Sonar
- Thread starter Franklin
- Start date
- Status
Fishfinders
Franklin,
Glad to hear you're working on those kinds of things, sounds like things are moving along for you, and that's great.
A friend in Chicago has a Hummingbird fishfinder on his C34, and hasn't bothered to go back to his depthsounder. He doesn't fish but likes the features.
Good Old Boat's newest magazine has an article on just that. Includes an in-hull transducer, no new holes in the boat.
If you do a search on fishfinders, I recall many earlier discussions on the topic. Sounds like a very good alternative. Largest challenge is to mount the head end unit so that it works for you in your cockpit.
Franklin,
Glad to hear you're working on those kinds of things, sounds like things are moving along for you, and that's great.
A friend in Chicago has a Hummingbird fishfinder on his C34, and hasn't bothered to go back to his depthsounder. He doesn't fish but likes the features.
Good Old Boat's newest magazine has an article on just that. Includes an in-hull transducer, no new holes in the boat.
If you do a search on fishfinders, I recall many earlier discussions on the topic. Sounds like a very good alternative. Largest challenge is to mount the head end unit so that it works for you in your cockpit.
Re: Fishfinders
I have an Apelco fish finder and when it fails I will replace it with a similar system. Besides depth and fish it provides a scrolling view of the bottom contours. Practical Sailor magazine recommended this system about 10 or 12 years ago and I have never regreted the purchase. The alarm on mine has gone silent and I was looking a newer units recently. Less than 300 will get a very satisfactory unit with more features than my present system.
I have an Apelco fish finder and when it fails I will replace it with a similar system. Besides depth and fish it provides a scrolling view of the bottom contours. Practical Sailor magazine recommended this system about 10 or 12 years ago and I have never regreted the purchase. The alarm on mine has gone silent and I was looking a newer units recently. Less than 300 will get a very satisfactory unit with more features than my present system.
One advantage of some of the better fishfinder type units is they can give you a pretty good idea of what the bottom looks like. This isn't possible with the regular depthsounder units... If there are things that your anchor might foul on, they'll often appear on the fishfinder screen. 
Do you need two transducers?
I just purchased a Raymarine chartplotter multifunction display - without the optional digital sounder module... When they sell unit as a fishfinder package, a digital sounder module and a transom mounted transducer are included.
Is it necessary to purchase yet another through hull mounted transducer to add the fishfinder system? Or is there a single unit that will function as a source for both the depth sounder and the fishfinder?
Dave
I just purchased a Raymarine chartplotter multifunction display - without the optional digital sounder module... When they sell unit as a fishfinder package, a digital sounder module and a transom mounted transducer are included.
Is it necessary to purchase yet another through hull mounted transducer to add the fishfinder system? Or is there a single unit that will function as a source for both the depth sounder and the fishfinder?
Dave
If you have the fishfinder transducer, it should give you basic depth data as well. I would recommend mounting inside the hull, provided you have a solid fiberglass hull section to shoot the transducer beam through.
I would recommend mounting inside the hull, provided you have a solid fiberglass hull section to shoot the transducer beam through.
I put in a Garmin black and white fish finder a few years ago. Work great down to about 230ft with in-hull ( not through hull) ducer. Think is was about $250 with the ducer.
Garmin sonar
A few years ago I installed an add on sonar unit to my GPS/chartplotter and left the old depth system intact as a backup, most of the time someone was sitting in front of the old depth gauge that was mounted by the PO on the bulkhead and by putting the new system I now have the depth right in front of me at the helm and of course having a picture of the bottom is real nice.
A few years ago I installed an add on sonar unit to my GPS/chartplotter and left the old depth system intact as a backup, most of the time someone was sitting in front of the old depth gauge that was mounted by the PO on the bulkhead and by putting the new system I now have the depth right in front of me at the helm and of course having a picture of the bottom is real nice.
Re: Garmin sonar
I bought my system with a transom mount transducer that I mounted on a purpose made skeg aft of the rudder. I ran the cable through a conduit from a hole in the transom to the transducer. 9 years of service and no problems with that.
I bought my system with a transom mount transducer that I mounted on a purpose made skeg aft of the rudder. I ran the cable through a conduit from a hole in the transom to the transducer. 9 years of service and no problems with that.
Forward looking sonar
Depending on your cruising style, you might want to look into installing a forward looking sonar. this gives you all the "views" a downward looking one does plus looks out 700 to 1000 feet to forward to show channel obstructions. Makes gunk-holing a lot less stressful as you can see the channel even in murky water.
Don't try to add on to an existing system and use both however as the two transducers interfere with each other.
Depending on your cruising style, you might want to look into installing a forward looking sonar. this gives you all the "views" a downward looking one does plus looks out 700 to 1000 feet to forward to show channel obstructions. Makes gunk-holing a lot less stressful as you can see the channel even in murky water.
Don't try to add on to an existing system and use both however as the two transducers interfere with each other.
fish finder
I always preferred a fish finder for entertainment . Its really cool to watch stuff swimming under the boat. Ray T
I always preferred a fish finder for entertainment . Its really cool to watch stuff swimming under the boat. Ray T
Forward looking sonar
Billl,
When I installed my second sonar system I installed the new transducer in the bow of the boat cause the original existing transducer is mounted right below the helm on my center cockpit boat and I'd be aground when approaching a beach waiting for the depth to respond.
I do run both systems at the same time and never had any problems so I'm curious about what you said about interference with the transducers.
Billl,
When I installed my second sonar system I installed the new transducer in the bow of the boat cause the original existing transducer is mounted right below the helm on my center cockpit boat and I'd be aground when approaching a beach waiting for the depth to respond.
I do run both systems at the same time and never had any problems so I'm curious about what you said about interference with the transducers.
which one?
I haven't seen any of them say how far forward they reach. Got a suggestion of a brand/model?
Franklin-
One sailing magazine, maybe PS, did a test of FLS systems a while back IIRC. From what I recall, the systems can only look about as far ahead as the water is deep. That might not be the case now, but the original systems were pretty short reach in what I thought would be the areas you'd want it most.
One sailing magazine, maybe PS, did a test of FLS systems a while back IIRC. From what I recall, the systems can only look about as far ahead as the water is deep. That might not be the case now, but the original systems were pretty short reach in what I thought would be the areas you'd want it most.
- Status