I've owned 3 boats in the past ten years and none of them have had a working depth finder.
Anyhow, I've done tons of research and I know very little about the new terms and technology. Confusing! So here is a post with my summary of terms and a ton of questions ....
Transom Mount = Drill a small hole in transom, use screws to mount the transducer outside the transom, run a wire to the depth finder. Plus: Get water temp. Minus: Drilling into transom.
In Hull or Glue In Transducer = No Holes! Epoxy glue the transducer inside the gunwale/bilge area. Plus: No adding holes to the boat!! Minus: No Water temp.
Thru Hull Transducer = Drill a massive 3"- 4" inch hole into the underside of the hull, Yikes! Obviously a terrifying install, should be done by a pro. What are the advantages to this type?
So I purchased a Hawk Eye in dash depth finder ($98) with the glue in type transducer cuz I'm reluctant to drill into my beautiful new yacht. Instead of "In Hull", Hawk Eye calls it "Shoot Thru Sonar Technology". Is this a good, in dash product?
Next, I screw open the dash and find a very, very tight nest of wires and zip ties. It looks like the guts of an F-18 back there with no space or service loops = Tight! I have easy access to a back lit compass but that power is only 'on' with nav lights switched 'on', so that would be not the best? I am handy but electrical is my weak sauce. I can get to the old in dash depth finder wires. There is *just* enough wire to cut and splice. Looks like I should use these wires if I can reach, pull and stretch em? Not much to work with here.
For this boat, I'd like to get the in dash depth finder working and then add a basic fish finder. Any thoughts on the Garmin Striker 4 Portable? There are different models and Garmin is real vague about what the transducer actually is. Seems like they sell a traditional transducer that 'might' work as a thru hull. And when the thru hull doesn't work, they would tell you to drill out your transom? Any simple fish finder recommendations w In Hull transducer?
This is when I realized the boat has a real Thru Hull drilled into the hull and wired to the dash (where the display is wonky, not working). The old depth finder 'worked' but the display and digits are not fully working so you can't tell the depth. Can the old thru hull transducer and wire be used? Probably not with the Hawk Eye that I purchased? Can I purchase a fish finder (or a different in dash depth finder) that could hook onto this older thru hull transducer?
This is where I am calling 'Uncle' and need some advise from yall' that know way more than eye!!
Anyhow, I've done tons of research and I know very little about the new terms and technology. Confusing! So here is a post with my summary of terms and a ton of questions ....
Transom Mount = Drill a small hole in transom, use screws to mount the transducer outside the transom, run a wire to the depth finder. Plus: Get water temp. Minus: Drilling into transom.
In Hull or Glue In Transducer = No Holes! Epoxy glue the transducer inside the gunwale/bilge area. Plus: No adding holes to the boat!! Minus: No Water temp.
Thru Hull Transducer = Drill a massive 3"- 4" inch hole into the underside of the hull, Yikes! Obviously a terrifying install, should be done by a pro. What are the advantages to this type?
So I purchased a Hawk Eye in dash depth finder ($98) with the glue in type transducer cuz I'm reluctant to drill into my beautiful new yacht. Instead of "In Hull", Hawk Eye calls it "Shoot Thru Sonar Technology". Is this a good, in dash product?
Next, I screw open the dash and find a very, very tight nest of wires and zip ties. It looks like the guts of an F-18 back there with no space or service loops = Tight! I have easy access to a back lit compass but that power is only 'on' with nav lights switched 'on', so that would be not the best? I am handy but electrical is my weak sauce. I can get to the old in dash depth finder wires. There is *just* enough wire to cut and splice. Looks like I should use these wires if I can reach, pull and stretch em? Not much to work with here.
For this boat, I'd like to get the in dash depth finder working and then add a basic fish finder. Any thoughts on the Garmin Striker 4 Portable? There are different models and Garmin is real vague about what the transducer actually is. Seems like they sell a traditional transducer that 'might' work as a thru hull. And when the thru hull doesn't work, they would tell you to drill out your transom? Any simple fish finder recommendations w In Hull transducer?
This is when I realized the boat has a real Thru Hull drilled into the hull and wired to the dash (where the display is wonky, not working). The old depth finder 'worked' but the display and digits are not fully working so you can't tell the depth. Can the old thru hull transducer and wire be used? Probably not with the Hawk Eye that I purchased? Can I purchase a fish finder (or a different in dash depth finder) that could hook onto this older thru hull transducer?
This is where I am calling 'Uncle' and need some advise from yall' that know way more than eye!!
