Recommended depth sounders?

[JimmyB]

Hi - Just got registered and heading to the boat show.  We bought a nice 19 last year - hull 109 - 1983.  Unfortunately we sail in a tide-dependent bay - Plymouth, Mass.  and it would be nice to know how much water is under me.  I want to use a shoot through the hull type - no holes and nothing over the transom.  Can anyone recommend a brand/model that they have had success with?  Did you use silicone or epoxy to affix it to the inside of the hull?

Also, I am looking to replace the compass.  It was probably original - a Saturn model with a 3 inch diameter casing.
Any suggestions for a replacement?

Looking forward to spring!

[peterg]

Hi JimmyB,
   I have generally used Raymarine Bidata instruments, but they required thru-hull installation. Almost all of my boats, and there have been many, utilized thru hulls for instruments, raw water, drains, etc and I've never encountered any issues. Proper installation and maintenance go a long way to success and reliability. That said, I have also used a Garmin chartplotter with an epoxied on in-hull depth transducer with excellent results, including accurate speed, and knowing where the dickens I am! I also used a Hawkeye depth sounder with epoxied in transducer and it was junk.
PeterG

[Reighnman]

Take a look at the lower end Garmin EchoMap with coastal maps already installed. Only drawback is the screen has a bunch of things (your new compass) on it so the actually depth reading is very small compared to a plain depth instrument like the Raymarine Bidata instrument. We have it on our fishing boat and it's great but it's two feet in front of our faces.  Picked it up last year at Boat US for $250 during a memorial weekend sale but you can always dicker at a boat show, especially with cash. Ours is transom mounted which as you say wont work on a sailboat but cant see the extra transducer being that much more. I'm fairly new to sailing but believe its best to mount it directly in front of the keel. I considered mounting one on my last boat and youtube has some great videos on it. Think technology has greatly improved as less and less people want a hole drilled in the bottom of their boat.

[JimmyB]

Thank you guys for your suggestions I will check them out.
I'm sure I'll have more questions as the year goes along.

[kahpho]

JimmyB,

I have a Raymarine unit I ordered with an in hull transducer. From my research I've found that some people mount their through hull or stern mount transducers in hull and they work OK with some reduced range (possibly). I was ordering new so I just bought the one designed for what I wanted.

I looked at depth sounder/fish finder/chart plotter type units too and much as I liked them, they draw a lot more current from the battery which I was trying to avoid. It's an option for some though.

[kickingbug1]

    i use a cheap huminbird lcr and shoot through the hull. i didnot use epoxy for the transducer however as it would be permanent. i used some silicone sealant i bought from home depot. its not 5200 so the transducer is easily removed. i laid some down and pressed the transducer into it to remove any bubbles, it works prefect and has been in place for over a year. many lcrs will give boat speed and the more expensive ones have gps included. the nice thing is that they show the bottom as it raises and lowers not just number changes

[hoddinr]

Kick,

Where did you mount the transducer inside the hull, and was any special prep needed to the interior of the hull?

Thanks.
Ron

[sawfish]

I have a Garmin 541s-I mounted the transom transducer in silicone shooting thru the flat area of the hull(under the companionway step)next to the keel with good results.
Sanded the area smooth,clean and dry,then pressed the transducer into 100% silicone.Set the depth offset for the draft and good to go!
Also tried toilet ring wax as a less permanent/removable option but it melted the first real warm day

[kickingbug1]

    on the catalina 18 there is a space under the companionway where the cooler-step sits. behind the cooler and under the cockpit sole is solid floatation. i cut a 5"hole removed some of the floatation material and was able to mount the transducer just aft of the keel. i do have to keep in mind that the keel is 18"

[hoddinr]

Thanks for the mounting information!

Ron

[kickingbug1]

    dont epoxy the transducer until you know it works ok. i just used some silicone and never needed the epoxy

[Damsel19]

I am probably in the minority here. But I favor a traditional through hull ducer. Having installed many, I have never seen one fail or leak. (35 years in boat repair) They are stronger than the hull.  There is about a 25% performance loss shooting through the hull.  Modern flush ducers with out a fairing block have negligible drag. The hull prep to glue in a shoot through ducer is generally more work.  I think the little flat spot in front of the keel would do nicely.

[dsinger]

i found a Standard Horizon c90 at a good price. I mounted the shoot thru transducer with silicone on the flat area under the companionway step.  No problems with this setup.