In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

[PS94]

Ok, so I have an old Sea Ray, (1996) and I want to stop hitting my poor aluminum prop into the northern Alberta mud. Our lakes here are getting shallower and shallower, to the point that some are now closed, and others are so shallow, if you don't hit the 'channel' they've dredged just right, you've created a fibreglass rototiller.

My Question - I like the in dash style depth sounder, but the cost of them, compared to a cheapie fish finder, is ridiculous. Is there an advantage to the in dash, other than the cool factor? Do the in-dash come with an alarm?

 

[5150abf]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

A depth finder is a depth finder, a fish finder should do you just fine.

The problem would be the transducer is mounted on the back of the boat so it tells you the depth of the water you just went over and not what is coming up.

If all you want is depth then the even the cheapest fish finder should do that for you, i have a Garmin sounder/gps now but always used Eagle until then with good results.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

If following a channel is required, then the fish finder is by far a better option. You get a picture of the channel rather than just a depth reading. And remember, if you are trying to follow a channel at speed, by the time either an in-console or fish finder says you are reaching shallow water, you will be aground. Yes -- both have alarms (shallow and deep).

 

[seabob4]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

Go with the fish finder, and spend a little more to get one with GPS. That way you have an actual "picture" of the bottom, plus you can get accurate speed.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

It depends on you and your preference. In my ski boat, I just have an in-dash depth finder. I don't want a large LCD screen taking up my windshield, and I don't care where the fish are when I'm in this boat, we have a bass boat for that. I do understand your issue on the pricing points, but you do what you gotta do. If you are reading the depth finder correctly it will show you where the channel is.

If I had a newer boat that included a depth/fish finder in the middle of the dash I'd do it. My current layout just doesn't support it.

 

[commander315]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

If by "in-dash" you mean flush mounted, its mostly just the factor of that clean-cut look it provides. However, on a small boat, you dont want a fishfinder up in you face impeding your view. Plus, it does look much cooler

 

[yfz450psycho]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

I have a maps 182 chart plotter for sale fish and depth finder

 

[rgbrez]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

I have an old Eagle SuperPro ID fish finder. This has served me well for following chanels at moderate speed... However, like others have mentioned - you have already gone over what the screen is showing you, when the alarm sounds trouble could be on you quick.

 

[pinellas50]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

It's a small Internet world isn't it PS94. I recognized your screen name instantly from rps.

Anyway, I went with the fish finder on my 17ft bow rider. Like has already been mentioned, it gives you a good picture of what is underneath. My fish finder was about the same amount as the little in dash guages that show you a digital reading of only depth. Of course the finder is quite a bit larger and I had to be creative on how to get it on the dash board. Plus we try to do a little fishing from the boat a few times a year.

Just my .02

 

[ExxWhy]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

I'd suggest some sort of GPS unit that supports optional charts such as Navionics. I have the Navionics card on my Humminbird 595C and the chart feature is a great tool. Shows the channels on the map as well as depth soundings and gradients on any supported lake. (there are thousands of mapped lakes) Nice part is you can see what the charted depth is before you take the boat to that spot. The perfect tool for what you are trying to do.

You can check the Navionics web site to see if your usual lakes are supported. I think there are also some other brands that do the same thing.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

So I guess it's "cool" and "looks" vs "functionality". A depth gauge does not show you which direction you need to go avoid the channel edge. A fish finder will.

 

[PS94]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

Pinellas50 - i usually try and avoid having the same screen name everywhere, for security, but it does seem to be a small world!!!

I guess it does basically boil down to "cool" or function. I don't fish much, and I do have a blank hole in my dash for a small LCD depth sounder....

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

Pinellas50 - i usually try and avoid having the same screen name everywhere, for security, but it does seem to be a small world!!!

I guess it does basically boil down to "cool" or function. I don't fish much, and I do have a blank hole in my dash for a small LCD depth sounder....

I have the same hole in my console, due to a damaged depth finder. Found a small Eagle fish finder that used the same transducer. I mounted the fish finder over the hole and connected the existing transducer. Space was the only concern. All works well.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

Ok, so I have an old Sea Ray, (1996) and I want to stop hitting my poor aluminum prop into the northern Alberta mud. Our lakes here are getting shallower and shallower, to the point that some are now closed, and others are so shallow, if you don't hit the 'channel' they've dredged just right, you've created a fibreglass rototiller.

My Question - I like the in dash style depth sounder, but the cost of them, compared to a cheapie fish finder, is ridiculous. Is there an advantage to the in dash, other than the cool factor? Do the in-dash come with an alarm?

My boat doesn't really have dash room for a fishfinder, so I bought the 'puck' style dash depth finder. (Cabela's $140 to my door...Winnipeg) I hope to install it next weekend. They 'say' they are accurate to 40mph and yes they have an alarm. I'll give you an update when I get mine installed.

PS....my brother just got married and moved to GP. He was talking about a boat last weekend....how are the lakes around there?

 

[PS94]

Re: In dash mounted Depth or fish finder?

Lakes around GP are...marginal, at best. Water levels are low. the closest one, Saskatoon Lake, is too shallow for boats now. Sturgeon is getting low, but is still fun. Muserau is a madhouse, as there's too many boats on too small of a lake. Haven't been to Swan Lake BC, yet...