first day out

[ma glastron]

First day out on my new solas amita 3 prop and we hit a sand bar. So now I am trying to figure out what depth finder to get. What works best transit mount or puck or even fish finder?

 

[45Auto]

Re: first day out

A depth finder tells you the depth of the water that you're already in. If you're hoping to use it to keep you off sandbars, it won't do you any good at all.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: first day out

A depth finder tells you the depth of the water that you're already in. If you're hoping to use it to keep you off sandbars, it won't do you any good at all.

I'd agree - what you really want is a gps chartplotter. Down side is they aren't cheap, but cheaper than props.

 

[Stachi]

Re: first day out

go slow until you know the waters you are in...

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: first day out

go slow until you know the waters you are in...

++++1

Sandbars aren't always a constant. My first run in any waters, or even my first run of the season in familiar waters, is always at cruising speed or slower. Learn the waters....

Ian

 

[NOTW]

Re: first day out

I agree, my depth finder only tells me how deep the water is that I'm already in. I've also found it not to be very accurate when we going fast.

 

[ma glastron]

Re: first day out

I have been on this lake 10 time's since I got my boat thought and did not know about this spot and nobody told me either and I swear that I have gone over it before pulling the tube. I was only going 10-15 mph when we hit it.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: first day out

Then there's a few things to keep in mind:

1, A depth finder is typically only useful at low speeds, and a fishfinder is more useful as you can watch the bottom contours. Keep a close eye and you will see the bottom come up as you enter the shallows. I keep my depth alarm at about 1-1.5` deeper then I need to boat safely. Thus, I have time to cut power and raise the drive the alarm goes off unexpectedly.

2, When on plane (tubing) you run a lot shallower then when tooling around at 15mph. So you've been lucky, hitting bottom at plane will do lots of damage, and possibly cause injuries.

3, A lot of small lakes have levels that vary quite a bit through the year. Again, you've been lucky to only damage a prop. These small lakes also typically have decent visibility. If you see vegetation, it's a good bet the bottom of the lake ain't that far away. Keep yer eyes wide open at all times, look up, down and all around whenever you are under power. Up, because our local small lake also serves as a runway for float planes now and then.

Ian