[Rhodes22-list] GPS/Depth Sounder Questions

[Michael D. Weisner]

David,

It was a gift, a moderately priced (at the time, 10 years ago) unit, just a 
"standard" fishfinder/depth meter with a monochrome LCD, so it must have 
been the through hull (wet) transducer - but it works reasonably well, 
still!  I will find the model numbers when I go on board next (July 4, 
probably).

Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
Nissequogue River, NY


From: "David Bradley" <dwbrad at gmail.com> Monday, July 02, 2007 5:27 PM
> Michael, thanks very much.  To be sure I'm clear, you had a through-hull
> transducer and mounted it inside the hull?  Very cool.
>
> Dave
>
>
> On 7/2/07, Michael D. Weisner <mweisner at ebsmed.com> wrote:
>>
>> David,
>>
>> I mounted my GPS (old Garmin unit) on the tiller handle, just behind the
>> clip for the hiking stick.  It is out of the way but still close enough 
>> to
>>
>> read easily.  Prior to mounting it, I used to keep it in a mesh sack
>> hanging
>> from the stern rail, but this proved too hard to access when needed (time
>> to
>> power up and acquire).  My only problem nowadays is that I need more 
>> light
>>
>> to read these devices in darkness than the small light puts out.
>>
>> As far as depth meters, I too do not like to make holes in perfectly 
>> sound
>> hulls.  I have discussed this before on the list (Nov 21, 2006) as
>> follows:
>>
>> "The R22 drafts so little that a depth finder is not required - mine was
>> acquired as a gift.  It sat for 3 years waiting for me to make a hole in
>> the
>> boat for it, something that I do not like to do.  Finally, I tried
>> "shooting
>> through the hull" (no hole) in the front of the Lazarette and found that
>> it
>> was reasonably accurate.  Great toy for people to watch but virtually
>> useless on a craft that drafts 2 feet with a kick up rudder and
>> centerboard."
>>
>> If you really feel the need for a depth meter, the location that I chose
>> to
>> place the transducer was on the floor of the Laz (bottom of boat),  just
>> 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.
>> You may need to move it around to get the best placement.  Once epoxied 
>> in
>>
>> place, check the calibration by measuring actual depth and compare.  Mine
>> was about 3 inches off at anchor and very consistent while underway,
>> except
>> when heeled.
>>
>> Mike
>> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
>> Nissequogue River, NY
>>
>> From: "David Bradley" <dwbrad at gmail.com> Monday, July 02, 2007 3:03 PM
>> > We're getting ready for a San Juan Islands trip in August and need to
>> get
>> > set up with GPS and depth sounder.  I have two questions for the list:
>> >
>> > 1.  Has anyone had success mounting a GPS unit on a swivel arm, either
>> on
>> > the stern rail or on the transom?  I'm considering a swivel arm that
>> would
>> > stay on the stern rail and the unit could be turned to face either
>> > Captain's
>> > chair.  The unit would have to be removable with wing nuts or something
>> > like
>> > that.  I've got 12V power in the cockpit through the laz, so that part
>> > would
>> > be easy.
>> >
>> > 2.  Has anyone had any recent experience with the in-hull (puck-shape)
>> > style
>> > of depth sounder transducer?  I have this aversion to drilling holes in
>> my
>> > boat (hence the jury rig above), and don't want to have to pull the 
>> > boat
>>
>> > out
>> > of the water if that can be avoided.  I'm wondering about the
>> possibility
>> > of
>> > an in-hull transducer in the lazerette just to the side of the keel
>> area.
>> > They were skeptical at West Marine, but they don't understand the
>> flatter
>> > hull design of our boat.
>> >
>> > I have a hand-held depth sounder which I could still use if needed -
>> have
>> > never had the need and have been lucky enough not to find a bottom...
>> but
>> > that won't last.  Could also use a hand-held GPS but the display on the
>> > fixed mount GPS units is sooooo much better and there is much more data
>> > available.  Am thinking that I really should have a chart plotter when
>> > venturing into Puget Sound and the San Juans.
>> >
>> > Any recent experiences and perspectives will be appreciated, as always.
>> >
>> > Dave B
>> > __________________________________________________
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>> >
>> >
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
>
> -- 
> David Bradley
> +1.206.225.7793
> dwbrad at gmail.com
> __________________________________________________
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>