Forward looking sonar

LymingtonPugwash

LymingtonPugwash

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Just been reading my YM and getting excited at the report on forward looking sonar for boats. Having spent my time in the RN playing with sonar on ASW helios looking for Russian subs, and being a lover of gadgets, I was wondering whether it would be worth the investment? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I suppose I would still need the traditional echo-sounder as well?
What's the scuttlebutt on these?
 
Forward-looking sonar is very useful,.
It will ask things like, "Have you enough fuel for the next leg?" and "Did you check if the car tax is due?"
 
one of my mates is due to deliver a boat with it fitted
having said that its a rib that can do 60 knots so hjw much warning it can give at that speed is anyone's guess
and not much of the rib in the water at that speed anyway

the guy buying the boat i think won customer of the year. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Just been reading my YM and getting excited at the report on forward looking sonar for boats. Having spent my time in the RN playing with sonar on ASW helios looking for Russian subs, and being a lover of gadgets, I was wondering whether it would be worth the investment? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I suppose I would still need the traditional echo-sounder as well?
What's the scuttlebutt on these?

[/ QUOTE ]

Love mine (Echopilot Bronze). My traditional echo-sounder is now redundant. I get real time depth from the FLS. Highly recommended.
 
In the three years I had mine I found it next to useless. It just doesn't look far enough ahead at sufficient depth to provide any useful information, in my opinion. I am in a minority, judging by comment on here and elsewhere, but I can't help feeling it is another electronic gadget being foisted on today's boat owner. If you like gadgets, however, it might be just the business for you!
 
John

What model was yours? I used mine extensively in the carribean to thread through gaps in reefs that I would have had no chance with using a sounder. It was like having radar under water.
 
It needs to see the bottom to work so in deep water you won't see the whale, container etc until you hit it. Despite what jonic says!!!
 
Seems like it may be down to make and model?
Jonic is obviously delighted with his EchoPilot Bronze, which is one of those tested in YM...... what are some of the others you chaps have?
Jonic, can you see floating containers, Russian subs (or Iranian these days), etc?
Also, one final question..... if it's forward looking, what happens if I'm reversing somewhere to moor up, as we do in the Med? Do I still get to see depth if I've got rid of the echo sounder? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
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It needs to see the bottom to work so in deep water you won't see the whale, container etc until you hit it. Despite what jonic says!!!

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Despite what Robavery (a non-owner or user ever of a FLS /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) might say, here is a whale we tracked on ours to 160ft off the Dominican Republic.
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w7-600x515.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
Seems like it may be down to make and model?
Jonic is obviously delighted with his EchoPilot Bronze, which is one of those tested in YM...... what are some of the others you chaps have?
Jonic, can you see floating containers, Russian subs (or Iranian these days), etc?
Also, one final question..... if it's forward looking, what happens if I'm reversing somewhere to moor up, as we do in the Med? Do I still get to see depth if I've got rid of the echo sounder? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, you get real time depth all the time. A conventional sounder is delayed, sometimes by up to 30 secs. Haven't used a normal sounder for the last 14,000 miles.

Edit: It does not look backwards so I have a look forwards first before reversing.
 
Mine was an Interphase. Seeing things in 160' is of no interest. I want to see things in 10' or 15' and for this you need to be practically on top of the obstruction such is the way these things work. The deeper the obstruction the further ahead you can see it which, to me, is of no value. At danger depth you are already only a boat length away and you would already know you were in shallow water and be taking appropriate precautions. However, you seem totally confident with yours so that's fine.
To use this device to work through a reef opening sounds highly dangerous to me: If I didn't have the reef visual, or a reliable transit, there is no way I'd be messing around guessing where the entrance is - I've seen boats hit reefs and it isn't nice.
All in IMHO, as always!
 
John

I thought you were going to say interphase, as I too have heard negative feedback on those which is why I chose Echopilot. Fantastic in shallow water and can even see my anchor chain when on the hook. I used it through probably 20 cuts in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. Charting there is not reliable as the shallow sands shift with the Hurricanes, so transits can be out of date very quickly. The Echopilot let me see well ahead and was backed up with a spotter on the bow. The only time I ignored it and stuck to a transit was coming into Luperon, even though the pilot was showing a reducing depth, I followed what was the marked channel and ran straight into the newly deposited mud bank /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

No connection with the company and have utmost faith (but not blind) in mine.
 
I have spent a fair amount of time working on sonar on minehunters, and type 24s and 42s. That is I was in charge of a team working for a shipyard that had the contract to maintain them. I am not an "expert" but have learned a good deal along the way. The "big ship" stuff is immensely powerful compared to the little sets we buy for a few hundred quid for our boats, and while I am sure forward looking sonar is viable you really need to compare the technical details of each makers kit before buying. Frequency is an issue but complicated. Ignore it. If you have worked on Plessey and Macaroni stuff in the mob you will understand about differentiation and range relative to frequency. I think you can assume the frequency used is appropriate to the power available. Look at power output and claimed range and ask if it is going to see far enough to be useful though.... You aint gonna find a mine or sub with these little baby sets but I can see it could well help if you have sufficient power to see the bottom in shallow water before you hit the putty. As far as wanting a conventional set as well... why would you?
 
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