Sun Cat Depth Sounder Recommendation

[bcoonan]

I am buying a depth sounder for a 2012 Sun Cat.  Any recommendations?

[Glenn Basore]

Some time ago I purchased an Uniden model QT206 to put on board my 2006 Eclipse, I haven't installed it as yet :-(

I really like it however, a friend of mine suggested a fish finder might be better as it shows the contour of the bottom of what your looking at (lake or shore line).

By seeing the bottom contour you can turn away from an obstacle or rapidly approaching shallow water area and see which way to go vs just reading the depth gauge numbers appearing on your screen and guessing which way is the best way to turn?

I will most likely stay with i bought which was about $125.00 and there are no holes to drill through you hull, it works with a transducer of some type that mounts flush with the interior hull.

Glenn B.

[capt_nemo]

bcoonan,

Don't want to sound like a smart A$$ Sun Cat Owner, but why are you buying a depth sounder for a boat that only draws 14" board up (4 1/2' board down)?

This question comes from a guy who, having lived aboard and cruised thousands of miles in large sailboats and trawlers with a good bit of them offshore and in the Bahamas, uses a home made "lead line" now for a depth sounder on his Sun Cat (primarily when anchoring). The word "Minimalist" is probably best used to describe the way I fit out my Sun Cat "Pocket Cruiser". And, if you really think long and hard about it, you too may come to realize the many advantages to "keeping it simple", AND ENJOYABLE! 

It is not too difficult to know the location of your boat and general depth of the water where you are sailing by using paper or even (God forbid!) electronic charts such that you are able to sail safely and stay out of harms way.

If you really think a Depthsounder is an absolute necessity go for it! But perhaps your money would be much better spent invested in something like good ground tackle, given that you plan to anchor out sometime.

Comments offered with helpful intention.

capt_nemo

[skip1930]

If your going through the hull, find one that is flush to the outside of the hull as possible. Lessen the drag.
If your shooting through the hull glue the gizzmo to the inside of the hull with the least possible amount of air bubbles trapped in the silicone.
If your hanging the gizzmo into the water but outside the hull on a 'platform'...don't do that. Just gets knocked off.

I screwed up a bit. I purchased a Raymarine Bi-Data-40 unit 9 years ago. Well the speed paddle [once sold seperately] magnates became demagnetised and stopped working late last season but the depth/temp/alarms/ all still work.
The speed paddle part, as a whole or just a paddle, is no longer available. Rats...trying to find N.O.S. or a used one from a wrecked boat. Anything...I can't pull it out or I'd have a 2 inch dia hole in the hull. "Not so Good"? Scratch my head.

Speed Paddle has the pull ring on it.

Nice and smooth. Min. drag.

skip.

[EclipseGuy]

I wanted to know my boat speed as well as having charts for the lake I am sailing, so I went with a Lowrance Elite 5. These can usually be found on sale for around $500 with the transducer.

I mounted the transducer the same way that a shoot through hull transducer would be mounted, using thickened epoxy. It works great.

You can always test the location that you would like to mount your transducer using plumbers putty before you commit to using epoxy.

I have been very happy with the Lowrance Elite 5.

- John

[nies]

I agree with Glenn...........I sail inland lakes and find having a depth finder an aid in finding the last few feet before tacking from the shoreline..............I installed a Uniden QT206 inside the hull trans.,I hate holes in the hull.......installation a little tricky due to hull shape and at a  large angle of heel tends to not show depth ...................but for around $125 it is a neat aid to sailing the max...........go for it.......nies

[Joseph]

I agree with captn_nemo that sailing a SC is a great opportunity to develop into a minimalist sailor. Also, given the shallow drought of the SC, even if single-handed (i.e., w/o the luxury of a bow watch) and unless one is facing the Sun, it is almost impossible not to be able to visualize shallow obstacles to the keel. However, knowing the depth is not only useful to prevent being aground but also to determine the scope ahead of anchoring. Using a lead line is beyond reproach, but requires time and can be cumbersome when single-handed. So, my preference is for an electronic hand-held depthfinder. The one I have is a Norcross Marine H22PX. However, having said that, I also had a Raymarine ST-40 installed in the boat... mainly for the sake of its anchor-dragging alarm, which has saved the day (actually, the night...) more than once.

J.

[MacGyver]

Skip,
Contact Raymarine, you can buy that transducer still, just need to check the wiring schematic against what you have now.

I just replaced a guys a short while ago (end of last year.....) with a new one.

IF you run into problems, let me know, I might be able to get you numbers and such. Maybe even a direct link if your nice, LOL

Mac 

[skip1930]

Thanks Mac, I called  Raymarine in N.J. and was on the phone for 45 minutes, they were digging out from hurricane Sandy and were a bit battered. One gal looked on her scope and said, "Nope!". So she sent my call to the basement were 'flipper' was and he said, "I see it on the computer as being discontinued. As is the replacement discontinued for this original unit. No we have no NOS."

Hummmm, then over to a sales office somewhere...and that gal and later that guy said we have not seen one of those for a few years. A might discouraging...to be sure. Raymarine told me to call around to boat supply houses, and other Raymarine dealers.

I shot a request out to Craig's List. Nothing...still looking. The cost new for the speed thing is a reasonable $120 for the whole works. If I could find one. I have the part number, and I described how it reacts and the error code given...the error code indicated a magnetic output problem, but not a pick-up problem.

I think what happened is when I power washed the bottom I spun up the paddle wheel to an ungodly speed and probably destroyed the magnates. Or something like that. The code are dashes, not zero's. Means the pick-up is working but not seeing...I pulled all the color keyed wiring off the back of the head and no corrosion, good tight connections, everything has continuity, and looks right. No broken wires.
There has to be one unit somewhere, maybe in the U.K.

I need help looking.

skip.

[jpfx]

+1 for raymarine. got one (depth only) st-40 thru-hull and it's extremely useful.

[kickingbug1]

 i have a bargin basement eagle lcr fishfinder on my duracraft. ive had it for 7 years and it works like a champ. its pretty small, gives a digital readout as well as bottom contour and cost like 85 bucks. good thing is if you want to anchor near a channel or drop off for some fishing youre in business

[mikew]

I use a cheaper $70 Eagle unit on my Cp-16 like Kick mentioned. It came with a transom mount transducer for a fishing boat which works
just fine glued to the inside of the hull in the lazerette area. As Glenn mentioned the sounder does show a trend in the bottom contour so
you can easily tell if you're coming up on shallow water without focusing on the digital numbers. These units only draw 1/10 amp from
the battery so you can run it all day on about 1 amp/hour. There is a way to interpret the thickness of the bottom display ( greyline)
which will let you know the type of bottom for anchoring purposes- weeds, sand or rocks. FYI- I recently saw a similar priced unit at
my local Walmart in the fishing section.

Mike