Fish Finder

nwclegg

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31 Oct 2003
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Boat - Poole Harbour
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I need a new depth sounder - as sensitive as possible for my boat's home on the River Frome (Poole). I want to feed EuroNav SeaPro 2000 on laptop.

Are fishfinder sounders any less sensitive than pure depth? They seem to be cheaper but provide more info, which doesn't make sense to simple me.

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I recently added a Garmin FF100 (that only cost £90) to my boat, which I generally use in shallow tidal rivers (Humber/Ouse/Trent).

The boat was standard fitted with a Stowe depth log (and matching speed log).

The digits on the Stowe were small and difficult to read in sunlight, and like you, I thought, what's the point of replacing it with another plain sounder, when for the same price you can have a fish finder. (although I had fitted a Nasa Clipper Duet to my last boat, and found the large clear digits excellent).

The Garmin 100FF works very well with its standard through hull transducer, that I have just set on a bed of bathroom silicon. I have found it to be very accurate, and the additional 'profile' info is well worth it in fast moving tidal conditions. There are also volt and temp displays, making it excellent value.

BTW two sounders will generally interfear with each other, and cannot be used at the same time.

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Where did u buy it at that price and does it also show Speed ??


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Adrian,

It will show speed if you add an optional transducer, however I've not priced one up, or indeed tried connecting the Stowe transducer 'just to see what happens'. I let the GPS provide the better info in that department.

I got mine from a Boat Jumble at Newark, although I have seen them at £89 on a number of the usual web sites. Should think ebay and boatsandoutboards will also carry adds at similar prices.

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I have both deapth and fish finder. Both are good. But especialy in shallow water one or the other will fail. One always works though.

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Haydn
 
Hi

"Quote" BTW two sounders will generally interfear with each other, and cannot be used at the same time.

I have to disagree here , i have a lawrence digital depth sounder fitted as standard to the boat and a Koden colour sounder fitted ,the transducers are about 6 feet apart one transducer is thru the hull and the other is fitted to the outside of the transon, both work fine together and very rearly is their a foot difference in depth

Dave

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I agree, I have a B&G depth and a Furono fishfinder/plotter thing. Both will run happily at the same time and there is a max of 2 feet between the transducers. Depths read the same as well.

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I have the Lowrance X51, excellent bit of kit, Fishfinder, Temp, pure big figures depth readout, log if paddle wheel fitted. It is very sensitive and has been great all season.

No NMEA out though, shame, but don't rule it out.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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Also agree, I have a forward looking FLS silver and an old seafarer sounder, both work well and no interference. Maybe they are on different frequencies and what he is talking about are ones on the same frequency?

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Ah the wonders of the Forum.

A few months ago there was a similar post running (can't be bothered to find it), where the majority then confirmed that two sounders did indeed interfere.

Actually, my FF works ok with the sounder on, but the sounder goes wonky with the FF on! The transducers are only about a foot apart mind.

No doubt it depends on many factors, inc frequency, and I suspect newer equipment is better at avoiding interference.

Guess the message is, don't rely on them both working at the same time.

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Nah, I've got 3 fishfinders and on the rare occasions they've all been on together they all worked fine.

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there was an article in one of the mags a year or so ago, asking why anyone has a depth sounder and not a FF. Taking their points, all those huntin an' fishin types in the USA provide some lovely economies of scale and a great market, just as long as the manufacturer remembers to market the product at fishin'. So thats why FF are such good value for the rest of us. I ve the Garmin 100. Mount it inside the hull, but practice a bit where to site it - not on top of disturbed water flow. Theres plenty of posts here and PBO. I dont get any interference between the two, and the transducers are 1/4" apart. Great bit of cheap kit. (not often you can say that about boating)

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With any reasonable quality fish finder you will find that once you have learnt to use it , it will give additional usefull information on the sea/river bed conditions ie, are they sand, rock or weed . Quite handy when chosing where to anchor. You will also get a "picture" of the ground you have covered which may help by showing a slow or steep gradient as you approach shallower water.
Regards mikej

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