Simple echo sounder for a keelboat?

[Kukri]

I just bought an old Squib, as a present for a teenage son.

Not a competitive racer but will make a good camping cruiser.

There is a transducer fitted but no display unit, and no obvious means of identifying the make.

Electrickery is not my strong suit.

What are the chances that an old battery Seafarer will work with it?

 

[DownWest]

Quite good; This question comes up fairly frequently.
If you put up a pic of the transducer, I will compare it with the Seafarer one under the desk...

 

[Kukri]

Thank you! I’ll get a snap today and post it later.

 

[Kukri]

Umm. The transducer cable has a label on it which reads
“Airmar
Shorty P8
200 KHz -A
PN 31-335-2-01 Rev 06”

 

[Kukri]

Ahead is to the right.

 

[VicS]

Umm. The transducer cable has a label on it which reads
“Airmar
Shorty P8
200 KHz -A
PN 31-335-2-01 Rev 06”

The old Seafarer echosounders were 150kHz. ( I still have one!)
Likewise Nasa echosounders.

 

[Kukri]

The old Seafarer echosounders were 150kHz. ( I still have one!)
Likewise Nasa echosounders.

Thanks, VIc!

That’s what I feared! Out with the cheque book once more!

I suspect there won’t be a 200Khz one which takes dry batteries...

I wonder what was removed?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Any one of the main makes Raymarine etc will work with that transducer so you could use a cheap 12V sealed lead acid battery and a secondhand depth sounder whatever you can find ST50 perhaps.

 

[Leighb]

I am away at present but I do have an unused NASA transducer that are welcome to have just for P&P. Let me know if you want it?

 

[Keith 66]

If you have to buy new a cheap fishfinder will do everything an echo sounder can & more.

 

[Kukri]

I am away at present but I do have an unused NASA transducer that are welcome to have just for P&P. Let me know if you want it?

Thanks for that very generous offer, but I think I’ll try to match the sounder transducer that is already there, as the end of the O levels is nigh and the sprog wants to get afloat...

 

[Kukri]

Any one of the main makes Raymarine etc will work with that transducer so you could use a cheap 12V sealed lead acid battery and a secondhand depth sounder whatever you can find ST50 perhaps.

Makes sense, given that there is a log/speed paddle wheel right next to the echosounder transducer.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Makes sense, given that there is a log/speed paddle wheel right next to the echosounder transducer.

I had a look an I think there was an ST50 tridata on fleabay which would pair up the two.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Any one of the main makes Raymarine etc will work with that transducer so you could use a cheap 12V sealed lead acid battery and a secondhand depth sounder whatever you can find ST50 perhaps.

A Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) battery, such as is used in burglar alarms, telephone exchanges and large RC cars would probably suit as it would be compact and could be mounted at any angle without spilling.

 

[Kukri]

Thanks!

I think I have an ST 50 Tridata in a box of bits.. and the sealed lead acid battery will allow the sprog to charge his phone and play with Navionics.

Problem solved!

 

[William_H]

I would not bother with a depth sounder. Or put another way you have a keel which makes a great depth sounder. If you run aground you can heel the boat to reduce draft and sail away. If necessary get out and push. Being careful to hang on to the boat. This is the way I have operated my little boat 21ft which while it has a lifting keel has never been lifted in a grounding.
Just a thought olewill

 

[Leighb]

When we raced our RHOD we were not allowed depth sounders. A calibrated bamboo wielded by the crew was the answer. It has the great advantage of being absolutely accurate, no fuzzy echoes or rapidly varying readings in shallow water which can happen with electronic devices.