GPS/fishfinder vs traditional depth/speed gauge

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MastBandit

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Mar 28, 2014
3
MacGregor 23 Venture Newport Napa
Hey everyone,

I want to install new electronics in my Newport Venture 23' and I'd like to install a combined GPS Chart/Sonar/Speed system (Mark V) to replace the individual round wind/hull speed and depth gauges. Will this system work for a sailboat? I primarily sail San Francisco Bay, local lakes and the Delta area. Additionally, I see where the current transducers are, is it ok just to remove them and install the new one in the same position? Where is the ideal location to install the transducer?
Any Help is greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Mark
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
Are you looking at a model with a paddle wheel for speed over ground?
that obviously requires the wheel to be in the water... stern or cutting a hole.

does the current puck have a hole in the boat? or what most do is glue the puck to the bottom of the boat, where there is no core material.

I would think the current location would be where I would put it... but you didn't say where that was. - bottom of boat bilge?

the only issue with the all in one systems is, if it fails everything does. -be sure you have at least a compass, &/or a hand held gps for backup.

pics always help..
 
A

anthony

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Sep 30, 2008
68
Macgregor venture 25 port dufferin
Hi Mark
On my boat I have a combo unit, it gives me speed, water temp, and depth and sonar for what the bottom looks like. It also has a GPS built into it. Though my sailing does not take me out of the sight of land I rarely use the GPS function, I do have a compass and a VHF on board also and an up to date chart.. As for transducers, mine is located on the stern (skimmer type, attached to the hull) it may not give a very accurate reading, but it came with the boat and it works fine for me. I did find a transducer from a PO that is mounted in the boat just aft of the keel winch, mounted in epoxy I think, its there it is not in the way so there it stays.
Anthony
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,480
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
I have an older Humminbird fish finder. It accepts GPS and Barometer signal inputs so it works on my lake. I connect a Garmin handheld GPS into it to display speed, time and location, and a barometer to watch for drops in pressure.
If I were in bigger waters like you I'd opt for something with charting and GPS built in.

Some say the the transponder should be mounted forward to give earlier warning signals but mine is externally mounted on my transom and works fine.

FYI, it's 'transponder', not 'transducer'. A transducer converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. A transponder sends and receives electrical signals which is what depth finders operate on.
 
walt

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,535
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
I have a GPS/fishfinder with a map on two different tiller boats (attached picture) and use it to mainly tell GPS speed, water depth and battery voltage.

On the tiller boat where you might be sitting in a variety of different spots between sailing or motoring, I dont think these are very useful for navigation because if you place the instrument where you can see it from any position sailing or motoring (which is important to me), you just can not see detail well enough for navigating. Unfortanete for me with my older eyes but I pretty much have to have the screen right under my nose with reading glasses - so I navigate with a hand held GPS. The map feature on the GPS fish finder is still "useful" as its nice to have at least a couple independent GPS receivers on board - but its mainly backup.

I think if you have a wheel, the chart plotter aspect becomes a lot more useful because the wheel forces you to always be in a position where the chart plotter is where you can see the detail.


In the picture below, the fish finder is on. About all I can make out using it this way is my speed and depth because I have these set for the largest "font" possible.

 
C

Chief RA

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Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Justin, thats kinda splitting hairs with transponder and transducer. I have been in electronics all my life and US Navy sonar educated and I call them all transducers. So does most everyone else. Thanks for your service. Chief
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,480
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
Chief RA said:
Justin, thats kinda splitting hairs with transponder and transducer. I have been in electronics all my life and US Navy sonar educated and I call them all transducers. So does most everyone else. Thanks for your service. Chief
Click to expand
Likewise Chief. I would think you then more than others would appreciate the huge difference in the two.
 
F

Fred Villiard

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Dec 28, 2009
397
Macgregor M25 trailer
Justin,

The depth are transducers, they convert electrical to mechanical and vice versa. Electrical pulses to sound (mechanical) and sound to electrical. The speed are mostly transducers, rotating paddle wheel to electrical pulses. There is another speed transponder that uses ultra sonic doppler shift, but you won't see them used much on small boats $$$$$$$ mainly used on subs.
 
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