenty. Cut about 3 inches off one end and save both sides. Connect the two with the cabinet hinge. Mount the short end to one side of the companionway so the finder can swing out into view of the cockpit when in use, and into the cabin when not. Shorten the long side if needed, and mount the finder. The cabinet hinge keeps it locked in place when in use, but will easily fold away if someone knocks into it - preventing damage to crew and equipment. Worked great on my Oday 22! Brad
with Barry. I couldn't justify a depth sounder when a Humminbird Piraha fish finder is under $100 and gives you a chart of the bottom, too. Plus it helps you find fish when there's no wind.
One potential drawback, however, is how to mount a fish finder since they are bulkier than a round flush-mount depth sounder. My solution? Create a swing-arm bracket so it folds out of the way when not in use. Get a self-closing cabinet hinge from the hardware store (about 4 bucks). Get a piece of wood about 8 inches long that the finder can mount to - a 1x3 should be plenty. Cut about 3 inches off one end and save both sides. Connect the two with the cabinet hinge. Mount the short end to one side of the companionway so the finder can swing out into view of the cockpit when in use, and into the cabin when not. Shorten the long side if needed, and mount the finder. The cabinet hinge keeps it locked in place when in use, but will easily fold away if someone knocks into it - preventing damage to crew and equipment. Worked great on my Oday 22! BradFish finder
I had a MacGregor 26X before I had my Hunter 33 now. Had the Hummingbird fish finder when I had the MacGregor. Mounted it on top of the stearing station. I had the fishfinder that is one up from the cheapest and it showed the bottom as well as which side of the boat the fish is going by. The fishfinder is also on a removeable mount so I was able to unplugg it after sailing to store inside the boat. Worked great. I now only have a depth sounder on the Hunter 33 and occasionally miss seeing the depth trend provided by the fish finder. There were two minor problems with the fishfinder. 1. The mounting bracket and housing for the Hummingbird unit is plastic. After a number of removals and plugins, the multipin connector broke off. I glued it back on and left it on without unplugging it again. 2. There always seems to be more fish when I was motoring!!! I realised that the outboard engine noise was casuing false fish sightings on the screen. It did not seem to affect the depth reading. If I were to do it again, I would pay the extra $100 or so to also put in the speed sensor which will allow the unit to read boat speed. That would have helped a lot in improving my sailing techniques rather than just imagining that the boat is sailing faster.
I had a MacGregor 26X before I had my Hunter 33 now. Had the Hummingbird fish finder when I had the MacGregor. Mounted it on top of the stearing station. I had the fishfinder that is one up from the cheapest and it showed the bottom as well as which side of the boat the fish is going by. The fishfinder is also on a removeable mount so I was able to unplugg it after sailing to store inside the boat. Worked great. I now only have a depth sounder on the Hunter 33 and occasionally miss seeing the depth trend provided by the fish finder. There were two minor problems with the fishfinder. 1. The mounting bracket and housing for the Hummingbird unit is plastic. After a number of removals and plugins, the multipin connector broke off. I glued it back on and left it on without unplugging it again. 2. There always seems to be more fish when I was motoring!!! I realised that the outboard engine noise was casuing false fish sightings on the screen. It did not seem to affect the depth reading. If I were to do it again, I would pay the extra $100 or so to also put in the speed sensor which will allow the unit to read boat speed. That would have helped a lot in improving my sailing techniques rather than just imagining that the boat is sailing faster.
Check out Navman fishfinders
You can find units that include speed, depth, water temp, engine hours....all for well under $200. I've used the 4150 for for two years and have been very pleased.
You can find units that include speed, depth, water temp, engine hours....all for well under $200. I've used the 4150 for for two years and have been very pleased.
No Question Do The Fishfinder
We went with a fishfinder on our last boat using a swing out mount (see the picture). It worked great. It was a Raymarine unit with a thruhull transducer. Most cheap fishfinders come with a transom mount transducer that doesn't work well on a sailboat. You may be able to order a thruhull or internal puck transducer that works with the fishfinder (puck only if your hull is not cored). Our current boat came with a plain depth sounder, I really miss the fishfinder!
We went with a fishfinder on our last boat using a swing out mount (see the picture). It worked great. It was a Raymarine unit with a thruhull transducer. Most cheap fishfinders come with a transom mount transducer that doesn't work well on a sailboat. You may be able to order a thruhull or internal puck transducer that works with the fishfinder (puck only if your hull is not cored). Our current boat came with a plain depth sounder, I really miss the fishfinder!
Do The Fishfinder
We installed a Raymarine fishfinder on our last boat. It worked great! Our current boat has a plain depth sounder, I really miss the fishfinder! The fishfinder was mounted on a swing out mount (see link for picture). Most cheap fishfinders come with a transom mount transducer that just doesn't work out well on most sailboats. The Raymarine came with a thruhull transducer as an option,
We installed a Raymarine fishfinder on our last boat. It worked great! Our current boat has a plain depth sounder, I really miss the fishfinder! The fishfinder was mounted on a swing out mount (see link for picture). Most cheap fishfinders come with a transom mount transducer that just doesn't work out well on most sailboats. The Raymarine came with a thruhull transducer as an option,
This is great advice - thanks!
I appreciate all the responses. I'll probably go with a fish finder and will try to rig up a swing away mount or something that is not too ugly. Thx, Chris I. Clearwater, FL
I appreciate all the responses. I'll probably go with a fish finder and will try to rig up a swing away mount or something that is not too ugly. Thx, Chris I. Clearwater, FL
I'm with Rich
Here's a look at the forward scanning transducer. I have two of these displays. One at the Navpod and the other at the nav station. These also change to a conventional fish finder, white line too, plus GPS interface/plotter. The range is 1200 feet forward, 800 down. See photo #60 on my web site for the Navpod display. See #102 for the nav station mount and #103 for the selector switch. Wait a minute! We're talking about a Cat22! Nevermind.
Here's a look at the forward scanning transducer. I have two of these displays. One at the Navpod and the other at the nav station. These also change to a conventional fish finder, white line too, plus GPS interface/plotter. The range is 1200 feet forward, 800 down. See photo #60 on my web site for the Navpod display. See #102 for the nav station mount and #103 for the selector switch. Wait a minute! We're talking about a Cat22! Nevermind.
Scanning sonar
Depending on what you need, the forward/side scanning sonar can be great. On a boat with significant draft in shoal waters (the Bahamas or the ICW), the unit really allows you to see the bottom on both sides of your vessel instead of just directly beneath or inline like a conventional fishfinder. Offshore, the forward scanning mode scans from just below the surface down and can theoretically look out as far as 1500 feet if the water is deep enough. I use this mode to watch for large partially submerged debris (containers) at night. Granted if the wave heights are significant you can't see very well just below the surface. I have one (Interphase Twin Probe) and it's really fun to use.
Depending on what you need, the forward/side scanning sonar can be great. On a boat with significant draft in shoal waters (the Bahamas or the ICW), the unit really allows you to see the bottom on both sides of your vessel instead of just directly beneath or inline like a conventional fishfinder. Offshore, the forward scanning mode scans from just below the surface down and can theoretically look out as far as 1500 feet if the water is deep enough. I use this mode to watch for large partially submerged debris (containers) at night. Granted if the wave heights are significant you can't see very well just below the surface. I have one (Interphase Twin Probe) and it's really fun to use.
fish finder
I had a hummingbird fish finder that showed depth, temp, speed, fish,and bottom profile. Transducers were mouned on the transom and there were no holes below the water line.
I had a hummingbird fish finder that showed depth, temp, speed, fish,and bottom profile. Transducers were mouned on the transom and there were no holes below the water line.
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