Looking for a depth finder

[Brad]

What kind of depth finders are people out there using? I'm planning on adding a depth finder to my Oday 22 in the off-season. I looked through the West Marine catalog over the weekend, but their offers are a bit confusing. What's the best place to mount a transducer? How much through-hull drilling will I have to do?Thanks for advice!Brad

 

[Eric]

Portable Fish/Depth Finder

I bought a portable fish finder/depth finder a couple of years ago, and it is very convenient. It runs off of standard C batteries, and I keep it under one of the cockpit seats to store when I am not using it. The sonar attachment has a suction cup which I placed near the rudder, just at the waterline. I keep this (suction cup) attached all season, and connect the wires when I am out. When in use, the base unit sits on the cockpit floor, away from people's feet.

 

[EJ Tews]

Depth Finder

I installed a Standard Horizon 150 and mounted the Transducer under the v birth on my O'Day 25, close to the center line. It is very accurate and have not had any readout discrepancies when I heal.EJ Tews

 

[Gene Kauffman]

No Drilling

I also am installing a Standard Horizon 150. Buy the transducer which includes a well you glue with 5200, or epoxy, etc to the inside of the hull. You then fill it with mineral spirits. It has a dial so you can dial in the degree of rise on the hull so the transducer stays level. Simple and accurate. The smaller O'days' don't have a cored hull so you should be OK.

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

Another SH 150 vote

I have a Standard Horizon Multi (does depth and speed, odometer, water temp) on my boat. If you don't already have a hole for the knotlog transducer I'd skip it and get a SH150 Depth instrument. I'd second the idea of mounting it inside the hull on your boat.Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[Jim MacTaggart]

Humminbird HD600

Brad, I installed a Humminbird HD600 under the v-berth of my Oday 26 two years ago. Similar to the installation of the SH150's, I used a 4 inch long piece of 4 inch PVC drain pipe, shaped to fit the 'v' in the hull, poured a puddle of epoxy in it leaving plenty of room inside the pipe for the transducer, let it harden and then sanded the top of the puddle smooth and flat. I then epoxied the transducer to the smoothed area of epoxy, notched the top of the pvc pipe for the wire and installed an end cap over the pipe to protect the transducer. Works great on Barnegat. No false readings, even on a 20 degree heel. Humminbird has a website, see associated link.

 

[Ric Shultz]

SH OK

I agree with the Standard Horizion. Installed the thru hull type listed by the others and works great. One tip: I filled the bath unit with bio antifreeze. No oil in the bottom of my hull, no evaporation and no freeze (cheap too).Ric"comes a time"Oday 25Lake Winny, NH