Need a cheap Fish/Depth Finder

[Dry Diver]

Hello,

I am looking for something that I can install or keep as a portable unit that will give me the depth of the water that I am in. I am planning on using it in an inflatable boat that I have set up for diving. I am looking to know how deep the water that I am about to jump into is. If I could see bottom contours that would be nice but the most important is the depth. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good unit?

Thanks in advance,

Dan

 

[JimS123]

Re: Need a cheap Fish/Depth Finder

Humminbird PiranhaMAX 150. 80 bucks new, small, uses little power. Adapt 2 lantern batteries and it can be portable. I have 2 on different boats and they work real nice. Includes temp. too.

 

[arks]

Re: Need a cheap Fish/Depth Finder

Dan
I'm a kayaker, and I use a handheld depthfinder made by HawkEye. It looks like a flashlight and to use it you have to hold it in the water. It reads from 3-200' and is waterproof. It also has a water temp function.
Overall I'm satisfied, but it seems heavy for what it is. Also, the AA batteries don't last long at all. I switched to rechargables and keep 'em fresh.
Here's a picture:

 

[Dry Diver]

Re: Need a cheap Fish/Depth Finder

does anyone else have any other options that they would recommend.

Stilll looking for something that would be a little more portable. I am thinking that i will try to mount everything on a pole of sorts that can be lowered into the water off the transom. I don't want to have a mile of transducer cable running wild through out the boat. Kinda like a big stick with the end of it in the water with the fish finder on the top of it. Some how I will have to attach the battery

Thanks in advance,

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Need a cheap Fish/Depth Finder

http://shop.ebay.ca/i.html?_nkw=portable+depth+finder&_armrs=1&_dmd=2&_from=&_ipg=

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Need a cheap Fish/Depth Finder

http://store.humminbird.com/products/271366/110_Fishin%27_Buddy

Sounds like a Humminbird Fishin Buddy is what you want.

I have a portable Humminbird that I use on my 12' tinny and canoes that works great. It comes with a small 12V and a console bag.

 

[jondavies]

Re: Need a cheap Fish/Depth Finder

I've rigged up a portable Piranhamax 215 unit for my boat:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=piranhamax+215+portable&cid=14938867073787092280&sa=title#p

It runs on 8 AA batteries. I use NiMH rechargables and they last about 4-5 hours, so if I'm out all day I try to shut it off when I'm not using it.

If you want one of the hand-held sonar units, I have a new, similar unit that I'll sell for $40 including shipping. PM me if you're interested.

I used some aluminum stock to bolt the base to one of these transom brackets:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_387____SearchResults

Here's some pics:

 

[stylesabu]

Re: Need a cheap Fish/Depth Finder

hummingbird fishing buddy model 110. Here's some pics. It is just what you need. transducer is mounted to end of unit. iys about 2 feet tall, runs on double aa's. i bought it for use on a rental boat,now i don't need it as I bought a boat instead.

 

[stylesabu]

Re: Need a cheap Fish/Depth Finder

had to adjust pixels

 

[stylesabu]

Re: Need a cheap Fish/Depth Finder

did any of these ideas sound like what your looking for?