Use Garmin 431s intead of depth instrument?

[lakesail]

The dedicated depth instrument (Raymarine ST50) on my Beneteau 35 is toast, and I'm faced with either upgrading it--at a cost of $300 to $500--or buying a Garmin 431s chartplotter with sonar at about $385 that features depth plus a lot more information.

Which makes more sense? I sail at one inland lake where there are quite a few spots where I could run aground, I would also like the track, speed, map of the lake, etc. of the chartplotter, but having accurate depth information is most important.

If anyone else has experience with this...do you know if the Garmin can use the installed ST 50 transducer to give depth infomation?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations or advice you can give!

 

[Tim R.]

I believe that the 431 only supports depth via Sonar transducer. The 431 also only support NMEA 0183, not 2000. That device is at or near end of life with NMEA 2000 support.

 

[redhead78]

I have a 541s, I replaced an old speed wheel thru hull. and used the same hole. I believe the Garmin transducer I used was 2", I had same problem, I am dragging around a 6'2" keel, hitting ground all over. I had a garmin 478 that I actually liked display and functions more, however I needed to buy a sounder to go with it for like 3-5 hundred bucks that garmin discontinued. GSD- 20 0r 21, I believe it was. has speed water temp, all kinds of things I have yet to discover, I am techie challenged, and happy just to have the depth rite in front of me at all times....Red

 

[onecoolair]

Solution get a Humming Bird. The 100 dollar Humming Bird on my boat out preforms the raymarine depth sounder that came with my new boat about 10 years ago. First thing I did when I bought the new boat was go to academy and plunk down 100 bucks ,then picked up a ram mount , mounted it next to the chart plotter at the helm pedestal. I can rotate it to face me just about anywhere I am sitting in the cockpit.
Glued the puck using some goop to the hull just forward of the cockpit and just off center line of keel . At sailboat speed it sees just forward of boat. You can see when the bottom starts to come up and down with the displayed graphics while it gives large numbered depth reading. Having trouble following a narrow unmarked channel. Just snake the boat from right to left to find the ditch. Have three one at the nav station with puck in front of keel and one in the cockpit. And one portable for dingy. All three are the same model so I they are all inter changable.