Considering a depth sounder - a few questions

[lakelover]

I'm thinking about getting one of these units. Since I don't fish, I'm only interested in depth readings.

Do tranducers (in general) work well mounted inside an aluminum hull? How do they hold up to a little bilge water?

I was also wondering how weed beds affect the readings, do they sense the bottom or will thick weed beds interfere with the accuracy?

 

[Bayou Dave]

I don't know about mounting it inside or anything about readings with weeds, but know the D10D works great! I installed one last Spring and it reads the depth almost every second. A little bilge water should not be a problem as they are always in the water when mounted outside the transom.

 

[littlerayray]

Just remember depths changes radically like yesterday on my way home I was taking a route less traveled and went literally front 80ft of water to 4ft so you have to remember that your reading what you have already passed over

 

[lakelover]

Thanks, DRS, they have pretty good reviews. Littlerayray, I'm pretty familiar with the lake, but just considering it for the curiosity factor. Thanks.

 

[ondarvr]

They won't shoot through aluminum, so you will need to mount it through the hull or on the transom.

 

[gm280]

I would certainly NOT install a transducer inside any aluminum hulled boat. Sensitivity will be severely reduced absolutely. Mount the transducer on the transom like usual and happy boating. I mean if you are going to install one, at least allow it the ability to perform like it was intended too... JMHO!

 

[GA_Boater]

It comes with a choice of 3 transducers. Transom mount just like a fish finder, glue in type for glass/wood non-metal boats or a thru-hull type. The first two are the same transducer with different mounting method, so that answers the "Can it get wet?" question. The thru-hull takes a 2" hole and the Installation Instructions appear to cover all the bases.

I guess it comes down to this - Do you want 3 screw holes in the transom or 1 big hole in the bottom?

Weeds - It has automatic sensitivity adjustment, so it should work OK. A fish finder works in weeds and still shows the bottom. This is the same technology and after my stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, it has to work.

The Hawkeye site has all the manuals if you want to look at the options.

 

[lakelover]

I hadn't noticed the manuals online, thanks for the link

 

[lakelover]

According to the manual, it's suitable for "NON-CORED hulls or aluminum hulls thinner than 1/8?." Surely my hull is not 1/8 thick! Not even close. Best I can figure, it's about .064, or 1/16".

 

[GA_Boater]

I think the bottom of the Jet Star is .100, still way less than 1/8".

 

[Fed]

If you're not actively searching for fish then check out Navionics, cheap download for tablet or phone.
Check their web app to see what you will get at your lake, use the button in the lower left corner to get super detail
http://webapp.navionics.com/

 

[dingbat]

According to the manual, it's suitable for "NON-CORED hulls or aluminum hulls thinner than 1/8”." Surely my hull is not 1/8 thick! Not even close. Best I can figure, it's about .064, or 1/16".

shoot thru will work fine in an 1/8" of aluminum or less.

You've have a bigger problem finding a location where rivots are not causing turbulence

 

[lakelover]

I think the bottom of the Jet Star is .100, still way less than 1/8".

Could very well be. I was just going on a guess by looking up the hull thickness of my SF14, a utility boat that looks like a clone of the Jet Star up to the gunwales.

 

[lakelover]

If you're not actively searching for fish then check out Navionics, cheap download for tablet or phone.
Check their web app to see what you will get at your lake, use the button in the lower left corner to get super detail
http://webapp.navionics.com/

Heh heh heh, don't forget you're talking to a guy who doesn't even OWN a tablet, or a phone, or even a laptop!!

 

[lakelover]

shoot thru will work fine in an 1/8" of aluminum or less.

You've have a bigger problem finding a location where rivots are not causing turbulence

Thanks, good to know. Still looking into things....

 

[ondarvr]

According to the manual, it's suitable for "NON-CORED hulls or aluminum hulls thinner than 1/8”." Surely my hull is not 1/8 thick! Not even close. Best I can figure, it's about .064, or 1/16".

Since you are just looking for depth the performance reduction may be fine going through the aluminum. Like aready said, find a spot with the least amount of turbulance for good results at speed.

 

[bassman284]

If you're not actively searching for fish then check out Navionics, cheap download for tablet or phone.
Check their web app to see what you will get at your lake, use the button in the lower left corner to get super detail
http://webapp.navionics.com/

First problem you're going to have to spend about $2,000 on a unit that can actually use Navionics. It's great but not cheap.

 

[Fed]

No bassman, Navionics will even run on my old samsung S phone and my Nexus 7 (2012). I think the HD phone app as about $15 and the HD tablet app about $45 or so. It also runs on iphones & ipads I believe.

 

[dingbat]

First problem you're going to have to spend about $2,000 on a unit that can actually use Navionics. It's great but not cheap.

Navonics will run on most of your inexpensive, under $200, big box store brands. In fact, maps can cost as much, if not more than the unit itself.

 

[airshot]

The previous owner of my aluminum boat tried to shoot thru the hull and it was a joke. Don't waste the time and money trying, just attach it to the transom with a good below water sealer and SS screws. It did shoot thru but not accurate, and only worked when sitting still. Mine now even reads at high speed with the transom mount.