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Old 13-08-2018, 12:38   #16
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Re: Is depth important?

A lead line works just fine and doesn't take much electricity. A depth sounder is a nice to have item that tells you how deep the water is where you are at now but not what it is where you are going. It will show trends like shoaling if you note the change in depth but that could just be a lump with deep water over the hill. It can be used for navigation with a chart to tell how far offshore you are and a decent fix if you have an LOP from a known shore object. As far as order of importance in electronics I'd put it second to a GPS and but ahead of other aids. I've done most of my sailing with a depth sounder as my only electronic aid to navigation so not big on E doodads other than GPS.
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Old 13-08-2018, 12:49   #17
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Re: Is depth important?

When we got our boat 10 years ago, the first instrument we bought was a decent compass. The second was a depth sounder.


After 10 years, the depth sounder's display unit just went south, and my wife is urging me to get a new one before we tow our boat to some new-to-us waters this weekend.


So... yes, important. Also fun; I've tacked up a channel, choosing my tack points by depth, which allowed me to do longer tacks.
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Old 13-08-2018, 12:54   #18
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Re: Is depth important?

FWIW: Depth transducers are amongst the most reliable and long lived bits of marine electronics, and they rather seldom fail without physical damage. In your place I'd be doing some detailed checking of connectors and cabling, for there is a very good chance that the fault lies therein.

And no, painting the outer surface is not your problem.

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Old 13-08-2018, 12:58   #19
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Re: Is depth important?

Number one bit of gear that is on 24/7 is an ancient numbers only sounder with a scream that will wake the dead.
Haven't ran aground yet.

It'll be a sad day if/when it dies
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Old 13-08-2018, 13:59   #20
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Re: Is depth important?

Thank you everyone for your comments I believe like everyone else knowing the current depth is important. I am new to sailing and exploring places I have never been so I feel it would make me more comfortable knowing the depth.



So with limited time and funds I think I am going to check the connections one last time this weekend and try the two different head units I have. If this doesn't remedy the issue I am going to rob fishing transducer and head unit I have on my 18' fishing boat mounting the transducer inside the hull with silicone to get at-least a depth reading and bring a line and weight for backup on my trip from Blaine to Port Orchard this labor day weekend.



That hopefully will give a some data for the time being an buy me some time to explore my options of replacing the thru hull eventually (Depth/Temp, Depth/Temp/speed, or Forward scanning) .
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Old 13-08-2018, 16:11   #21
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Re: Is depth important?

But .................................. if I were in my home waters that I knew the area well and weren't planning on going into some questionable cove and my depth sounder stopped working,.............. I would still sail etc.
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Old 13-08-2018, 16:16   #22
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Re: Is depth important?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Cate View Post
FWIW: Depth transducers are amongst the most reliable and long lived bits of marine electronics, and they rather seldom fail without physical damage. In your place I'd be doing some detailed checking of connectors and cabling, for there is a very good chance that the fault lies therein.
Jim

Excellent point. No moving parts. Most likely the wiring. Before you pull it out try running test wires and see if that fixes it.
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Old 13-08-2018, 16:56   #23
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Re: Is depth important?

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I would rather go without my plotter than a depth sounder. To me, a sounder is second only to a compass and good charts. With a sounder you can feel your way around an anchorage, or coastal waters. I consider it essential equipment.
+1.

If I could only have one piece of electronic gear, it would be.... a VHF. But the sounder would be second by a long margin.

Then again in my cruising area, everything is shallow. If I was in the Pacific, I may have different priorities.
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Old 13-08-2018, 18:35   #24
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Re: Is depth important?

My depth sounder is the old flasher type, with the transducer stuck in a lump of clay inside the hull and it works fine. I also have an old fashioned authentic lead line. And I have a little portable fish finder/depth sounder. But at least where I am, I rarely need them and have no problems or anxiety without them. Depends where you are and how well you know the area. If I was back in the SF bay or back east I’d probably have my face glued to one at low tide.
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Old 13-08-2018, 18:56   #25
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Re: Is depth important?

BTW very nice boat! Who made her? (my fish finder is always on)
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Old 13-08-2018, 19:05   #26
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Re: Is depth important?

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Mandatory - no
A good idea - yes.



I've got a lead line if ever need it

i did just that last week.


Great names think alike.
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Old 13-08-2018, 19:18   #27
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Re: Is depth important?

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BTW very nice boat! Who made her? (my fish finder is always on)
Thanks my father-in-law built it from the bare hull (WindJammer 34 Hull #5)
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Old 13-08-2018, 19:26   #28
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Re: Is depth important?

We fitted a new transducer 2 months ago, the previous 12 years without. Its a good thing to have, but not essential.
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Old 13-08-2018, 20:10   #29
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Re: Is depth important?

I've used a lead line exclusively on both boats I've owned and never wished for an electric sounder. Only went aground twice in a twelve-country cruise, and that was in ICW channels that badly needed dredging.
As long as you have a lead line aboard (and use it) you'll be fine. It's the most reliable, foolproof and accurate bottom reading instrument imaginable, and it can bring up bottom samples, which no echo sounder can do.
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Old 13-08-2018, 20:48   #30
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Re: Is depth important?

We navigate in new areas frequently. I consider depth the most important instrument, we have two. If you are highly familiar with your cruising grounds, then you can consider sailing without it. It would make me nervous.
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