Depth Sounder or Fish Finder?

NSS · 18 December 2009, 13:42

Hi all. Would appreciate some advice on what would be most suitable to fit to my Avon 340.

Am not overly bothered about locating fish, but do want to be able to gauge depth, particularly in shallow waters, reasonably reliably. For simplicity of installation, I want to use a transom mounted transducer, but am uncertain whether I should go for a dedicated depth sounder (Nasa Target 2 or similar), or a Fish Finder (such as the Garmin 90 or 140).

Obviously the Fish Finder will give a broader picture of the bottom terrain, but am concerned as to whether it will be reliably accurate in shallow waters (under 1.5m), even at low speeds.

Which would you fit?

PeterM · 18 December 2009, 13:50

I'd go depth sounder - just one number to think about instead of pretty pictures of stuff that your brain needs to think about .

I know that when the number get close to 0 I am about to hit the bottom- simple!

However ..... if you got a fish finder rigged up it may be of use either if you wanted to fish , or if you came to sell to a fisherman type !

NSS · 18 December 2009, 14:05

Thanks for that. As I said, really not concerned about finding fish, but was leaning toward the fishfinder simply for the 'picture' of the bottom terrain in the immediate vicinity. My concern was/is that fishfinders may not provide reliable depth measuring in very shallow waters and had presumed thaat may be why a relatively simple (in terms of the info displayed) dedicated depth sounder costs as much or more than an entry level fishfinder (desspite the FF displaying more complex info).

9D280 · 18 December 2009, 15:57

I've been considering this for a while - mostly because I have a really tiny console, so a relatively big fishfinder display eats into the space........

Someone (Might be Lowrance or Raymarine, can't remember off the top of my head) does a "depth" with a "trend-ometer" up the side of the display, which gives an at a glance idea of whether it's getitng shallower or deeper and how fast it's happening. Again one less thing to think about.

PeterM · 18 December 2009, 16:00

Surely the 'trendometer' is the thing stuck just above most peoples neck ? I can get down to 3 inches with reasonable accuracy - which I then ignore as usually its just mud.

eg ( and I quote) 'Blimey its started to get shallow................... bugger I've hit the bottom'

Channel Ribs · 18 December 2009, 16:24

Fishfinder every time, make yourself feel better and call it sonar.

They are the same money and you get way more information, installation is the same too.

jyasaki · 18 December 2009, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSS

but was leaning toward the fishfinder simply for the 'picture' of the bottom terrain in the immediate vicinity. My concern was/is that fishfinders may not provide reliable depth measuring in very shallow waters

They provide quite accurate info in shallow water, assuming they're set up reasonably well.

My Lowrance reads from somewhere around 200 fsw (it's a high freq unit) to as little as a half a foot below the transducer (though probably not at speed - that skinny and I'm creeping.)

jky

chewy · 18 December 2009, 18:42

Fishfinder, cheap enough plus on my Garmin it also tells you battery voltage.

Hightower · 18 December 2009, 23:53

Fishfinder for me too. I find that you don't have to keep too close an eye on it as the graphics for the bottom terrain will tell you if your getting shallow or deeper without constantly looking at the depth numbers.

NSS · 19 December 2009, 11:30

Thanks all. Seems the general consensus is to go with the fishfinder - so long as there's enough space on the console.

Channel Ribs · 19 December 2009, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSS

Thanks all. Seems the general consensus is to go with the fishfinder - so long as there's enough space on the console.

For 70 quid I think most consoles would have room for on of these...

chewy · 19 December 2009, 12:30

Easy!

9D280 · 21 December 2009, 09:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

For 70 quid I think most consoles would have room for on of these...

The important word here is "most".......

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

Easy!

Not so if you already have a flush mount compass up there, VHF strapped to the side, remotes on the other side, tacho down by my kneecaps......

chewy · 21 December 2009, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9D280

Not so if you already have a flush mount compass up there, VHF strapped to the side, remotes on the other side, tacho down by my kneecaps......

I have a flush mount compass mounted in front of the sounder, you can see it in the photo.

9D280 · 21 December 2009, 14:02

The main reason I don't like surface mount is that one mishandled rope at a marina from someone berthing alongside you & the whole lot gets ripped off. Also having watched people bounce form rib to rib to get from pontoon to their boat, that fishfinder would make a really tempting hand hold to someone......

Yes, I got naff all space, but that's more through choice than lack of creativity. I also can't be @rsed spending 10 mins disassembling / rebuilding my console every time I leave the boat, so I really want flush mount kit.

Having put plotter purchase on hold 'til lI rebuilt the engine (I don't need a plotter to tell me I'm sat in my garage!) I have the interesting twist that anything I;,m likely to buy will be NMEA2000 capable. One NMEA sounder unit later, & I solve the space problem completely!

Hightower · 21 December 2009, 17:13

This is what I built several years ago and the whole lot was removable with quick connectors on the back.

Perhaps you could do something similar?

walruz · 22 December 2009, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9D280

Yes, I got naff all space, but that's more through choice than lack of creativity. I also can't be @rsed spending 10 mins disassembling / rebuilding my console every time I leave the boat, so I really want flush mount kit.

I have a fully inclusive chartplotter from Garmin and it fits and comes off in seconds not 10 minutes. When it goes it will be replaced by a colour version of the same.

Ian

PS searider consols have very little space on top too.

captnjack · 22 December 2009, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

Easy!

What is that big disk on the starboard side?

9D280 · 22 December 2009, 16:52

Agreed, a combined surface mount unit will be removable in seconds, but thing is it still doesn't solve the "idiots with ropes in a marina" or "first / easiest thing you grab" problems.....

JSP · 22 December 2009, 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9D280

Agreed, a combined surface mount unit will be removable in seconds, but thing is it still doesn't solve the "idiots with ropes in a marina" or "first / easiest thing you grab" problems.....

I've fitted mine into the console for the reason too.