duncan
Active member
Re: Is a depth sounder essential to anchoring?
that would be using the anchor as a lead line then...?
that would be using the anchor as a lead line then...?
Is a depth sounder essential on a boat?
- Thread starter jimi
- Start date
fireball
New member
Yes
Doh!
Doh!
claymore
Well-known member
Re: two years ... nm
I seem to recall it was saying 5.2m in Puilldobhrain?
I seem to recall it was saying 5.2m in Puilldobhrain?
claymore
Well-known member
What a pert little bottom I have
thank you for that!
thank you for that!
Phoenix of Hamble
Active member
don't be worrying about your bottom.... had you found Machurley22 by the time that picture was taken?
Peppermint
New member
Re: Still one of my favorites.
If you sail between the buoys all the time and never go anywhere interesting perhaps you don't need one.
But then I don't have much kit on my boat.
If you sail in Norway there pretty useless. Nothing on the clock for days and then bang you've hit something
If you sail between the buoys all the time and never go anywhere interesting perhaps you don't need one.
But then I don't have much kit on my boat.
If you sail in Norway there pretty useless. Nothing on the clock for days and then bang you've hit something
Sybarite
Well-known member
Absolutely. It measures the distance between happiness and catastrophe. Having lived through going up the Irish Sea with about 25m visibility and before GPS - the Decca had gone on the blink - it was all that was left. I have two, an old one at the chart table and a modern digital one in the cockpit which I use mainly for anchoring. With two I can cross check for accuracy. I also have two leadlines. The obligatory one and a lighter one that covers 90% of requirements eg for sounding all round the boat when you lay up against a drying wall which you don't know.
John
John
claymore
Well-known member
Well - I don't really like saying this to Para the old scrote - but I was actually working on the paddlewheel for the log then.
Nickel
Member
I use the sounder a lot for sailing by contours, and found that in fog, for me, it's a crucial piece of kit.
Would much rather be without a plotter than a sounder.
Would much rather be without a plotter than a sounder.
LadyInBed
Well-known member
I do use mine.
I set the shallow alarm so I can tack inshore without paying too much attention and it tells me when I am dragging through silt when running late getting back up the Wareham channel.
I set the shallow alarm so I can tack inshore without paying too much attention and it tells me when I am dragging through silt when running late getting back up the Wareham channel.
oldharry
Well-known member
Depends whether you mind wasting the odd tide...?
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
I am going to put my two pennyworth in and say that an echo sounder is essential. How many people have I seen who claim that they know exactly where they are and the echo sounder tells them they can't be there? Its the one bit of kit that doesn't really lie. GPS can be out - but the echo sounder tells you that you still in the channel. Tacking up a river like some other forumite, I tack on the sounding. We'll tack when we get to the 5 metre contour. (When racing more like - we'll tack when we've got 0.5 m under the keel...)
In the west country, life would be very boring if we had to sail within the bouyed channels all the time. I usually try to stay outside the bouyed channels - and for that, I watch the echo sounder. No choice for me....
How are you going to explore all the creeks and rivers that aren't bouyed?
The list is endless...
In the west country, life would be very boring if we had to sail within the bouyed channels all the time. I usually try to stay outside the bouyed channels - and for that, I watch the echo sounder. No choice for me....
How are you going to explore all the creeks and rivers that aren't bouyed?
The list is endless...
Sgeir
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
I set the shallow alarm so I can tack inshore
[/ QUOTE ]
Agree that works well - on a black moonless/starless night we set the alarm to 10m and tacked up the West Kyle. Didn't hit anything.
I set the shallow alarm so I can tack inshore
[/ QUOTE ]
Agree that works well - on a black moonless/starless night we set the alarm to 10m and tacked up the West Kyle. Didn't hit anything.
roger
New member
In the Sjaelland Rundt race in one narrow shallow channel through the sand, upwind at night, its recommended to tack when the echo sounder reads 10 cms.. eeek
Sea Devil
Well-known member
How do you anchor without an echo sounder?
Peppermint
New member
Re: If you know your position.....
you can guess how deep the water might be.
you can guess how deep the water might be.
bobupanddown
Member
Nobody seems to have thought of a "lead line"? This is an essential piece of equipment for all yachts. What happens if you lose all power?
Not having an echosounder makes for a much more relaxing cruise. Before you set off make a good check of the tides to ensure you will not hit rocks etc then forget about depth until you come in towards shallower mooring areas. Using the lead line then ensures you travel at a safe speed and concentrate on whats going on outside rather than being transfixed on the echosounder.
Try it for a while I can guarantee a more relaxed cruise. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Not having an echosounder makes for a much more relaxing cruise. Before you set off make a good check of the tides to ensure you will not hit rocks etc then forget about depth until you come in towards shallower mooring areas. Using the lead line then ensures you travel at a safe speed and concentrate on whats going on outside rather than being transfixed on the echosounder.
Try it for a while I can guarantee a more relaxed cruise. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
jimi
Well-known member
erm.... read the original post
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
Can't agree.
Even when I am out pottering in familiar waters, I keep a weather eye on the echo sounder - its one more bit of information that confirms I am where I think I am. Its very nearly infallible and it very rarely goes wrong. Why go without it?
Even when I am out pottering in familiar waters, I keep a weather eye on the echo sounder - its one more bit of information that confirms I am where I think I am. Its very nearly infallible and it very rarely goes wrong. Why go without it?
eyupdougdown
New member
Ever tried blind pilotage without a depth sounder / fish finder?
