I purchased my boat three weeks ago, it was a beautiful day, so my friend and I decide to take it out to a local lake for some pre spawn bass fishing. My boat is not huge, so the depth finder is mounted on the port side dash. My job, pilot the boat. His job, keep an eye on the depth finder for depth and structure. See where this is going yet? The day is progressing well, I'm trolling from spot to spot at barely a knot using the main engine just out of neutral. Every now and again, I ask him hows our depth. "right around 60" he says. Not unusual for this lake as it is like a huge bowl. Shoreline goes from 3' to 80' quickly all around the lake. As we start to round a turn, I know it gets shallow as there is a point that juts out. Watch our depth, I say. "We're good,Still at 60" comes the reply. 
I know thats not right!!! I couldn't process the thought fast enough....CRUNCH!!!!! Brain now goes on auto pilot. Disengage prop, raise up the out drive. Whew, still floating. Not taking on any water, we did not run aground with the hull. Now, did anyone see????? Look at the depth finder.....Yup, 1.9 feet. What did we learn today?
Me: Don't solely rely on someone else for input while your driving. Check yourself.
Don't assume your friends understand your equipment.
My boat needs 3' of water to operate the main engine safely.
There is 17 ft of boat in front of that transducer.
Friend: The 60 in little numbers is the water temp. The big numbers are the depth.
No damage to the boat other than some missing paint on the prop and the skeg.
I know thats not right!!! I couldn't process the thought fast enough....CRUNCH!!!!! Brain now goes on auto pilot. Disengage prop, raise up the out drive. Whew, still floating. Not taking on any water, we did not run aground with the hull. Now, did anyone see????? Look at the depth finder.....Yup, 1.9 feet. What did we learn today?Me: Don't solely rely on someone else for input while your driving. Check yourself.
Don't assume your friends understand your equipment.
My boat needs 3' of water to operate the main engine safely.
There is 17 ft of boat in front of that transducer.
Friend: The 60 in little numbers is the water temp. The big numbers are the depth.
No damage to the boat other than some missing paint on the prop and the skeg.
