Depth Sounder for Thin Water

[AlexanderGDean]

Does anyone have recommendations for a depth sounder with good shallow-water performance and NMEA-0183 data output? I sail a Tanzer 16 in the sounds of North Carolina, where the water is often only 3 feet deep (and less near the more interesting spots). I have a Navman Fish 4150 which gets confused with less than 5 feet, though it's rated for 2 feet.

Thanks for any help.

AD

[Boasun]

A yard stick? or a lead line? those are the manual kind.
Sorry, but have been sailing deep water here in the GoM, where the fathometer (rated for 720 feet) usually loses the bottom at around 300 ft more or less or bounces off the thermal layer.

[Cruisingdad]

You can try a handheld.

- CD

[T34C]

Have you thought of looking over the side?

[Bermuda30]

+1 for the stick. Color of the water? Stirred up muck? I don't think the hand held could be used underway CD, but I could be wrong.

[Cruisingdad]

I have used mine underway in the dink (not at a full speed, obviously, at trolling speed). I don't know about 2 feet as I think my dink runs aground not far from that, but you can try. They are not expensive and are easy to use.

- CD

[AlexanderGDean]

Thanks, guys. I knew my bizarre question would stir up a few smirks! I use the centerboard as the ultimate sounder -- a stick doesn't provide any lift or much lateral resistance...

Sticks and water color don't work for this situation -- I built a black box to automatically record the depth and lat/lon data, and then onshore I update my own high-resolution charts for my chartplotter.

I'll check out the handhelds, but data output is critical.

AD

[Bermuda30]

Originally Posted by AlexanderGDean

I built a black box to automatically record the depth and lat/lon data, and then onshore I update my own high-resolution charts for my chartplotter.AD

Sounds interesting! I like gadgets, particularly those of the homebuilt variety. Also, what parts of the NC sounds are you sailing? I'll soon be based in New Bern.

[T34C]

You have a chartplotter downloading to a "blackbox" on a 16 ft boat????

A 16 ft. boat with a 7in. draft. Do you think you might be kinda pushing the envelope a little??? (Maybe from the outside, needing to get back in.)

[camaraderie]

Alex...tell us more about the lack box!! Sounds like a cool project.