Recently began getting some weird messages and displays on the
who-knows-how many year old "Bottomline" fishfinder/sounder aboard the
boat. It was on the boat when I bought it in the early 90's, and wasn't
really new then. I also have a digital readout, but I don't like the
idea of having only one sounder. As I'm currently hauled out for bottom
paint and zinc, the time is right to install a fairing block and
transducer.

Don't fish much, so I thought I'd just pick up a second digital
unit...... but upon additional consideration I opted for a fish finder
with a display.

The perceived advantages, for a non-fisherman, are really two.

1) The rising or falling profile image of the bottom allows a much
faster analysis of whether the depth is increasing or shoaling. There's
no need to watch the numbers change and try to determine the general
trend.

2) It's possible to draw some general conclusions about the nature of
the bottom when dropping an anchor. Echoes that indicate a
hard-surfaced bottom will generally be less desirable (with my ground
tackle) than reflections indicating something a bit muddier.

This unit is available in two sizes, and even at a price well below
retail the difference between the large screen and the small was almost
$200. I almost popped for the large screen, but then realized that I
*could* have crept by a digital unit so the smaller screen should be
just fine.

Interesting note: When in actual operating mode the text on the small
screen is almost as large as the text on the larger screen. What the
larger screen does a bit better is allow greater detail in the fish
finding mode...which is not as important to me.

If I got out the fishing rod more than once every blue moon, the larger
screen might have been a better choice.

A look at my new gizmo:

http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/P...duc t_id=1699

On 3 Feb 2005 20:53:43 -0800, wrote:

Recently began getting some weird messages and displays on the
who-knows-how many year old "Bottomline" fishfinder/sounder aboard the
boat. It was on the boat when I bought it in the early 90's, and wasn't
really new then. I also have a digital readout, but I don't like the
idea of having only one sounder. As I'm currently hauled out for bottom
paint and zinc, the time is right to install a fairing block and
transducer.

Don't fish much, so I thought I'd just pick up a second digital
unit...... but upon additional consideration I opted for a fish finder
with a display.

The perceived advantages, for a non-fisherman, are really two.

1) The rising or falling profile image of the bottom allows a much
faster analysis of whether the depth is increasing or shoaling. There's
no need to watch the numbers change and try to determine the general
trend.

Yes and no - depends on where the transducer is placed and how wide
the signal cone is.

Remember these are one dimensional units - you can see under the
transducer or where you have been (depending on transducer placement)
but it won't do anything for telling you what's in front of you like
you would find in a two dimensional unit.

I agree that you can see a general trend, but it won't do much for you
in a quick shoaling situation in unfamiliar territory.

Did you get the dual or single frequency transducer?

2) It's possible to draw some general conclusions about the nature of
the bottom when dropping an anchor. Echoes that indicate a
hard-surfaced bottom will generally be less desirable (with my ground
tackle) than reflections indicating something a bit muddier.

That this unit will do. I've noticed that with the "night vision"
display, the bottom detail seems to jump right out at you - pretty
amazing.

This unit is available in two sizes, and even at a price well below
retail the difference between the large screen and the small was almost
$200. I almost popped for the large screen, but then realized that I
*could* have crept by a digital unit so the smaller screen should be
just fine.

Interesting note: When in actual operating mode the text on the small
screen is almost as large as the text on the larger screen. What the
larger screen does a bit better is allow greater detail in the fish
finding mode...which is not as important to me.

I have a DS-500 on the Ranger and love it. What is really nice about
these units is that you can customize the visual display and the DSP
is very very good. To me, it's much better than it's Garmin or
Lowrance counterparts.

Get that rod out more often and really give it a workout. :)

Later,

Tom

Short Wave Sportfishing Feb 4, 4:59 am show options

Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: Short Wave Sportfishing - Find
messages by this author
Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2005 12:59:27 GMT
Local: Fri, Feb 4 2005 4:59 am
Subject: New depth sounder
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On 3 Feb 2005 20:53:43 -0800, wrote:




- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

Recently began getting some weird messages and displays on the
who-knows-how many year old "Bottomline" fishfinder/sounder aboard the

boat. It was on the boat when I bought it in the early 90's, and
wasn't
really new then. I also have a digital readout, but I don't like the
idea of having only one sounder. As I'm currently hauled out for
bottom
paint and zinc, the time is right to install a fairing block and
transducer.

Don't fish much, so I thought I'd just pick up a second digital
unit...... but upon additional consideration I opted for a fish finder

with a display.


The perceived advantages, for a non-fisherman, are really two.


1) The rising or falling profile image of the bottom allows a much
faster analysis of whether the depth is increasing or shoaling.
There's
no need to watch the numbers change and try to determine the general
trend.



Yes and no - depends on where the transducer is placed and how wide
the signal cone is.

Remember these are one dimensional units - you can see under the
transducer or where you have been (depending on transducer placement)
but it won't do anything for telling you what's in front of you like
you would find in a two dimensional unit.


I agree that you can see a general trend, but it won't do much for you
in a quick shoaling situation in unfamiliar territory.


Did you get the dual or single frequency transducer?


****************************

I considered going with forward scanning sonar. I have used that on
other boats and it is really nice. I never go anywhere without a chart,
I have the plotter I put on about a year ago that shows charted depths,
so I'm not relying on the sounder *too* heavily- it's essentially the
third informant in coordinating where I think I am (chart) where
satellites indicate I actually am and (by extension) how deep it "ought
to be" (plotter), and how deep my sounder says it actually is.

I have to confess I don't know whether I got the dual or single
frequency transducer. I spent about ten minutes discussing my needs and
application with my friend who supplied the sounder, and trusted him to
order exactly what I'd need. He did recommend the larger screen at
first- but ultimately agreed that since it was an upgrade in an
application where a digital readout would have been sufficient the
small screen was OK.

On 4 Feb 2005 08:00:04 -0800, wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing Feb 4, 4:59 am show options

~~ snippage ~~

The perceived advantages, for a non-fisherman, are really two.


1) The rising or falling profile image of the bottom allows a much
faster analysis of whether the depth is increasing or shoaling.
There's
no need to watch the numbers change and try to determine the general
trend.

Yes and no - depends on where the transducer is placed and how wide
the signal cone is.

Remember these are one dimensional units - you can see under the
transducer or where you have been (depending on transducer placement)
but it won't do anything for telling you what's in front of you like
you would find in a two dimensional unit.


I agree that you can see a general trend, but it won't do much for you
in a quick shoaling situation in unfamiliar territory.


Did you get the dual or single frequency transducer?


****************************

I considered going with forward scanning sonar. I have used that on
other boats and it is really nice. I never go anywhere without a chart,
I have the plotter I put on about a year ago that shows charted depths,
so I'm not relying on the sounder *too* heavily- it's essentially the
third informant in coordinating where I think I am (chart) where
satellites indicate I actually am and (by extension) how deep it "ought
to be" (plotter), and how deep my sounder says it actually is.

I hear you - I do much the same - it's just a part of the total
navigation package, but I'm always using a chart even in areas I know
fairly well - keeps me in practice.

I have to confess I don't know whether I got the dual or single
frequency transducer. I spent about ten minutes discussing my needs and
application with my friend who supplied the sounder, and trusted him to
order exactly what I'd need. He did recommend the larger screen at
first- but ultimately agreed that since it was an upgrade in an
application where a digital readout would have been sufficient the
small screen was OK.

It's probably single frequency - that is the usual set up, but it's
good to know which because it is dual frequency capable.

You will enjoy it. Try the different display screens - some of those
are a real trip.

Later,

Tom