Depth sounder vs.Fishfinder

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Dana Kerr

I have read in some articles , that some boats are switching to a fishfinder to use for depth. At a recent sports show I chatted with a fellow who claimed they were much better. They came gps ready and becuase of they're screen , you can even tell the type of bottom. Has anybody tryed this , and what do you all think???
 
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thomas konerding

garmin 240 blue!

I installed a garmin 240 blue in my catalina 22mkII with a 'shoot-through'-installation (no hole in the hull). works perfect and very accurate!
 
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Don K.

I like my fishfinder

I installed a fishfinder with the transducer sitting in a BIG gob of silicone forward of the keel. I made a oak swing bracket which allows me to store the unit on the cockpit bulkhead facing the cabin or swings out to face the cockpit. The fish finder and my installation work very well.
 
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Dave Busby

I have one and I love it....

I installed a Lowrance unit on my Hunter 25.5, just in front of the keel, and it works great. Have had it for two years now. You can see mine in the HOW project forum. Look for "Fish Finder"..I chose Lowrance for the large number readout, and I can see it easly from the tiller, even in bright sunlight. It's nice to see the contour of the bottom as well as the depth. Good luck.
 
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Jim Quibell

Fishfinder / Depth Sounder great entertainment -

Our grandkids love watching the Pirhanna 2 unit that we installed on our G-26. When we do a slow cruise across Lake Ontario we also do a bit of trolling for salmon or whatever might be hungry, and this gadget tells you the size of the fish you are going to pass over shortly and how deep down they are. This unit also gives you the accurate depth (angle the transducer to shoot slightly ahead of your keel). It also tells you the bottom composition if you plan to drop the hook. The silicone blob will work, but most manufacturers recommend using 30 minute epoxy. You must make sure there are no air bubbles in whatever you are shooting through. They are one hell of a lot cheaper than the standard marine depth sounders, no hole required in your hull, and provide more entertainment. Cheers, Jim Quibell - G-26 #583 - Sam's Closin'time - BHYC
 
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Vic "Seven"

On Seven we use the 162 GPS and the 160 ...

Fishfinder ... it shows a profile of the bottom and every once and a while it beeps a fish. and it also gives a battery voltage reading and water temp. Epoxied the sender to the inside of the hull right next to the Standard thru hull transducer that bit the dust. I like the two separate units, but would think about the 168 combo the next time. v
 
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Victor Robert

Mounting transducer inside hull

FYI, I spoke to several vendors recently at the Miami boat show about the idea of mounting a fish finder transducer inside the hull. They all said it was no problem as long as the hull at the mount point was solid fiberglass. Voids or other sandwiched material would cause a problem. A useful suggestion was to flood the area where you want to mount the transducer with a few inches of water. Then move the transducer around to find the best signal. Most of the new units will display return signal strength. All vendors said to use a very slow setting epoxy. The reason is that you introduce bubbles when mixing the two parts. The slower setting, the more time the bubbles have to rise and escape. It is essential that there be a solid interface from transducer to adhesive to hull to water, just as if the transducer was submerged. All vendors suggested trying it with the standard, cheap transom mount model first - even those that sold special oil based transducers for this purpose. Hope this helps.
 
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Gerry

Have used both.....

Over the years I have used both, a fish finder and a depth sounder. I currently use a depth sounder only because it was installed when I bought the boat and there is a hole drilled through the bulkhead. Otherwise I would get a fish finder. A fish finder shows trends in the bottom contour that unless you are tracking the data with the depth sounder you could miss how fast you are getting shallow. Less thought involved with a fish finder in trending bottom contour. Both transducers can be mounted inside and shot through the hull, as they both use the same technology and, the cost for both is the same. Keeping in mind with each that you get what you pay for. Fair winds Gerry
 
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Jim Quibell

Forget the flooding - use a ziplock bag

Put the transducer in a ziplock bag, put in sufficient water to completely cover it, zip up the bag and then try it in different locations until you get the readings you are happy with. The signal will shoot through the water, the polyethylene bag, and the hopefully solid fibreglass hull.
 
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Dana Kerr

Thanx! to all

You've all gave me something to think about for sure . It sure seems the way to go. I would never have thought you could put insid the boat!!!! I'll have to ivstigate more ......Thanks again
 
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Jim Quibell

Hey Dana - come over and see my set-up

You are just down the shore from Bronte. We are on the hard 'till May 1, but you are more than welcome to come aboard and see what we did. It works (except of course when it is on the cradle and has to shoot though air). Give me a shout if you want.
 
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