Replacing Depth Sounder

[Guy W. Leslie]

Has anyone replaced a Standard Horizon DS 40 depth sounder? With a bad transducer, I've decided to replace the instrument too. The problem I'm faced with is the old unit is only a 2.5" cutout in the cockpit wall. As much as I'd like to buy another Raymarine (I had the ST 40 in my previous boat) they tell me it doesn't have the power to utilize an "in hull" type transducer. The boat being in the water would make this type transducer easier to install at this point. I would prefer to be able to use the present cut out and the adjoining space is taken up by the knotmeter. If this makes sense, you can see where I'm in the state of confusion stage! West Marine carries a HawkEye model but at $99 I wonder about it's reliability and longevity.
Thanks for your valued input,
Guy

[2tocruise]

I had my depth sounder go bad on me this spring (an older NAVMAN unit, which is no longer made and no longer in business). I iniatally purchased the $99 hawkeye depth sounder from West Marine but ended up returning it after spending an entire weekend trying to get it to shoot through the hull without success. I tried all over the hull and could not get it to give a reading through the hull (using both the plastic bag of water and vaseline methods of trial mounting). I could get it to read perfectly when suspended in the water outside the hull.

I ended up hauling the boat (had already planned to do that for new bottom paint) and spending a couple of extra days to remove the old transducer and install a new airmar transducer and tack-tick depth system.

I'm not going to go as far to say that it will not work, and I have no idea on reliability, but I could not get it to function in what i though was a reasonable amount of time and effort. Hope this helps.

[tartansailor]

If you read the reviews of the chinese HawkEye on Amazon, you will find general condemnation.
2tocruise seems to have a good solution.
Dick

[Guy W. Leslie]

Thanks for your thoughts and 1st hand experience with the Hawkeye. That helps me eliminate one approach. I'm beginning to think that maybe a thru-hull transducer is the preferred way to go. I'd like to hear how the Tack-Tick system works out for you.