Portable Echo Sounder

[edylie]

Anyone has experience with portable echo sounder?

Cheers,
Edy

[NightAngler]

Not too sure what kind of "portable sounder" you are referring to.

If it's those cast away & read from wrist watch alike type, save your $$$ for something more useful.

Provide more info on how you want to use it (e.g. estimated depth, type of boat used, main data req'd from the sounder etc.).

It's not that difficult to set up a deck mount sounder on any boat as long as DC power source is available.

During the 80s, followed a HK hook expert fishing in reefs off Mersing islands & we carry car batteries & colour sounder (incl transducer) along with us.

Best regards
Yew Seng

[edylie]

YS,

It is about 3000 meters and it is wooden boat.

Actually i am looking at the 400 series

http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/D...ion=2&page=766



Thanks,
Edy

[NightAngler]

Originally Posted by edylie

YS,

It is about 3000 meters and it is wooden boat.

Thanks,
Edy

1. Raymarine Model you had quoted is a fixed mount. Do note that 3.5" display screen is very small & can be taxing on the eyes when boat is moving/rocking.

2. No experience with depth of 3000M.
500W sonar power may not be sufficient to provide reliable 3000M bottom reading. However, if depth of interest(target fish zone) is within 200M from surface, 500W should be sufficient.

3. Need to opt for bronze thru hull transducer as it's not easy trying to secure a transom transducer (mounted outside of transom & immersed in water). For transom transducer, main worry is loss of transducer while underway. Needs "screw on" for transducer security but doubt boat owner will allow you to drill holes onto boat transom.

For thru hull transducer, look for bilge area that's always having some residual water. Just let thru hull transducer rest on inner hull & immersed in residual water. Area selected should not have any air cavity between inner/outer hull & also minimal water turbulence when boat is moving. Ensure transducer wire routing does not entangle into any rotating parts inside engine compartment.

Other brands of sounder that are around similar sonar power range are

Furuno FCV 600L & 582L
http://www.furuno.com/Furuno/Rooms/D...8315190E%5D%5D

http://www.furuno.com/Furuno/Rooms/D...2905C1B0%5D%5D

Koden CVS 118 & 833
http://www.koden-electronics.co.jp/eng/cvs118-e.html

http://www.koden-electronics.co.jp/eng/cvs833-e.html

A boat kaki bought a Koden CVS 118(incl bronze thru hull transducer) last year at abt SGD 1,200 from Tecomart(Sim Lim Towers B1). Furuno FCV 600L should be ard SGD 1,450.

Furuno & Koden are Japanese products. Both brands are commonly found in recreational boats. More easily available at SG retails outlets when compared to Raymarine products.

Price wise, Furuno or Koden(Also known as Si-Tex brand in US market) should be more friendly than Raymarine. Koden being the most affordable.

Advisable to operate sounder from auxilliary set of battery instead of tapping DC power from engine(or outboard) starting batteries. A flat engine starting batteries can become dangerous in open waters.

Yew Seng

[edylie]

Yew Seng,

Thank you very much for your detailed information!

very much appreciated

Thanks,
Edy