My parents have a 22 foot bow rider and just started boating in the Navesink river area. They wanted to purchase a depth finder only without a fish finder. Unfortunately, I know a lot about fish finders but not so much about just depth finders. What are some that people recommend. I would like to order one from boatfix.com. Thanks for your help.
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Need a Depth Finder
- Thread starter Jbender5
- Start date
I'd stay away from the depthsounders which only give a digital readout. They can get confused by temperature/salinity differences and you have no way of knowing what you're looking at. The "fishfinders" with a moving "chart" are easier to read, but there's no need to spend a bunch if all you really need is depth.
I'm kinda partial to Humminbird, this one should work for you:http://www.boatfix.com/shop4/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=8668
I'm kinda partial to Humminbird, this one should work for you:http://www.boatfix.com/shop4/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=8668
I have had very good results on my 13' Whaler with a Hawkeye Micro from Norcross Marine. Outstanding customer service as well. I like it for it's simplicity, depth alarm, and nice read out with minimal space on the dash. We have used it along the entire eastern seaboard. I have a very fancy Furuno fishfinder/sounder on our Hatteras and it is no better at telling me what the depth is than the Norcross.
For a 22 ' bowrider they probably aren't going to jump for a high-end Ramarine ST70 with digital or color graphing depth with capabilities to add such other data as speed, position, voltage , coolant temp, oil pressure etc., etc. . http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=1792&PRODUCT=4142
Here are a bunch of less expensive ones spread out over 5 pages: http://www.boatfix.com/shop4/store/...astChance=&user1=99&user2=&user3=&idCategory= Most any depth gauge should be adequate. Many come with a T/D, some do not so you can choose T.H or T/M or STH.
Unless your folks are sure they only want depth, this is potentially a good time to add other handy features like speed (thru water via paddle wheel or ultrasonic sensor)) & distance log, elapsed and actual time, water temp in one compact package for on-dash/ bracket or in-dash/flush mounting.
Here are a bunch of less expensive ones spread out over 5 pages: http://www.boatfix.com/shop4/store/...astChance=&user1=99&user2=&user3=&idCategory= Most any depth gauge should be adequate. Many come with a T/D, some do not so you can choose T.H or T/M or STH.
Unless your folks are sure they only want depth, this is potentially a good time to add other handy features like speed (thru water via paddle wheel or ultrasonic sensor)) & distance log, elapsed and actual time, water temp in one compact package for on-dash/ bracket or in-dash/flush mounting.
What Willie said. stay away from the digital numbers readout only models. The scrolling chart of a FF will provide some clues to depth when you get into a poor reading situation such as stirred up water or following other boats.
That digital read out is getting it's depth information from the same type transducer as a fish finder.... my Furuno is not useful on the rare occasion its depth reading goes to ---, the graph is useless too. My old Data Marine digital serves as a good back up. And remember, that fish finder graph is telling you history, not the future.
The digital readout only gives you the machine's interpretation of the data, after filtering out everything else, such as second-bounce echos, thermoclines, haloclines and yes even fish (all of which will show up on the graph). With a graph at least you can make your own interpretation. With a digital you have no choice but to trust the machine.
I've had digital readouts go to say 300 ft when I KNOW the water is only 4' deep.
I've had digital readouts go to say 300 ft when I KNOW the water is only 4' deep.