My first post so please bear with me if I'm making any errors with my post. I just bought my first sailboat, a H240 and for a gift my father in law wants to buy and install either a depth gauge or a GPS unit. Is that feasible for this boat? I can see maybe install the depth readout on the port side opposite where the compass is but I don't have a clue where a GPS unit would go and where it wouldn't be in the way. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Especially since I haven't even had a chance to put the boat in the water yet. Thanks!
Electronic On a H240?
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Welcome. Don't know where you are located or where you sail your boat. If the water you sail in is predictable, then a GPS would be a wiser choice, IMHO. And you can get a nice handheld one without having to worry about mounting it. You can take it home and learn how to use it. Until you get more familiar and comfortable with your boat, you may want to choose not to drill any holes in her. 
Good luck, welcome again to our silly little world here.
Good luck, welcome again to our silly little world here.
I guess I didn't know they made hand held GPS. The one he was looking at would be one that needs to be installed and has a depth sounder built into the unit and I can't figure out if there is even a place in the cockpit to put one.
Welcome to the Site ........................
.............. and a life of poverty maintaining your new mistress.
With regards to the depth sounder, be sure to do a search on this site for information on depth sounders and DON"T go boring any holes in your hull. Modern depth sounders are mounted inside the hull, usually in a puddle of silicone sealant or toilet bowl wax collar.
The GPS is a little more personal choice as to physical size and functions. You can range all the way from a small hand held unit to a larger permanently mounted unit. With a little ingenuity, anything is possible.
.............. and a life of poverty maintaining your new mistress
.With regards to the depth sounder, be sure to do a search on this site for information on depth sounders and DON"T go boring any holes in your hull. Modern depth sounders are mounted inside the hull, usually in a puddle of silicone sealant or toilet bowl wax collar.
The GPS is a little more personal choice as to physical size and functions. You can range all the way from a small hand held unit to a larger permanently mounted unit. With a little ingenuity, anything is possible.
This normaly works fine, but just to be clear this is a DYI'er method that can be used on non-cored (solid glass) hulls. No manufacter I know of does this from factory; they all use Airmar-style transducers thru the hull.
I installed a depth sounder and the LCD display that it needs at the cockpit. This is easily done - total cost $ 89.00 the transducer and $ 200.00 the display. It requires 12 V DC to function. The battery can be charged from the alternator of the outboard engine. I use Garmin GPS 76CSx that can display Marine charts. It is portable and with 2 AA batteries it lasts 10 hours. I think both are valuable to have.
If your boat has a tiller I would prefer a portable GPS unit that you can move from side to side as you tack. Try to get one with an anchor alarm and you can take it with you inside the cabin while you sleep to warn you if the anchor drags. A depth sounder is a necessary instrument for navigation as well as protecting the boat from grounding. Get both.
You should take the advise to use toilet biwl wax first to find a nice spot first. The further forward the better. Remember to shoot it straight down. You can decide to drill hole later.
The balast tank shouldnt go too far farward. You should be able to find a nice clear spot to shoot through the hull.
Remember depth sounder is just ultra sound. It goes through fibre glass hull so long there is no air gap.
The balast tank shouldnt go too far farward. You should be able to find a nice clear spot to shoot through the hull.
Remember depth sounder is just ultra sound. It goes through fibre glass hull so long there is no air gap.
I believe your home port is in southern Ill. and you're possibly a lake sailor. If so, my suggestion would be to keep your life simple. An inexpensive fishfinder can fill in for the depth guage with the transponder attached to the transom using an extension bracket to keep it in the water while you're heeling, and heel you will. The 240 provides several handy cockpit locations for mounting the main unit. A simple handheld GPS can do multi-duties including tracking speed. You can hang it by its strap from the stern lifeline. I've used this set up for over 10 years and guess that $200 or less would still get it done. Of course, a more challenging sailing venue might call for a more robust approach. Good luck and congrats.
The transducer for my depth sounder is under the aft bunk, near the bilge pump. As others have mention, the water ballast tank prevents mounting the transducer forward.
The display is mounted to the right of the companion way. There is room for several instruments at that location and can be seen from anywhere in the cockpit.
Being an inland lake sailor, I find no need for a GPS. I do rely heavy on knowing the water depth.
On my previous boat I did as MrEd suggested, got a fish finder and mounted the transducer on the transom. That worked very well and eliminated the need to drill a large hole in the hull. That type of display gives a graphic view of the bottom rather than just a number for the depth.
The display is mounted to the right of the companion way. There is room for several instruments at that location and can be seen from anywhere in the cockpit.
Being an inland lake sailor, I find no need for a GPS. I do rely heavy on knowing the water depth.
On my previous boat I did as MrEd suggested, got a fish finder and mounted the transducer on the transom. That worked very well and eliminated the need to drill a large hole in the hull. That type of display gives a graphic view of the bottom rather than just a number for the depth.
I installed the garmin color 441s on my H260 and its mounted on the pedatol. You will get depth, speed, gps overhead map, fishfinder. Cost was about $500 plus $300 for intallation. If fsther in law wans to splurge, go for it!
The fish finder attachment on the back end of the boat works fine but extra caution not to bump or break it off is urged. The need for the old knot meter is no longer needed. You have speed on newer instruments with gps and some have been able to adapt that to cell phones.
crazy dave condon
crazy dave condon
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