Forward looking sonar

Pipster100 · 27 March 2019, 19:47

Hi all,
Has anyone fitted a forward looking sonar? I’m only looking to use it for coming into little coves in flat water at very slow speed.
Cheers

GuyC · 27 March 2019, 21:51

No but I've looked in the past.

Echopilot in the UK always get good reviews.

Alternatively something like a Garmin Panoptix.

Both are possibly overkill for what you are after however I'll be interested in reading about what people suggest.

I've considered either getting a lookout in the bow armed with a boat hook that is longer than the draught of the boat or dangling the anchor over the front so that runs aground first.

paintman · 27 March 2019, 23:38

Not tried one but I do quite a lot of plugging & flyfishing for bass & do a lot of drifting close in within easy casting distance of the shoreline when conditions are suitable.
Dragonfly 7 plotter/fishfinder & a pair of good polarising glasses (clip-ons in my case).
On summer holiday my fishing area is between Cadgwith & Porthallow as I stay in Coverack so not that far from you.
If you're very close in - looking to land? - then either someone in the bow or come to a stop & use a boathook to check.

There's a writeup on a few from PBO in this link. Seem to have issues with soft bottoms.
http://www.pbo.co.uk/gear/5-forward-...r-tested-29321

gpsguru · 16 April 2019, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pipster100

Hi all,
Has anyone fitted a forward looking sonar? I’m only looking to use it for coming into little coves in flat water at very slow speed.
Cheers

My new Ribcraft is being fitted with Garmin Panoptix Livescope, which is also is a forward looking sonar ..............I have seen it in 'action' and does seem to work pretty well. However, I think for many the drawback will be cost as it doesn't come cheap. For me. it more about fishing than being able to see forwards ........... I will let you know just how good (or bad) it is once I get the boat in a week or so's time.

GuyC · 16 April 2019, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpsguru

...once I get the boat in a week or so's time.

Time must be dragging.

gpsguru · 16 April 2019, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyC

Time must be dragging.

Well, yes it is, but ............ the weather has been sh1te just lately and also I would rather it be late and done properly than rushed to finish on time

RickW · 16 April 2019, 12:17

Looks my forward to seeing the finished build

Pikey Dave · 16 April 2019, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickW

Looks my forward to seeing the finished build

Seconded[emoji106]

Pipster100 · 16 April 2019, 20:14

Thanks for the info, be interesting to see how it performs. I do a fair bit of fishing too, so be great to get your thoughts on it once you've had some time working with it. Which Ribcraft do you have on order? I purchased a 585 (not new) at the end of last year. In the end I decided to keep to about the 6m length as perfect size for what I want to use it for, I had initially thought about going to round the 7-8m length but decided I also wanted to be able to tow it comfortably with my Transporter camper, rather than having to use my Discovery.

wolfman · 25 June 2019, 21:12

Hi there GPSGuru,

Hows the new RC performing ? .... have you any updates on how the Panoptix is performing ?

Is it be worth the investment .... i might be in the market to get a new plotter , though probably not till the end of season sales ......

all the best

Ian

smallribber · 27 June 2019, 06:04

Hearing what RC are like in time scales he is most likely still waiting

willk · 27 June 2019, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

Hearing what RC are like in time scales he is most likely still waiting

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/ribcraft...tml#post795001

Looks like he's happy out. Out boating on his BIG SHINY NEW rib! Not sitting awake at 0600 trolling through RIBnet looking for places to post snippy, sarky, mean spirited comments to people he doesn't know, disparaging things he either doesn't understand or appreciate.

jambo · 27 June 2019, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/ribcraft...tml#post795001

Looks like he's happy out. Out boating on his BIG SHINY NEW rib! Not sitting awake at 0600 trolling through RIBnet looking for places to post snippy, sarky, mean spirited comments to people he doesn't know, disparaging things he either doesn't understand or appreciate.

Got it in one!!

Pikey Dave · 27 June 2019, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/ribcraft...tml#post795001

Looks like he's happy out. Out boating on his BIG SHINY NEW rib! Not sitting awake at 0600 trolling through RIBnet looking for places to post snippy, sarky, mean spirited comments to people he doesn't know, disparaging things he either doesn't understand or appreciate.

[emoji57]

Easy on the guy, it’s been a long night & he could be a tad “tired & emotional “
Honda Engine Woes
http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?p=797763

willk · 27 June 2019, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Easy on the guy, it’s been a long night & he could be a tad “tired & emotional “
Honda Engine Woes
Honda Engine Woes - Page 3 - RIBnet Forums

Oh. Pished then...

smallribber · 28 June 2019, 04:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/ribcraft...tml#post795001

Looks like he's happy out. Out boating on his BIG SHINY NEW rib! Not sitting awake at 0600 trolling through RIBnet looking for places to post snippy, sarky, mean spirited comments to people he doesn't know, disparaging things he either doesn't understand or appreciate.

Time zones of course vary around the world........ your need to get out more

Your little RC clic are very easy to catch with very simple bait

smallribber · 28 June 2019, 04:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/ribcraft...tml#post795001

Looks like he's happy out. Out boating on his BIG SHINY NEW rib! Not sitting awake at 0600 trolling through RIBnet looking for places to post snippy, sarky, mean spirited comments to people he doesn't know, disparaging things he either doesn't understand or appreciate.

Says Mr 13,000 plus posts

gpsguru · 30 June 2019, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/ribcraft...tml#post795001

Looks like he's happy out. Out boating on his BIG SHINY NEW rib! Not sitting awake at 0600 trolling through RIBnet looking for places to post snippy, sarky, mean spirited comments to people he doesn't know, disparaging things he either doesn't understand or appreciate.

Indeed you are right willk old chap ...........

Weather hasn't been great in June but managed to get out enough to have finally snagged all the little 'setting up' issues ............. so now i can turn my attention to getting on with the fishing.

I can honestly say that RC build a pretty good boat, it just takes a little time to set it up the way i want it to work

......... which has now been achieved.

gpsguru · 30 June 2019, 13:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfman

Hi there GPSGuru,

Hows the new RC performing ? .... have you any updates on how the Panoptix is performing ?

Is it be worth the investment .... i might be in the market to get a new plotter , though probably not till the end of season sales ......

all the best

Ian

In a word 'Yes' ...........

Panoptix livescope is excellent. Grandson was out with me whilst i was getting Mackerel for the bait freezer and he was able to watch the fish go for the feathers and was able to tell me what hooks on the string had 'hooked' fish ...........

Forward scanning sonar is also good ........... I have used it in the river as I know the river like the back of my hand, and it performed as expected. The level of detail is quite exceptional ........ when I remember to put a memory card in, I will take some screen shots.

wolfman · 04 July 2019, 11:23

Hi GPSGuru

Thanks for the reply , good to hear your happy with it .... Bad that your very happy with it , for my pocket that is , I can see your descriptive words Exceptional and Excellent costing me more money than I was planning at some point !!!

But then I guess we are getting better quality electronics and resolution all the time ..........

Looking forward to seeing some real world screen shots though :-)

cheers

Ian