H260 Depth Finder

[George H260]

Crazy Dave says install the depthfinder transducer next to the bilge pump. Got that. Now I'm confronted with the myriad of depthfinder choices. I have a wheel/binnacle so I'm going to install the guage on the bulkhead where the compass would usually go. Any suggestions for a digital depth finder with large letters?

 

[Reinhold Fussle]

ST 40

After having previously tried a 'shoot thru the hull' type depth sounder that didn't work, I installed a ST 40 on my 260. The location for the transducer is exactly right as recommended by 'crazy Dave'. The display is mounted on the starbord side bulkhead. It is much easier to run all the wires there. Just to make things easier I cut the hole thru both the bulhead and the liner. That hole I covered with a plastic vent grill and it looks like it is suposed to be there.The unit has worked very well this summer and I love the big numbers on the display. By the way, the space between the outer shell and the liner is filled with foam on the port side and empty on the starboard side.

 

[CORKY TROTTER]

just a thought

Not wanting to cut holes in my boat bottom I mounted the transducer off the back of the boat. Yes, it tells me kinda' late where I have been but keeps me out of most trouble. I agree in the bulkhead mounting as I d the same and it works fine.ct

 

[George Kobernus]

ST-40 Depthfinder

If I understand your post you installed a "thru-hull" transducer. This means you had to cut a hole in the bottom? I'd like to avoid that, but you imply that the "shoot thru the hull" transducer won't work?

 

[Ken Palmer]

Shoot thru the hull

A transducer will work shooting thru the hull if the hull it is shooting thru doesn't have air or foam between the fiberglass and the transducer head. The bottom of many boats are solid fiberglass, so all you need to do is try different locations by building up a small area on the inside, perhaps using clay or some other temporary material, placing the transducer next to the hull, an add some water. If you get a depth reading, then you can work on a permanent installation.Another idea you might try is a plastic sandwich type bag. Place the transducer inside, fill with water, and place the bag on the inside hull that you want to test. I am not sure if this method will work, but the whole idea is to give the signals emitted from the transducer a media that they work well in.Here is a link that I just found that may give you more help. http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2358/e_electrical_tips/e05.htmlKen Palmer, S/V Water Colors

 

[ross]

DS150

I installed a Standard Horizon DS-150 depth instrument in my H-260. I mounted it on the starboard cockpit bulkhead. Easy to wire because the electrical panel is just below it. I used a Standard DST-55 "shoot through the hull" transducer installed just aft and starboard of the bilge pump. Works great until about 7.5 feet of depth. I've messed with the various adjustments on the indicator for noise and sensitivity levels, but can't get it to read any lower than 7.5 before it displays all "---". The folks at Standard think that it is a bad microchip on the instrument, I'll send it back to them at the end of the season. I like the large display on the unit, easy to see from anywhere in the cockpit.

 

[Tom]

Humminbird

Humminbird makes a simple round depth readout unit that fits quite neatly into your selected place. I did exactly the same thing. Search the foto forum for "Prime Time" for some pictures.Fair winds,Tom

 

[MIke Pajewski]

GARMIN GPSMAP Fishfinder

I know this is a sailing site, but when I started looking at depth instruments for my H-26, it sure seamed like you paid a premium for a little round (or square) sailboat depth finder. For the same price or less, I found I could pick up a fishfinder, with an integral GPS. I installed the transom mount transducer in the bilge with RTV to shoot through the hull. I set my finder to measure from the bottom of the keel, so I always have some safety margin. The GPS works great, has a Man overboard feature and NMEA outputs so it can control my autopilot. It also lets me check bottom contour and the type of bottom (within reason, and if I did cut a hole, it would also tell me water temperature for swimming. I mounted it on a quick release bracket next to the companionway and installed a second mount under the companionway. That way, when I lock up the boat, the GPS goes inside. As they say, think outside the box.

 

[Reinhold Füssle]

one more thought

about the issue of drilling a hole. I was very reluctant to go there but several dealers recommended to do it this way and it really isn't that big a deal. Also the transducer is solid plug with a lip on the outside and there is no way for a major leak.Fishfiders are great but the less expensive ones can not be flat mounted against the bulkhead. I don't think it is a good idea in a sailboat to have anything sticking up mounted on a bracket anywhere in the cockpit or on the deck.

 

[Bob]

Practical Sailer

If you have access to "Practial Sailer", they published a comparison test in the month or so. They rated the units on installation, readability, accuracy and price.