Portable Battery Operated Depth Sounder?

lindsay

Member
Joined
24 Dec 2001
Messages
315
Visit site
Anyone tried one of these? I thought of buying one as an immediately usable cheapo backup, a bit like the Garmin etrex 10 as a second gps. (which works fine)

The portable depth finders are as little as 28 gbp and work off AA batteries.

When I had problems several years ago with the installed Stowe instrument, which involved much toing and froing from Spain to the UK manufacter, and an eventual haulout for the new transducer, I did install one of those cheapo b/w hang over the stern thru swimming ladder types ,but it needs to be screwed down on deck and connected to the 12v.

I am in the Mediterranean, no tides etc .
 

25931

Well-known member
Joined
22 Aug 2008
Messages
5,383
Location
Portugal-Algarve
Visit site
I came across one a few years ago and never had the chance to use it because my son decided that the inshore lifeboat had greater need. In the nature of things the rib goes into shallow, dirty water and having a sounder at the bow can be handy.
 

GHA

Well-known member
Joined
26 Jun 2013
Messages
12,420
Location
Hopefully somewhere warm
Visit site
Might be handy scoping out anchorages - see how close you can sneak in away from the rest or find a nice hole to lie in? Quicker than a lead line, and who needs a real reason to buy a new gadget ;)
 

RupertW

Well-known member
Joined
20 Mar 2002
Messages
10,261
Location
Greenwich
Visit site
Might be handy scoping out anchorages - see how close you can sneak in away from the rest or find a nice hole to lie in? Quicker than a lead line, and who needs a real reason to buy a new gadget ;)

That's why my keel is for - I should put a rubber bumper on it. My wifes loves swimming in light turquoise water and if there is no swell, settled weather and a sandy bottom it's amazing how tolerant you can become to proximity of keel bottom and sand.
 

geem

Well-known member
Joined
27 Apr 2006
Messages
8,043
Location
Caribbean
Visit site
We use ours to check out an anchorage from the rib. We find it useful especially since we are deep draft
 

prv

Well-known member
Joined
29 Nov 2009
Messages
37,361
Location
Southampton
Visit site
Another gizzmo to go wrong ? when a leadline would do the trick.

It's one thing to dangle a line over the side of a stationary boat to check the sounder offset or see which direction will be best to try to pull off a mudbank. It's quite another to keep up a constant rhythm of soundings from a boat moving forwards at speed. Maybe you have the skill, but I'm pretty sure I don't, and in any case I ought to be back aft navigating or even steering rather than stuck at the shrouds swinging a leadline around. Much more sensible to have a cheap battery sounder I can rig up if needed and then just look at the screen like normal.

Pete
 

nortada

Well-known member
Joined
24 May 2012
Messages
15,468
Location
Walton-on-the-Naze.
Visit site
Portable Depth Sounder & wifi Enderscope/Boroscope.

Try Google, loads of them costing between £30 and £200. Can't advise which is the best value for money. Others may be able to help.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=h...j0j7&hl=en-GB&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

Whilst on the subject of useful gadgets.

How about a wifi waterproof enderscope/borescope for checking under the boat (anodes), locating tools dropped over board or looking around corners?

Again it does what it says on the box. Google for information. Sold by Amazon.

I have a 7m one which cost less than £25.

http://www.lightinthebox.com/5m-cab...324697366770&gclid=CLeQp5r45NQCFSMW0wodC6UC4A
 
Last edited:

RupertW

Well-known member
Joined
20 Mar 2002
Messages
10,261
Location
Greenwich
Visit site
Re: Portable Depth Sounder & wifi Enderscope/Boroscope.

Try Google, loads of them costing between £30 and £200. Can't advise which is the best value for money. Others may be able to help.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=h...j0j7&hl=en-GB&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

Whilst on the subject of useful gadgets.

How about a wifi waterproof enderscope/borescope for checking under the boat (anodes), locating tools dropped over board or looking around corners?

Again it does what it says on the box. Google for information. Sold by Amazon.

I have a 7m one which cost less than £25.

http://www.lightinthebox.com/5m-cab...324697366770&gclid=CLeQp5r45NQCFSMW0wodC6UC4A

Haven't used mine much since but it was really useful for locating a water leak without having to dismantle furniture just to rule out a few areas.
 
Top