Electronics

[Dibbs]

Another New guy question:

I am looking to buy some electronics. I need a VHF radio, a basic one would do, but more importantly I am looking for a good GPS and Fish finder/depth finder set up. I would like to have one that could see in front a bit to give me some warning about upcoming shallow water. Anyone have any good input on this?

Chris

[Russ]

Wouldn't it be cool if they made a depth finder that could see forward and warn you?

Lots of opinions on chart plotters and such. If you have a chance, I would play around with several and see what interface is easy for you to use.

[Sumner]

We are very happy with the ....



..Standard Horizons Eclipse with DSC ...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... de-25.html

.... It was about $120 and has two radios in it so is scanning the DSC channel all of the time regardless of the other channel you might be on or that you are listening to. They have one just like it for about $20 less that only has one radio in it and scans the DSC channel along with the other channels. It would still be a good deal. We always had very good reception with this radio with a mast-head antenna. Even down on the SW coast of Florida a long ways from anywhere we could always pick up the Coast Guard station at Key West and more than one NOAA weather station. I think Mike, Chinook, on here mentioned that he was able to pickup stateside stations on his first Bahama trip with a Standard Horizon, but don't know which model.

With the DSC if you have the radio connected to something that will send your current GPS position to it and you have an emergency situation you push the panic button on it and it will start sending out a mayday with you current location...



.... We also had bought a Cuda 350 depth finder...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... 20350.html

.... that we mounted on the lifeline at the same time that will send that info to the VHF when ever it is on. It requires two data wires between them which we have. It is a good combo. The only thing I don't like about the Cuda is that it will send data to the radio, but can't receive data. We use SeaClear on the ship's....



http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... Index.html

.... computer to plot routes and show our position real time underway and I can't send waypoints to the Cuda from that computer. We do keep a Garmin Map 76 in the cockpit that is always connected to the ship's computer/chartplotter and do send the waypoints to it.

We have the transducer for the Cuda mounted on the stern, but it can be mounted inside to shoot through the hull, but not through water ballast. Our older deptfinder that still works most of the time shoots through the hull forward of the water ballast under the V-berth. Problem there is that it is shooting at an angle. I don't think I'll be moving the Cuda's transducer there as I don't see a big benefit. It sound good to be shooting the bottom ahead, but I question if 20 feet is going to make much difference if you are sailing along as you aren't watching the depth finder anyway. We hit bottom in Canada and the bow one didn't save us. When going in to anchor we are now slowed way down as we approach shallow water and are watching things carefully. We also were pretty diligent about watching the depth finder in Florida in some shallow narrow channels. The good thing down there is that normally the depths change rather slowly compared to the Western lakes we have been on.

If I wasn't going to go the computer/chartplotter route I'd look for something like Garmin's 400 series chartplotter with a transducer and hook it also to the VHF and its DSC.

Good luck,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[captronr]

Just installed a Garmin 431 GPS with depth finder. I like it LOTS, but just got it hooked up last week for our 5 day sailing cruise. Worked like a champ. I even cheated on transducer placement. I didn't have time to do the test process. I had strung the cable from the pedestal to the hull just forward of the aft cooler space. So I just pressed my luck and formed a small jar of plumbers putty around it and under it. Turned it on and bingo--works like a champ.

Can't recall the VHF we got, but it's a hand held with 12 vt plug in to charge. Charged it in Feb and it worked several days last week without charging.

Hope this helps.
Ron

[Dibbs]

Hey thanks for the replies. I am only experienced with alittle bowrider that I used on strickly lakes and I rivers. I am still shopping, but there is so much out there. I want to get what I need not spend to much and still be able to upgrade or add on later. That is the trick.

Thanks so far,
Chris

[Sumner]

... I even cheated on transducer placement. I didn't have time to do the test process. I had strung the cable from the pedestal to the hull just forward of the aft cooler space. So I just pressed my luck and formed a small jar of plumbers putty around it and under it.......Ron

Ron I can't tell from your profile which boat you have. Are you shooting through the water ballast tank? I can see it working as long as there is no air in it, but have hesitated shooting through it for fear of air bubble and also the unknown of the double hull it is seeing. Please let me know as if that works I might try it.

We always fill our tank having an S, but if someone had and X or M I could see problems when the tank isn't full,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[captronr]

Hi Sumner,

Sorry, I have an 02X.

I'm pretty sure I didn't go through the ballast tank, but down low near some fore/aft stringers(?).

I placed the transducer when the ballast was full, and didn't empty it before loading the boat. Guess I'll find out if it works without ballast. I also didn't get a chance to run at speed after installing it.

Hope this helps.
Ron

[Catigale]

Chris - I don't know your area that well, but using a GPS on any river as a source of depth information is not prudent. After a heavy rain, sediment can deposit and drastically change the charted areas so the GPS info won't be good.

This is my experience on the Hudson river in upstate NY

[mastreb]

Can't say enough good about the Garmin 421s on my boat. $500 comes with the sounder. You do need a $160 charts card with this model. $50 cable hooks it to my ETEC and gives me all the engine gauges. Works like a charm.

[dlymn]

I have an old garmin chartplotter. It's good but I mounted the depth sounder to the port side of the water ballast gate valve in the stern. Now if I'm on a port tack and up over 20 degrees, my depth reads zero. This can be a bit scarey when on a close reach heading towards shore. I think that depth is very important information especially in turbulent seas. Much of the rest of the information is nice to know, but not so critical when coastal sailing

[Dibbs]

It seems to me that depth would be my biggest worry. I know comming in and around the river the sediment changes, but knowing the common areas where the sediment has built up would be good. You know usually take the ouside of large winding curves in the river and most of the time you will find the deeper water. I only have a about 2 miles of river from where I put in to the ICW by Cumberland Island. I like all the input. Just now tryig to decide if I should get stuff that will work all together or just get cheaper individual gear and get the boat outfitted faster.

Well, in any case please keep the input comming, this is good to hear about your experience.

Chris

[mastreb]

Just now tryig to decide if I should get stuff that will work all together or just get cheaper individual gear and get the boat outfitted faster.

Every chartplotter comes in a version with an integrated sounder for about $100 more. You won't be able to find a cheaper sounder separately. The only instruments I've added beyond the sounder were the engine management cable (which I totally recommend) and an anemometer, which is still trying to find it's proper location on the boat. And I think I'm done, there's nothing else I need.

[bscott]

The only instruments I've added beyond the sounder were the engine management cable (which I totally recommend) need.[/quote]

What engine info do you get--I have a Hummingbird 595C GPS, thanks

Bob

[mastreb]

The only instruments I've added beyond the sounder were the engine management cable (which I totally recommend) need.

What engine info do you get--I have a Hummingbird 595C GPS, thanks

Bob[/quote]

Pretty much everything: Fuel flow rate, MPG, gas gauges showing remaining fuel based on consumption (you reset to full each time you fill up), RPM, all alerts (low oil, etc. before they show the idiot lights), estimated range based on fuel and current flow rate, etc. Pretty much everything you can get out of an EMM. It's pretty cool. Cable was $50 on ebay.

[Highlander]

Front looking depth sonars are avail at a very high cost Hummingbird does make one @ a reasonable price but still higher cost than average depth sounder

J