Depth sounder Vs high def unit

[deandavis1]

I am fitting out a new yacht (45ds) and looking at depth sounders. there seems to be units like fish finders and structure scan that gives this and a blot more information for not a lot of extra cost. Am I right?

thanks Dean

[jarcher]

Originally Posted by deandavis1

I am fitting out a new yacht (45ds) and looking at depth sounders. there seems to be units like fish finders and structure scan that gives this and a blot more information for not a lot of extra cost. Am I right?

thanks Dean

Yes you're right. You can get a Garmin unit, for example, with their expensive extra chip that will show you the contours of the bottom. You can get units that find fish. If you're fishing, maybe that's a good idea. I don't know, I don't fish. All I really care about is how much water is beneath my keel.

[Gene T]

There is also forward scanning sonar but you are getting up to a couple grand. Nice if you are poking about in unknown anchorages. I used a fish finder on my last boat. It was nice to see the density of the sea floor. I don't think the cheap ones shoot as deep. They are only a couple hundred bucks.

Gene

[noelex77]

Originally Posted by deandavis1

Am I right?

Yes.
Fish finders are more powerfull and have a much better display. The only drawbacks are they need more electrical power (and depth is something that needs to on all the time you are sailing) and the display takes up more room (and needs to visible to the helmsman).
If you buy a fishfinder make sure it is visable in daylight and has a sutable transducer (many are sold with transom mount transducers which are not ideal for a yacht)
I have both (fishfinder and B&G depth), primarily so I have a backup. Its cool (but not much practical value) to see both port and starboard depths when coming into an anchorage.

[deandavis1]

thanks. I take your points.