depth finders. - Maxum Boat Owners Club

enivalg · 06-29-2008, 05:28 AM

Any recs, on a brand of Depth finders. My depth finder works occasionally, and when it does I question its accuracy. I have a Maxum 1993 23 SCR.

Thanks,

enivalg.

seapuppy · 06-29-2008, 06:41 AM

well...go to the gallery and look at my instl.....I have just installed a garmin 160c...works great and the color is outstanding.....definitely worth the effort..

SP

Diggman33 · 06-29-2008, 08:41 AM

Hey enivalg -
Do you know what kind of transducer you have? If you have a 'puck' type (like mine), it is the least reliable as it is basically glued to the hull, and needs to shoot readings through the fiberglass.

If you're looking for a depth sounder only, and do not want to integrate with a GPS then I might consider the LST-3800 P http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/...uges/LST-3800/
The LST-3800 has both depth and water temp readings, and it also includes a transom mount transducer in the box - price is pretty good too.
(BTW, I don't work for, or am affiliated with Lowrance, just did some research lately and this fit my needs)

As I mentioned, Im in the market as well - looking into a Garmin setup which will take advantage of the sonar capabilities of my GPS. This is probably the more expensive route (it requires an additional analog sounder box and a transom mount transducer), but this will free up one of my 2" gauge mounts and give me everything I need in one spot on my GPS.

Hope this helps!

Fair winds and following seas -
Steve

tglee · 06-29-2008, 08:37 PM

I love my Humminbird 717.

Here are the details:
http://store.humminbird.com/sonar/70...&display_qty=6

Franco_2100SC · 07-28-2008, 12:00 PM

I've searched all over for the farina digital depth finder that came in my 2100sc all to no avail. This season I wanted to set the alarm a little shallower, (Goes off at 3.4) but cannot recall how to do it. There's one switch on the bottom. Mode, on/off - but I don't want to play with it until I understand how it works. Anybody have a link where I can download the instructions?

Thanks
KKKKFL

Franco_2100SC · 07-28-2008, 01:34 PM

Just in case someone else winds up here looking for the answer, here's the link... It helps if you spell the manufacturer correctly... arghhh

faria-instruments.com/site_manuals/IS0091F.pdf

That will get you the manual..

KKKKFL

SilveradoSS · 12-07-2008, 02:44 AM

The Faria that came with my Maxum works pretty well!

tglee · 12-07-2008, 05:53 AM

Quote:

It helps if you spell the manufacturer correctly

I saw that when you originally made the post and I thought it was just a typo. Glad you found what you were looking for.

I made your link clickable (I'm not sure if that is a word.)
http://faria-instruments.com/site_manuals/IS0091F.pdf

Doc_Vegas · 02-03-2009, 07:58 AM

The depth finder on our 2001 2700 SCR is questionable as well. Sometimes it seems to give an nearly accurate reading, then it goes to --- not sure why, I had assumed when the water was too deep. Last weekend we were in a cove where I could see bottom and the depth finder stayed on --- Any ideas?

Our boat came with a Lowrance 1600 Global Map. GPS is working, but no sonar

How hard is it to install sonar? I fear any drilling cutting right now, plus I am in a slip with no trailer....

Thanks

seapuppy · 02-03-2009, 04:03 PM

well...sometimes bottom contours can scatter the beam that is going down to the bottom, thus giving you a false reading of ---..meaning that there is no return signal....or the depth has gone beyond it's limits....sometimes while underway ours will read to --- momentarily and then come back....which tells me that the beam got scattered probably from a temp inversion..which will not allow the beam to return to the transducer...
how it reads is a direct relationship to the quality of bottom..water temps and anything that might block the transducer..if your bottom is dirty..it will block the xdcr.....if the bottom is so close that the xdcr can't calculate the return time..you'll get a false reading....there are tons of things that can affect the signal of your sonar xdcr .....so...just get into an area that you know the depth and hopefully it's all flat..and watch the return signal....it should stay consistant...

Doc_Vegas · 02-03-2009, 04:54 PM

Thanks. In the marina it normally seems accurate, sometimes I get the --- reading. I will play with it a bit more.

SilveradoSS · 02-04-2009, 04:16 AM

I usually cycle the power on it after I am few meters away from the dock to get a good reading.

Doc_Vegas · 02-04-2009, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilveradoSS

I usually cycle the power on it after I am few meters away from the dock to get a good reading.

I was thinking about that. Sometimes it seems like the it starts losing "signal" after it has been turned on for a long period of time. Do most boaters leave the depth finder on all the time, or only when pulling in somewhere questionable?

Thanks

Doc_Vegas · 02-04-2009, 04:37 AM

Wow, if a thermocline can impact the depth finder, we are in deep trouble in Lake Mead... most times of the year there is a strong, and rather narrow, theromcline. I have used SCUBA to "see" the thermocline, it is amazing to see the rippling of the mixing waters - the boundary can be quite clear.

seapuppy · 02-05-2009, 02:43 AM

well..in my 2 little braincells..that's part of the problem...thermoclines can really affect the signal strength and direction...

SP

tglee · 02-05-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Do most boaters leave the depth finder on all the time, or only when pulling in somewhere questionable?

I keep mine on all the time.

I don't want to do this again.

seapuppy · 03-05-2009, 04:01 PM

I take mine off when we're not at the boat for weeks...it's an easy item to get removed ..but useless unless you have the same harness and ducer..

SP

Doc_Vegas · 03-06-2009, 06:04 AM

Yeah, I definitely need a new depth finder. Ran the boat yesterday (great weather at Lake Mead) and found the stock unit to be unreliable...

tglee · 03-06-2009, 06:06 AM

Quote:

I take mine off when we're not at the boat for weeks

I remove mine once I'm back on the trailer. I meant to say, I leave it powered on all the time we are in the water.

BayBoy · 04-14-2009, 05:58 PM

I installed the Hummingbird Matrix 47 3D last season to supplement the factory installed puck style in my 3200SCR. While it is actually defined as a fish finder it actully shows you a nice clear 3D profile of the sea bottom and really helps you locate those narrow passages when needed. Comes with a second unit that provides speed and water temp as well.