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While working under the rear berth the battery cable shorted out and blew my depth/speed sensor display unit. The factory had done a poor job wrapping electrical tape around the wire connections and a couple of bare sections touched.

I figure that GPS is better than the paddle wheel speed sensor.

So I need a new depth finder.

Any recommendations?

i use a cheap,($88)depthfinder/fishfinder,with the transducer mounted with plumbers putty,next to the ballast tank under the rear berth,cheap,easy and works pretty well(location moved from under cooler to under berth at suggestion of sloop john b,(thanks)

I used a cheap fishfinder mounted as above after my first fishfinder, temp sensor and paddle wheel corroded away and was caught in the prop. When reversing, it tends not to work well because of the exhaust gas bubbles.

I figure that GPS is better than the paddle wheel speed sensor.

I suppose if you have to choose and you only want to go from pont a to point b, that would be correct.

However, they really measure different quantities. Paritcularly when you're trying to optimize sail or boat trim, or if you regularly travel in rivers or where tidal action can be substantial, the GPS won't give you the whole story. A properly cailibrated paddle wheel speedo can be quite useful.