[Rhodes22-list] GPS/Depth Sounder Questions

[John Lock]

At 04:02 PM 7/2/2007 -0400, Michael D. Weisner wrote:
>Great toy for people to watch but virtually useless on a craft that 
>drafts 2 feet with a kick up rudder and centerboard."

I have found knowing accurate depth when anchoring to be 
helpful.  It's good to know how much rode you need to pay out for a 
good hold.  In my case, my depth meter is an old Hummingbird fish 
finder, so I get to see bottom contour and detail as well as great 
indications of all those fish I'm not catching!  It can also visually 
indicate if there is any bottom debris (like submerged trees) left in 
the lake that might foul the anchor or rode.

>behind the cockpit drain fitting.  You can test it in the water by just
>placing the transducer at this point and placing a fender or suitable
>"wedge" to put downwards pressure on the transducer and power up the unit.

The sonar manufacturers recommend testing "shoot-thru" installations 
by placing the transducer in a plastic bag filled with water.  Tie it 
off and place the bag in the laz and give it a try.  Any air space 
between the transducer and the hull surface (however minute) will 
throw off readings.  The water-filled bag will conform pretty tightly 
to the hull.  If you get a good test with that, then epoxy it in 
place and you're all set.

Cheers!

John Lock
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s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
Lake Sinclair, GA
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