Is sonar really necessary?

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject:

with the invent of multi function systems the fish finder screen info providing soft ware and processing hard ware has been removed from the screen unit and placed into the "module " unit. That way the manufacturer can keep down the cost of the base unit for those that just want the chart plotter radar unit. I think that if you are dropping 30 to 50k on a boat short cutting your ability to see the whole picture over $200 bucks is kind of cheap. If you want to cut cost then stay away from the multisystem and go to one of the cheaper one that I listed above. Unfortunately there are no cheaper map/radar only systems that do not have a option for a depth finder. In order to get radar you have to have either a multi-function system or a standalone unit. A cheap gps / ff unit and a standalone radar might be a cheaper option.

One other thing, I noticed that there is confusion about a "sounder" and”sonar" just a different word for the same thing. Sonar is sound that is reflected of the bottom. A depth gage is only looking for the biggest strongest signal and reports that to the screen as a depth. A fish finder takes the same signal from the same sending unit and looks at all the information and reports it on a screen as the bottom and fish and bait and weeds. etc... it’s more a function of the software as to what you get to see and how it is presented not a function of the sonar or sounder, they are the same thing.

journey on · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject:

Milehog, as you've read above, knowing your depth whilst cruising is important. And I'm thrilled that you're going to get something that indicates depth.

As to the Garmin chartplotter, I would guess that there is a remote transducer involved in getting the depth. Something has to send the sound signal through the water and measure the arrival time of the echo ( which is what is called sonar.) I don't know to what Garmin is referring, but it just may be included in the price.

I happen to have a depthsounder that looks forward, but that is just to make me happy. The minimum is one that looks down at all times. Fishfinders don't look anyway but down, they just keep and display a record. My advice is to get the cheapest unit with which you feel comfortable.

Boris

thataway · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject:

I am of the school which subscribes to the use of a fish finder (we used relitatively inexpensive units: a $160 Hummingbird in the CD 25) (The Tom Cat has a better Lowrance integrated unit). The $100 units will give you the information which you need, and it is vital--as noted above. We always "troll" over the area where both we are going to drop the anchor and where the boat will swing when on anchor, looking for rocks, logs, cables (all of these will show up with a cheap unit, with the bottom zoom in the display). I prefer the separate units, because I want a full screen chart plotter, as well as full screen of the depth sounder (fishfinder--bottom history) display.

First time you hook onto a cable, hit a rock or have bad holding, because you didn't know about the bottom, the "Fish finder" becomes a cheap investment--plus it is often cheaper than a "digital depth sounder).

Incidently don't forget the tallow for the hollow in the lead line weight!

Wefings · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:21 pm Post subject:

You cant have "too much information" when it comes to navigating
Marc

El and Bill · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:58 am Post subject:

We second that, Marc

edwardf · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject:

I'd also like to mention that I use my fishfinder/sonar/echosounder or whatever you call it to tell me speed, water temp, battery and charging voltage as well. It's also GPS/WAAS capable and gives some NAV data.

I even play a little with the NMEA interface to my laptop. It wasn't expensive either.