Choosing the Next Depth Sounder

[MHBsailor]

My CD 22D came with a vintage 2001 Raymarine ST40 depth sounder with a tiny screen that displays a few LCD alphanumerics mounted on the back of the portside cabinhouse and the longest through-hull transducer fairing I've ever seen (2007 Airmar B45). Since the boat still has another week or so to go before launch, I'm sorely tempted to remove the old through-hull transducer and replace it with a new one. I'd like to keep it simple and reasonable in cost (commensurate with the value of the boat), and have the output to a modern gps screen and/or possibly iPad. But which one to get (too many choices)? Is there a particular depth-sounder technology that is leaps and bounds above the others for shallower depths relevant to sailboats (I'm not looking for fish at 100 feet+ )? Cheers! JD

[Jim Walsh]

I had all my instruments and transducers replaced 18 months ago as a general upgrade. They all use the NMEA2000 network to speak to one another. Even if you want minimal instrumentation at this time it behooves you to start with an instrument which can be networked to any other instruments should you decide to add them in the future.
Back in the early seventies all I had was a knotmeter and I was thrilled.....

[John Stone]

My CD 22D came with a vintage 2001 Raymarine ST40 depth sounder with a tiny screen that displays a few LCD alphanumerics mounted on the back of the portside cabinhouse and the longest through-hull transducer fairing I've ever seen (2007 Airmar B45). Since the boat still has another week or so to go before launch, I'm sorely tempted to remove the old through-hull transducer and replace it with a new one. I'd like to keep it simple and reasonable in cost (commensurate with the value of the boat), and have the output to a modern gps screen and/or possibly iPad. But which one to get (too many choices)? Is there a particular depth-sounder technology that is leaps and bounds above the others for shallower depths relevant to sailboats (I'm not looking for fish at 100 feet+ )? Cheers! JD

As part of our engine install I am considering a depth sounder. All I have ever used is a sounding line. Almost all the manufacturers offer internal transducers. If I install a depth sounder it will use an internal transducer—no hole in the hull. It shoots through the hull.

Steve L has said some good things about the Hummingbird though it’s been bought up by another company but I think it’s the same unit. You’re limited by the cord length on that model which is a little short for my CD 36. I’m looking hard at the RayMarine though it coats three times as much.

[tjr818]

We bought the Garmin Echomap Plus g3 73cv Fishfinder Chartplotter, it came with a transom mount transducer. We bedded the transducer in a pool of toilet bowl wax under the V-berth and it has worked just fine. The whole system was about $400 if I remember correctly. It comes with a 20ft cable.

[MHBsailor]

If it were a new boat, I would definitely use a through-hull transducer, but since I've already got a through-hull, I figure I might as well use it for the next transducer, unless there is a safe way to permanently close it and not to have to worry about it coming undone some day in the future?

[John Stone]

If it were a new boat, I would definitely use a through-hull transducer, but since I've already got a through-hull, I figure I might as well use it for the next transducer, unless there is a safe way to permanently close it and not to have to worry about it coming undone some day in the future?

Depends. It’s a simple hole to fill. But you need epoxy, biaxial cloth, a sander with 80 grit, some fairing compound. Here is a link to how we filled 7 holes in our boat. We followed the West System fiberglass repair manual which is free on their website. You need access to both sides of the hole.

http://www.farreachvoyages.com/projects ... rline.html

[John Stone]

We bought the Garmin Echomap Plus g3 73cv Fishfinder Chartplotter, it came with a transom mount transducer. We bedded the transducer in a pool of toilet bowl wax under the V-berth and it has worked just fine. The whole system was about $400 if I remember correctly. It comes with a 20ft cable.

Very cool Tim.