Cheapish fishfinder needed - suggestions for my installation

[stuartwineberg]

I have a Hardy 25 motorboat - semi displacement and goes around 14Knots at cruise. Single shaft drive, big trim tabs either side of the transom so I don't think I can find clear water to fit a transom mounted sensor. Current depth sounder is a standard airmar unit feeding an oldish Raymarine radar/plotter RL80CRC I think (not at the boat)that I don't think is fishfinder compatible. My inclination is to fit an in hull sensor as I don't really want to lift the boat although if the view of the Forum is that it would be cheaper to swap the current depth sensor for a fishfinder one and then fit a splitter (can I?) so I can feed both the chartplotter and the fishfinder I would be interested. I don't need combined plotter functions - I am happy with all that - just a decent fishfinder. As always all advice welcomed

 

[Pete7]

Southampton Boatshow next week isn't it? ideal time to go (mid week) and have a look at the likes of Garmin, Lowrance and Eagle.

Pete

 

[stuartwineberg]

Southampton Boatshow next week isn't it? ideal time to go (mid week) and have a look at the likes of Garmin, Lowrance and Eagle.

Pete

You're ahead of me - I will be there for sure - just trying to go there with the expertise of the forum in my pocket

 

[Pete7]

In the 1990s we used Lowrance and Eagle kit because it was bomb and idiot proof even with clumsy club divers but I think Garmin have now caught up. Colour display which is nice and about £144,less what every you can haggle off.

http://www.barden-ukshop.com/solara-sr135tl-regulator-1224v-135wp-477-p.asp

Or Black and white for £75.

http://www.force4.co.uk/9458/Lowrance-X-4-Fish-Finder.html

Now the instructions say you have to fit the sender on the transom because they are designed for small craft and can't be fitted to fire through the hull. Back in the real world the Lowrance transducer I glued into the club rib in 1997 with silicone sealant to do one afternoon dive is still there quite happily working by shooting through the hull (boat was in the water so couldn't access the bottom of the transom). Test the area chosen by putting the transducer in a plastic bag of water.

View attachment 35198

 

[single]

In the 1990s we used Lowrance and Eagle kit because it was bomb and idiot proof even with clumsy club divers but I think Garmin have now caught up. Colour display which is nice and about £144,less what every you can haggle off.

http://www.barden-ukshop.com/solara-sr135tl-regulator-1224v-135wp-477-p.asp

Or Black and white for £75.

http://www.force4.co.uk/9458/Lowrance-X-4-Fish-Finder.html

Now the instructions say you have to fit the sender on the transom because they are designed for small craft and can't be fitted to fire through the hull. Back in the real world the Lowrance transducer I glued into the club rib in 1997 with silicone sealant to do one afternoon dive is still there quite happily working by shooting through the hull (boat was in the water so couldn't access the bottom of the transom). Test the area chosen by putting the transducer in a plastic bag of water.

View attachment 35198

What is the Barden link for?
Also some good reading here- http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?369250-Depth-sounder-fishfinder&highlight=echosounder

 

[stuartwineberg]

Thanks for the advice - much appreciated

In the 1990s we used Lowrance and Eagle kit because it was bomb and idiot proof even with clumsy club divers but I think Garmin have now caught up. Colour display which is nice and about £144,less what every you can haggle off.

http://www.barden-ukshop.com/solara-sr135tl-regulator-1224v-135wp-477-p.asp

Or Black and white for £75.

http://www.force4.co.uk/9458/Lowrance-X-4-Fish-Finder.html

Now the instructions say you have to fit the sender on the transom because they are designed for small craft and can't be fitted to fire through the hull. Back in the real world the Lowrance transducer I glued into the club rib in 1997 with silicone sealant to do one afternoon dive is still there quite happily working by shooting through the hull (boat was in the water so couldn't access the bottom of the transom). Test the area chosen by putting the transducer in a plastic bag of water.

View attachment 35198

 

[Spirit of Glenans]

In the 1990s we used Lowrance and Eagle kit because it was bomb and idiot proof even with clumsy club divers but I think Garmin have now caught up. Colour display which is nice and about £144,less what every you can haggle off.

http://www.barden-ukshop.com/solara-sr135tl-regulator-1224v-135wp-477-p.asp

Or Black and white for £75.

http://www.force4.co.uk/9458/Lowrance-X-4-Fish-Finder.html

Now the instructions say you have to fit the sender on the transom because they are designed for small craft and can't be fitted to fire through the hull. Back in the real world the Lowrance transducer I glued into the club rib in 1997 with silicone sealant to do one afternoon dive is still there quite happily working by shooting through the hull (boat was in the water so couldn't access the bottom of the transom). Test the area chosen by putting the transducer in a plastic bag of water.

View attachment 35198

On my first boat, a Leisure 17, I used a Garmin, (AFAIR). I mounted the transom-type transducer, in-hull ,by glassing a piece of 6" pipe to the inside of the hull, on the centre line. I filled this to a suitable level with castor oil and attached the transducer to the bottom of a large cork from a glass storage jar, which was a perfect fit. I tweaked the design later, to prevent accidental oil spills, by inserting a wooden dowel horizontally through the cork, to engage in elongated slots cut in the top of the tube, in the style of a bayonet-type light fitting. It worked perfectly.

 

[stuartwineberg]

Thanks all. The most important question has now been answered twice and I appreciate the confirmation. All the cheap finders come with a transom mount transducer designed for the USA lake market where they use this approach or fasten the sensor to a small trolling motor with a cable tie, neither of which is available to me. Two posters have now confirmed that these will work through a solid hull. Time to go fishing at the boat show and see what's what

On my first boat, a Leisure 17, I used a Garmin, (AFAIR). I mounted the transom-type transducer, in-hull ,by glassing a piece of 6" pipe to the inside of the hull, on the centre line. I filled this to a suitable level with castor oil and attached the transducer to the bottom of a large cork from a glass storage jar, which was a perfect fit. I tweaked the design later, to prevent accidental oil spills, by inserting a wooden dowel horizontally through the cork, to engage in elongated slots cut in the top of the tube, in the style of a bayonet-type light fitting. It worked perfectly.