Plotter/depth for noob..?

[Uncle Nobby]

Hello

Any recommendations on a combined chartplotter and depth sounder? Needs to be waterproof and above all, cheap!

Thanks in advance.

[MikeCC]

New, look at Garmin 45dv pre loaded with charts
Or see what's going on eBay

[Uncle Nobby]

Thanks Mike. What makes this particularly recommended? Presumably it needs the transducer too?

[Phil M]

The question is, what do you want it to do? If its tell you where you are on a map and how much water is below you then a basic unit will do just that. If you want a fish finder, sonar or high resolution down scanner, then you pay more. Also, how much console space do you have? do you want to connect to a DSC radio or AIS receiver?

I have the Garmin Echomap 50dv. Very simple to use and good quality sonar images. I bought this one because it has more NMEA in/outputs than the similar Lowrance and Raymarine units so would talk to the DSC/AIS radio and the smartcraft gauges. It also has high-res down-scanning sonar for picking out under water features and wrecks to dive. Most makes are pretty good these days. Just buy to your requirements and budget.

Phil M

[Uncle Nobby]

Thanks Phil. I don't want to spend a fortune, and just want a location on a chart on which I can plot my route with waypoints, and depth below. Fish finder would be nice though...

[jonp]

For medium to low budget Lowrance seem to be the biggest seller over here. Ive had them on all my boats for around the last ten years and currently own 3 hds units (2 boats). My main use is fishing and diving and for this they have outperformed anything else Ive tried.

The fact that I can still clearly see and find structure as I cruise at 22knts even in 300 metres + means my only excuse for missing things on the bottom is that I wasn't looking at the screen.

For a little more money I may look into some of the Simrad units on the next boat.


Jon

[Uncle Nobby]

Thanks Jon

I have a full Simrad setup on my Broom. Great system, would recommend.

I went for the Garmin and stern transducer in the end, being delivered tomorrow (excited face).

[6950rpm]

Can anyone tell me - Do chartplotters without transducers typically just show you the water depth above chart datum or do they calculate the depth according to in built tide tables?

[GuyC]

They'll show you the depth of water relative to chart datum i.e. the same as on a chart.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by 6950rpm

Can anyone tell me - Do chartplotters without transducers typically just show you the water depth above chart datum or do they calculate the depth according to in built tide tables?

None of the above. They will just show the charted depth. No different to looking at a paper chart.

[Uncle Nobby]

Delivered this morning. Well done Barnet Marine.

[Fenlander]

Did you see the adj thread where I asked about a fully portable GPS and then gravitated to the idea of a 45DV. Almost ordered this lunchtime but decided to do more research. Is that Barnet Marine package with the more expensive Down Vu transducer... can you explain it's advantages?

[Uncle Nobby]

Well, from what I understand, the transducer will give me the actual depth, not just a predicted one. East coast, plenty of sandbanks. It is shows me where the fish are, or features, then great.

NEW GARMIN EchoMap 45DV GPS Map Sounder Sonar Fish Finder INC Down Vu Transducer | eBay

[Fenlander]

Oh yes adding any transducer will show actual depth under the transom or wherever you fit it... but I thought I noticed the Barnet deal had a transducer upgrade over the standard one they offer... I wondered what extra results that gives?

[Phil M]

The standard Echomap has, I believe, just a traditional type sonar, so will display ground, obstacles and fish arcs. The DV models have the DownVu high definition sonar which covers a much narrower beam but in very high detail and gives images that look a bit like an ultrasound scan. Google DownVu images and the monochrome ones are the HD scan, the multicolour ones are traditional sonar. I find DownVu better for spotting dive sites, but fish show up as dots and can be hard to spot initially. The traditional sonar gives less detail but fish arch are easier to spot than dots.

I think the 45DV has both traditional and DownVu, but don't quote me on that.

Phil M

[Fenlander]

>>> think the 45DV has both traditional and DownVu

I think you are probably right as they offer either a standard £50 transducer with the unit or a £90 DownVu one.