Speed Indicator?

[dannyboy]

Recent owner of a used 26M and love the boat. In many ways I like this boat much more than my beloved old Pearson 323 but......do not have a speed indicator and am really missing that. Boat came with a Garmin 140 Fishfinder which gives depth and water temp. Transom-mounted transducer has a paddle wheel but the Fish Finder does not offer speed indicator. I've searched for a Garmin product which offers speed, depth, etc. and can't find anything which can use the paddle wheel. I would appreciate any ideas on how I can add speed indicator to my Mac without spending a fortune.

Thanks, Danny

[kziadie]

The 160C fishfinder supports the speed sensor and the transducer you have is probably for that model. Cost is about $200... however if you are willing to replace your 140 it might be better value to consider a GPS sounder.

Kelly

[Scott]

Any GPS will give you speed over ground via sattelites but your actual speed on the water requires the paddle wheel.

[ALX357]

Seems to me the GPS actual global speed information is generally more useful than a relative to current speed reading. Over-the-water speed accouning for current may allow you to gauge your performance easier, but you can just run up and back down the current and average to find the same info with a GPS. However, the over-the-water speed finder will not be able to give you overall usefullness of being able to figure your time made good, time to destination, location information, charting accuracy, and numerous other advantages of the GPS.

[Richard O'Brien]

i just installed my paddle Wheel this season. It adds the ability to fine tune your trim, and it's just plain fun, for cap'n and crew observing your real time progress regardless of current.

[Boblee]

Have a paddle wheel on the transducer but never really use it except for trolling, actual speed over ground is more helpful otherwise.
Probably good for calculating currents though.

[Frank C]

Seems to me the GPS actual global speed information is generally more useful than a relative to current speed reading. Over-the-water speed accouning for current may allow you to gauge your performance easier, but you can just run up and back down the current and average to find the same info with a GPS. However, the over-the-water speed finder will not be able to give you overall usefullness of being able to figure your time made good, time to destination, location information, charting accuracy, and numerous other advantages of the GPS.

Yeah, what he said
Further, paddlewheels are notoriously inaccurate. At best, they're accurate in only a narrow speed range, like between 7 and 16, or some such, with widening disparities above and below the range.

[Sleepy]

Paddlewheels come in hi & lo ranges. When anchored at night, fishing under my green lights and I prefer the low range paddlewheels because it tells me the current speed, plankton & baitfish can't buck a high current!
Yeah they do lie when going in a current either way. There are some new ones that are actually are self powered by the wheel itself, But I have yet to see any reviews. They are very sensitive as to where you install them and adjustment seems the norm, However they are a must for me!

[beene]

I have the Eagle 2000c DF and use both the wheel and the GPS. Nice to see what difference is. I find the GPS far more accurate, especially at sailing speeds when I would swear I was not moving at all, relative to the water around me.

G

[pokerrick1]

Cheap handheld Garmin GPS - - - close enough

Rick

[beene]

Cheap handheld Garmin GPS - - - close enough

Yep

G