Depth sounder recommendations

[ontherocks83]

My boat does not have a depth sounder and I am considering putting one in.

What type do you have / recommend and with what type of transducer. I am not a big fan of transom mounted transducers and didn't know if anyone had a thru-hull transducer (i.e. hole cut through bottom of hull like on a sail boat) or an internal transducer that mounts in the boat and reads through the fiberglass?

 

[Rob B]

My boat does not have a depth sounder and I am considering putting one in.

What type do you have / recommend and with what type of transducer. I am not a big fan of transom mounted transducers and didn't know if anyone had a thru-hull transducer (i.e. hole cut through bottom of hull like on a sail boat) or an internal transducer that mounts in the boat and reads through the fiberglass?

Depends on how much you want to spend. I have the Lowrance HDS 9 touch on my Ranger bassboat. The unit is gps/fish depth finder with maps. http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/Fishfinder-Chartplotter/HDS9-Gen2-Touch-en-us.aspx

 

[ontherocks83]

As far as the gauge goes, I really don't need anything special. Just depth and maybe water temp if it comes with it.

I know it may sound counter intuitive but I kind of prefer a thru-hull mounted transducer that you cut a hole in the bottom of the hull to mount as opposed to a transom mounted one. The last time I had a transom mounted one it kept snagging sea weed and would get alot of interference. The thru-hull ones (although a major permanent modification to the hull) are sleeker and more reliable.

 

[Rob B]

I believe the transducer that comes with the unit can be mounted in the bilge area. I have both, LSS2 mounted on the transom which is for downscan and sidescan and the other in the bilge for running on plane.

 

[undecided]

I believe the transducer that comes with the unit can be mounted in the bilge area. I have both, LSS2 mounted on the transom which is for downscan and sidescan and the other in the bilge for running on plane.

I had a hummingbird, transom mounted, and after I redid the gauges it did not look right with all the gaffrig stuff.
I purchased a thru-hull depth sounder with air and water temp to match the other gauges, but they run about 200 bucks. I really didn't want to spend that, but it matches the other ones.

 

[ontherocks83]

I had a hummingbird, transom mounted, and after I redid the gauges it did not look right with all the gaffrig stuff.
I purchased a thru-hull depth sounder with air and water temp to match the other gauges, but they run about 200 bucks. I really didn't want to spend that, but it matches the other ones.

What brand and model did you go with?

 

[Sam I am]

You don't need to cut a hole for a through hull transducer. You won't get temp, but that's okay. Unless you're chasing fish, water temp isn't important. For through hull mounting look at Walleye Central, Bass BOat Central and youtube.

This guys explains it very well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuV3dLSqqbI

 

[jumbofordman]

You don't need to cut a hole for a through hull transducer. You won't get temp, but that's okay. Unless you're chasing fish, water temp isn't important. For through hull mounting look at Walleye Central, Bass BOat Central and youtube.

This guys explains it very well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuV3dLSqqbI

Just curious here, but I though the balsa core of Checkmates interfered with the sonar, and thus you had to cut through that and mount it directly to the outer skin. Interested because I'm thinking of adding one, too.

 

[Sam I am]

Just curious here, but I though the balsa core of Checkmates interfered with the sonar, and thus you had to cut through that and mount it directly to the outer skin. Interested because I'm thinking of adding one, too.

Hmmmm....good point. I hadn't considered the balsa core aspect of the install. I think you right, though: cut out the core and glass the ducer to the void in the balsa core.

 

[undecided]

Hmmmm....good point. I hadn't considered the balsa core aspect of the install. I think you right, though: cut out the core and glass the ducer to the void in the balsa core.

When I was purchasing mine, Mike at Gaffrig told me that the Checkmate Hulls DO interfere with the ones that are not drilled all the way through, so I went wtih the through hull and it works great. I do not fish, and was not going to get the air and water temp, but there was a shipping glitch so Gaffrig upgraded it.