[Rhodes22-list] GPS/Depth Sounder Questions-Kinda Late

[Al Miller]

-----Original Message-----
 To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] GPS/Depth Sounder Questions

Dave,

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.

>>>Just make it comfortable to read from the port and starboard side equally
>>>well without to moving it around.  Your power source is what my lazy self
>>>wants, still does and does not have.

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.


>>>My boat came from Stan with the hockey puck transducer in the laz as far
>>>forward as it could be placed.  I don't want holes is my hull.  An old
>>>salt was said to say that the reason boats sink these days is that they
>>>have too many holes in them.  I agree.

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.

>>>'Mishka' sails outbound in skinny water... 18, 19,20 inches.  We always
>>>stay out overnight and return with the high tide, except for the
>>>occasional moonlit return.  No problems on our end.
>>>Our depth finder is a Standard that I provided for Stan's installation.
>>>Several read-out adjustments are accessible via the keypad i.e. water
>>>under hull, water under keel as well as a low depth and high depth alarm.
>>>Maybe $299.00 in 2001.  I really use the Standard to figure my anchor
>>>rode in the Florida evening storms that we encounter.  I've bounced
>>>>off the bottom for a mile or better some times.  The rudder does kick
>>>>up and the centerboard rides high.  I wish I was going with you guys.
:-)

The handheld GPS's are cool.  I use mine to give me SOG and to fine tune the
rig for speed when I'm froggy.  I don't know about the chart overlay GPS on
the Rhodes.  How much power will it draw?

Al Miller
S/V Mishka


Any recent experiences and perspectives will be appreciated, as always.

Dave B

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