Depth Sounder

djsimeon · Jan 29, 2003

Hello everyone, I need your advise and recomendations. I have a 18 foot Chaparral 1830 boat. I'm interested in installing a depth finder. However, I know very little about them other than the fact that since I ruined my prop last year at the Colorado River I need one....... I'm leaning toward a Humminbird, Standard Horizon, or a Hawkeye.I need to know of the three which one is the best for my boat, the ideal location for a thru haul tranducer, and any other recomendations, thoughts, or helpful hints. Thanks, Dan

Franki · Jan 29, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

I don't know about the other two, but I suggest you stay clear of the Hummingbird.. I have one, they such at supporting it, and they skimp on the transducer (the bit that goes on the back of your boat.) make sure whatever you get has a large transducter the one on my boat is a hummingbird, it has a transducer about 1.5 inches long and 1 inch or so wide.. it drops out over about 6 knots regardless of the positioning. garmin is good, and there are many other good ones.. look around, but stay clear of hummingbirds.. there are other threads on hummingbirds in this iboats forum if you want to look, none of them say nice things. rgds Franki

roscoe · Jan 29, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

I don't think a depth finder will save your prop unless you are going very slow (2mph). They only give a view of a very small area directly under the transducer, and don't give you enough time to react if you are moving along. Also, most of them have alarms that are not audible over the engine noise. JMO

mattttt25 · Jan 29, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

you want the depth finder. although roscoe is right in saying you only know the depth under you (and usually back at your transom), it gives you an idea of what the topography is doing down there while you're moving along. i'm sure they are all comparable, but i have also heard to stay away from humminbird. i would also go with a transom mounted, as i hate to put more holes through my hull. good luck-

djsimeon · Jan 30, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

Thanks for the info guys. If anone else could respond It would be greatly appriciated. Thanks, Dan

JAZZedBW · Jan 30, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

I have a Raytheon depsounder and it is the best. Of course, I have a fly-wheel on my transom, but for a good through hull fitting, in the bilge or the lowest point in the boat. But make sure its far enough away from your prop because if you ever had to stop on a dime, that kind of gives you time. But primarily, put it in the bilge. Thank you JAZZ

SCO · Jan 30, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

Edited because the depth finder of this post is no longer available

ebbtide176 · Jan 30, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

i have a hummingbird, but would probably buy another brand next time. garmin & eagle seem to have good reviews by users here. i think you should think of other options for preventing prop damage. isn't that river full of rocks and fast current? you might want to run a search on "prop guard" or "skeg guard" here. it should give you lots of info on protection.

trollhole · Jan 30, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

Lowrance 3500 dpth sounder is a good choice and it cost about 99 bucks. I had an older model lowrance and it worked great. Lets you know when things are going to get shallow. Saved me many times!

Big Al1 · Jan 30, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

What's with all these speculations about Humminbird? I've got the new Humminbird (acutally made by Zercom) Legend 1000 depth finder. Best depthfinder for the money. It works great at high speeds. Well I've never gone over 30mph. But this unit is supposed to work like a flasher so it has real time graphing. Maybe that lets it operate at high speeds. All I know is that I have owned older Humminbird units that were crap, I owned an Eagle unit and never showed more than depth and what it said was fish, and I've owned a Bottom End that was decent but the transducer just kept breaking so I didn't get the warranty to cover it again so now I have the Legend 1000. At 30mph I can look for hard bottom, ledges, and even schools of baitfish. Can the Garmins or the Eagles do that?

Pursuit2150 · Jan 30, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

I have a Ray365 since 1998,still working great. Depth,Temp,MPH,Fish alarm w/Depth. U won't go wrong.

crab bait · Jan 30, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

i have a 'ZERCOM' big AL.. had it for 4 years.. spent B I G $$ on it.. do i like it ..?? yeah , sure.. i still don't trust it when it shows lines, dots , & spots as 'fish',, tho,, in shollow fresh/brackesh water.. 15 ft or less ..in deeper salt,, i trust the 'markings' more ... i like the real time flasher,, i always have a marker bouy ready to throw.. but still only 'throw' when it 'hits' somethin' real good & in a bottom contour/hole that's too good to ignore.. one thing i absolutely despize of this unit,, is when in the sun/heat,, the cotton-pickin' screen turns dark/black.. cools down like on the CAR ride home ,, it comes back to normal.. one-o-these-days,, i'm gonna chuck it out the window.. !!

snohomishbaddawg · Jan 30, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

check out the garmin 160 or 240. great units and very easy to use. if you use your boat in salt look at the 160 blue or 240 blue. I have a 160 blue on my boat and it is great!

djsimeon · Jan 30, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

Thanks for your opinions guys. IN regard to the depth finder it will be just a simple in dash round depth finder that gives you the depth only. I'm leaning toward the Hawkeye but I have yet to find aanyone with one. I to have heard that for some resaon the Hummingbird has difficulty processing depth readings.

Valv · Jan 31, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

Djsimeon, what you need is an In-Dash flasher/depth finder, Lowrance, Zercom, and Vexilar make them, they are very nice and accurate. Vexilar is more expensive, but it has 3 colors to shiw fish or bottom contents. I have a Zercom CID 40 in dash, and I'm very happy, 0 maintenance, very accurate and fast with bottom reading.

Boatist · Jan 31, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

Djsimeon I do not know your boat but assume it is fiberglass. Fist if all you want it for is not running aground and protection your prop can run almost any unit. For Shallow water (under 150 feet) I like Lowrance Eagle and Garmin. It is true depth finder will only see what is under your boat but it will show you when the bottom is coming up and help you find the deeper water especily in dirty water. You can set a shallow water alarm at a depth that is deep enough to know to slow down in time. All units will work at least to 40 miles per hour if you mount your tranducer correctly. You will need a unit that has Shallow water alarm. For fibergalss boat about half you can shoot thru hull with out drilling any holes. Just find the spot and epoxy it down. Test it first. If your boat is type you can shoot thru hull find out where from dealer then build a dam out of clay or something and fill with water inside boat put tranducer in water and test run. If works get some epoxy and glue it down there. Make sure do not over mix glue as any air bubbles will cause transducer not to work right. Ask your dealer if your boat can shoot thru hull or not. If type that can not then get a transom mount tranducer. Check the link below for a good start on finding how unit works and what they will do. Also how to mount transducers. Good luck http://www.lowrance.com/Tutorials/sonar/sonar_tutorial_01.asp

skydad · Jan 31, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

I have an Eagle on my boat. It works GREAT!!!!! Lowrance & Eagle are built by the same folks. Good Luck.

djsimeon · Jan 31, 2003

Re: Depth Sounder

Boatist, Thanks for the awsome reply the web link was very informative

Depth Sounder

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