Fishfinder Depth Sounders

[Grehan]

I think there were some posts on this kind of subject some while ago, so forgive me for resurrecting a few basic questions 'cos I'm completely ignorant on the subject . . .

Fishfinder Depth Sounders
a) are they a good cheap way of 'seeing what's below'?
b) do they look forwards, or sideways, or both?
c) do they work at comparatively shallow depths? (i.e where it's most important 5m-0.5m)
d) other factors/recommendations/warnings?

thanks in advance

BTW have no interest in fish, fishing or indeed in eating fish!

 

[Bergman]

Had one for about 3 years now. Very cheap model, bought it more to amuse young daughter than for serious purpose.

It does seem pretty accurate, useful for me with lifting keel as it gives depth under hull (transducer) with no offset.

Mine works right down to the point where you touch, 2ft in my case.

They are particularly good as they do show the trend very clearly so good in narrow little channels although they do not look ahead, at least the cheap ones don't.

No particular thoughts on them, my transducer is epoxied into bottom of hull and seems to work through GRP ok. I guess you will get what you pay for as far as extra facilities are concerned.

 

[David2452]

We use a high end Eagle product, still on cost par with even an average dedicated depth sounder. Works well, has sidescan capabilities, speed & distance, water temp. We rarely use the fishfinder option, just the (very large) depth, speed, distance & water temp display.

David

 

[oldharry]

I always fit a fishfinder nowadays, as it gives more useful information than a conventional sounder!

Answering your questions, Grehan:

a) yes - they tell you more than you usually need to know about whats below you. And no, not necessarily more cheaply. Fishfinders start at around £120, and can cost 6 or 7 times more. Nasa sounders cost around £75 - I think.

b) Cheap ones look straight down, like a sounder. At a price you can have them looking forward, sideways and aft, and producing a graphic 'map' of the bottom - complete with fish! Useful for East Coast types trying to find a narrow poorly marked channel. Others can show whats coming up ahead, or whatever.

c) Yes, mine still registers as the tide drops away on my drying mooring, until the transducer is exposed. Useful, as when the sounder stops registering I know its shallow enough to wade ashore in my wellies....

d) The most useful info it gives is that you can see at a glance the rate at which the depth is changing - unlike conventional sounders where you have to regularly monitor the readings. OK thats no big deal, but it makes it a lot easier when single handing round Chichester Harbour, and have 3 different fleets of racing dinghies to negotiate as well, for example! Even the cheap ones have variable depth alarms fitted, and the newer ones give some indication of the composition of the bottom - mud, sand, rock, weed etc, etc, which makes for safer anchoring.

 

[Grehan]

Thanks folks [n.m]