NASA Clipper Depth

[Neil]

Since I already had a Garmin fish finder and P75 in-hull transducer, I was thinking of fitting these to my new BayRaider Expedition. However, positioning and cableing these would not be straightforward. As a consequence, I was thinking of ditching the idea and going for a NASA clipper depth which I could mount on the bulkhead the other side of the interior switchgear; the large display being readable from the back of the cockpit.

What is the opinion of the cognoscenti on this piece of kit?

 

[Plum]

Since I already had a Garmin fish finder and P75 in-hull transducer, I was thinking of fitting these to my new BayRaider Expedition. However, positioning and cableing these would not be straightforward. As a consequence, I was thinking of ditching the idea and going for a NASA clipper depth which I could mount on the bulkhead the other side of the interior switchgear; the large display being readable from the back of the cockpit.

What is the opinion of the cognoscenti on this piece of kit?

Mine works very well indeed and would recommend it although, unlike the fishfinder it replaced, does not have an integral on/off switch so needed a switched supply. I did try to connect it to the existing transducer and although it worked, the reading was not stable so fitted the NASA transducer inside the hull using the optional NASA fitting kit.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Neil]

Mine works very well indeed and would recommend it although, unlike the fishfinder it replaced, does not have an integral on/off switch so needed a switched supply. I did try to connect it to the existing transducer and although it worked, the reading was not stable so fitted the NASA transducer inside the hull using the optional NASA fitting kit.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Does the fitting kit allow for the curve of the hull so that the transducer can point straight down?

 

[Plum]

Does the fitting kit allow for the curve of the hull so that the transducer can point straight down?

Yes, in that you cut the base of the plastic tube in the kit at an angle so it stands upright then bond it to the hull as explained in the included instructions .

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Poignard]

I have had a NASA Clipper depth sounder since 1998 and I like it.

You can buy a repeater display so that you can, if you want, have one display at the chart table and one in the cockpit.

The two displays' alarms can be set for different depths so you can have a two- stage warning. "Take care" and "Do something"!

 

[Neil]

This is looking like the optimum solution. I'll need to read the instructions as to the best position for the transducer. Just forward of the keel would be handiest for cabling, or to one side of the keel.

 

[fredrussell]

Had Clipper depth on last two boats, great bits of kit

 

[Refueler]

To find best position there are various ways to do it ...

1. Plastic bag of water with transducer IN the bag .... place on hull and see display.

2. Blue tack completely across transducer face ... place on hull and see display.

Those are just two ways ... #1 is the best.

As to angle of transducer in the tube ? You can either set the tube vertical but use the resin to accommodate the angle, or roughly cut the tube to angle matching hull.
Personally I just use the resin and matt to do it.

Trick :
Many people find that resin starts to 'leak' after a few years ... basically because hull was not scrupulously clean when bonded. You only have to look in the bilge and see the sticky smear emanating from the tube to hull joint ....
I have always used Oven Cleaner to clean up GRP inside hull ... it lifts everything ! But must be washed / rinsed away fully and allowed to dry. I've done this for others and they have been amazed when they see the gleaming white surface !!
I do not use Acetone - which is a solvent softener for Polyester Resin ... but this is an option.
I had to rebond my in hull Transducer - fitted by one of the previous owners ... I 'broke' out the tube ... chipped away the resin ... sanded .... then Oven Cleaner .... rinsed ... rebonded with Polyester + matt ..... 25+ years later still fine. In fact I have changed Transducer in same tube in those years ...

 

[boomerangben]

Hi Neil, I have a BRE as well but without any electrics at the moment. Pondering on whether to put some form of plotter in (together with the associated battery, possible small solar panel) on board and thought about combined plotter and fish finder. Interested to hear that a Garmin fish finder won’t install and I am wondering why? Is it because it is too small to be seen when helming?

 

[Minerva]

Had and used a Nasa clipper depth, speed and wind instruments for many, many years. They are terribly boring in that they just work and continue to keep working for a jolly long time. That and added to the fact that they are a UK company, manufacturing is in the UK and the help folk are incredibly helpful, I wouldn't hesitate to fit new Nasa instruments at all.

In fact, it would have to be a very good reason to make me install anything other than Nasa.

 

[fredrussell]

For what it’s worth, I just stuck my transducer to the inside of the hull with a big dollop of sikaflex. Works great and one less hole in the hull.

 

[PaulRainbow]

If you want stand alone, basic wind/depth/speed etc then NASA do the job. They are relatively inexpensive and work well enough, although the masthead wind units are a bit short lived.

There are various reasons why one might want integration and if you do, then NASA can't do it. I have a single Garmin plotter on my flybridge. My transducers, on an N2K network, provide all the data i need to that one display. I can see wind, depth, speed, heading etc. The autopilot can be controlled from the same screen, steering to wind, waypoint or route, thanks to all of the data being on the network. All i need then on the lower helm is an inexpensive 10.4" Android tablet to mirror the plotter.

There is no one size fits all, it depends on what you want to see. Boat size is largely unimportant.

 

[Poignard]

That's it.

Yer pays yer money, and yer takes your choice.

 

[Refueler]

That's it.

Yer pays yer money, and yer takes your choice.

Exactly ....

I keep looking at having a Wind setup and display ... but then I sit and look at my arrow and V arms up there ... the size of waves .. and remember all the boats I've seen that had lost their 'cups' and then had no wind info .... sorry to say it - but most were Nasa that lost their 'cups' .....