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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Recommendations for Depth/Fish Finder?

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/16/2010 : 11:33:46

Hi all,

I'm trying to get the most bang for my buck, but don't know if it's possible or feasible. I'm looking for a good quality depth & fish finder that is mobile, so I can use it in my boat AND kayak. I'm envisioning one of those units with a puck-style sensor that shoots the beam through the hull.

The problem is that I don't know anything about depth/fish finders, and am mostly just hoping that the kind of unit I'm envisioning can be moved from boat to boat.

Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated!

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2010 : 15:45:10

I use the Eagle Cuda fish finder for a depth meter on our C-25. They are relatively inexpensive, around $70-90, but I'm not sure it would work well on a kayak (rollovers). You would need to rig up a 12v battery system to power the thing, and rig a mounting bracket.

Edited by - dmpilc on 11/16/2010 15:45:39

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3473 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2010 : 16:06:11

As far as portability of a fishfinder...hmmm...well that's a compromise if you go with real portability. I have seen handheld depthfinders but that seems like more trouble than it's worth and won't really prove satisfactory when sailing. A regular fishfinder could be used and just don't mount the unit...leave it on the bottom of the cocpit and then just have to rig a mount that can be easily detached off the trnsom. Otherwise, you can do a full hookup with the sensor mounted in a glob of toilet bowl wax ring up forward under the VBerth area but that is not quite so portable since you have the wiring behind the seats to remove each time you want to move the depthfinder to another boat. The best option thinking about this as I type would probably be to mount a fishfinder similar to my hookup or leave in bottom of cockpit (my hookup is using a RAM Swing Mount). Then wire the sensor as mentioned above to leave on the boat and sensor under the VBerth area. Then buy an extra sensor with wiring. Then you can easily remove the fishfinder, detach the sensor wiring from the unit and use the extra wiring and extra sensor with the one fishfinder unit on your kayak. But how susceptible is your kayak to turning over ? Maybe a handheld unit would be ebtter for the kayak. by the way...why do you need a fishfinder on a kayak ? Kayaks can go in just about any shallow water condition...unless you want to use it for fishing ?My fishfinder is made by Humminbird. They have fishfinders that are fairly inexpensive for the basic model(s) (use to have models under $100 and maybe still have them at that around that price) and then costs go up based on features.

Edited by - OLarryR on 11/16/2010 16:09:15

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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1234 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2010 : 16:40:46

Thanks for the ideas, guys. I do fish a lot in my kayak, often trolling for pike, musky, and casting and retrieving for bass. I've never rolled the kayak, or even come close to it. It's an Old Town Loon 13.8 (I think), and is very wide and stable.

Mostly what I'd use it for on the kayak is the trolling.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5408 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2010 : 18:19:57

Ben,
I use my fishfinder mainly in my 13 ft kayak, but can also use it in my 16 ft canoe and daysailer. My kayak is a Perception Sierra with a large cockpit.

I use a Lowrance B&W model with a bulb transducer. I created a wooden bracket and mounted the display to that. The bracket hangs over the side of the cockpit with a thumbscrew to rigidly mount it, and the transducer is connected to the mount by an articulated arm allowing me to adjust the height.

I power it using a 12V sealed lead-acid battery from Wal-Mart that was originally intended for a motorized kiddie cart. Weighs about 3-4 pounds and runs the unit for about 6 hours.

You could also use 10 rechargeable NiMH double-AA batteries in a battery holder from Radio Shack. They provide 12V @ 2.4 amp-hours which should keep you going for about 4 hours. I've seen folks use 8 "D" cells as well.

Another option is a battery jumper unit that's available in most automotive parts stores. It comes with a pair of alligator clips to recharge your dead battery (if needed) and a cigarette lighter plug/receptacle. Don't know the AH rating on that.

I added a lighter plug to my unit so I could use it in a variety of boats. Works great.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 05:37:34

Thanks Bruce. I think your set up makes a lot of sense, and would make the unit mobile, and usable in the sailboat without too much additional expense.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone. :-)

Edited by - on

Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 07:17:01

Ben,

For your kayak you might want to consider one of these from Harbor Frieght. At least you won't feel so bad if it takes a swim. Also, is doesn't require a 12v battery. http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-fish-finder-94511.html

Edited by - Chris Z on 11/17/2010 07:17:33

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 07:23:18

You might try a flashlight-type depth meter, which is made especially for dinghies. Watch the video on West Marine's site:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=434224& catalogId=10001& langId=-1& storeId=11151& storeNum=10103& subdeptNum=10261& classNum=10262

Practical Sailor reviewed this category of devices in this month's issue:
http://www.practical-sailor.com/

Edited by - TakeFive on 11/17/2010 07:24:24

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 09:51:11

Boy if this isn't a great time for someone to develop an App for your phone huh? Plug the transducer into your phone/Ipad and your good to go.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 10:41:59

I have the patent already pending!

Edited by - on

Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 19:23:20

Well, your too late. This guy shows the App. Also check out the other great app he demos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXOVkTHL_qE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBB9NyMMo4A&feature=related

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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1234 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2010 : 14:56:19

Chris, that Harbor Freight fish finder really does look nice, and economical too; but I question how easily it would troll. The transducer itself seems to designed to be "cast" itself, hanging underneath it's own bobber.

Rick, it's not simply a depth meter I'm interested in, I truly am interested in a unit that I can use in my sailboat AND in my kayak where I would troll for fish. The flashlight version wouldn't work, I think.

This is what I've decided on, which is economical and with good reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Fishfinder-4-7-Inch-Dual-Beam-Transducer/dp/B000ES8AWI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290117313&sr=8-1

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5408 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2010 : 17:14:08

Looks big enough for you sailboat, and not too big for the kayak. I did not see a photo of the transducer, do you know how it mounts? What's your plan to power it? Might be able to use emergency lighting sealed gel cells.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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1234 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2010 : 07:04:25

Bruce, there is an accessory kit that includes a suction cup mount adapter that, believe it or not, gets really good reviews. I know, a suction cup that actually works?!!? But this one reportedly sticks very well. The kit also includes a case that has a battery pack that takes 8 D batteries. I don't have any reviews on that, but I'm hopeful. If the case and D batteries don't work too well, I'll probably just rig something like a battery from a child's toy car, such as this one. I just hope I'm strong enough to wrestle the vehicle away from these two little girls; they look kinda tough.

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2010 : 17:52:11

Ben,
Just noticed on e-Bay an [url="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200544450820&rvr_id=171123137695#ht_720wt_1030"]Eagle 245ds fish finder[/url] (new) for $30...maybe this would serve the kayak and keep a separate fishfinder on the C25...only about 1 hr left to bid

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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4593 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2010 : 11:26:26

Check out the Eagle Cuda 300 at Bass Pro, $79.99.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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1893 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2010 : 21:23:13

You can find inexpensive 12V gel cells on eBay (maybe similar to the kiddie car) sold as replacements for small PC UPS.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5408 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2010 : 09:16:35

The critical parameters are weight (portability) versus AH.

But please note - whatever you rig up, use a connector type that (1) prevents inadvertent shorting of the leads, (2) enforces polarity (red + black -) and (3) includes a fuse inline and right next to the battery. A 2-5 Amp fuse should be plenty.

Suitable connectors include cigarette lighter receptacles and plug combinations, as well as two-lead trailer plugs. In the latter type, the negative lead should be exposed on the battery end.

Bad connector types are uninsulated spade lugs which can short together, but even insulated spades will not enforce connecting positive to positive and negative to negative.

Most often if you power a device and inadvertently reverse the polarity, abundant smoke and a non-functioning unit will result.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2010 : 09:37:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Leon Sisson
 You can find inexpensive 12V gel cells on eBay (maybe similar to the kiddie car) sold as replacements for small PC UPS.

-- Leon Sisson
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
In my experience shipping on these things can be prohibitively expensive because of their weight, which makes Internet purchase less attractive. These batteries are also found in home alarm systems and rechargeable lanterns. I found them for $10 at an electrical supply company in Wilmington, DE. I'd suggest that you check Grainger and other places near you to avoid shipping costs.

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