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Author Topic:   depth/fish finder

sport15er posted 07-31-2000 07:33 PM ET (US)
Looks like my '87 Humminbird depth finder is getting ready to retire. It works fine at shallow depths (@up to 10-12'), then it gets very erratic. My marina says it's not repairable; better off getting a new one. I'm looking at a combination depth & fish finder in the under $200 range. I'm close to West Marine, or will order one from Boatus. I'd appreciate any words of wisdom from the troops. fyi >> it's for a SS15.
Thanks!
triblet posted 08-01-2000 12:06 AM ET (US)
That smells like transducer, not depth
finder. Got a buddy with the same unit
(or a H'bird that uses the same transducer)?
Try your unit on his boat. Transducers
run about $50-75.
That said, 13 years is a LOOOONG time on
the water for electronics. Probably time
to replace it. $200 buys a lot of depth
finder these days (maybe more than you need,
depending on how deep you fish). I had
a Humminbird Wide Optic for the first couple
of years. It was just fine at finding the
bottom (I don't care about fish). I think
I paid $125 for it. I replaced it with
a Humminbird Wide Paramount 3D a couple of
months ago and sold the old one for $50
and probably could have gotten more.
More money buys you feachures and more
resolution on the screen.
I think Humminbird's swivel mount is the
best in the biz. No knobs to come loose,
swivel both up-down and left-right. You
can pop the unit off to stow it indoors
in about 1 second.
Chuck Tribolet
JB posted 08-01-2000 02:07 PM ET (US)
Watch the spring sales if you're not in a hurry...I was lucky enough to catch a sale at K-Mart in May or June...a Hummingbird 300TX w/transducer and temp for $139. Wallmart would have matched the price but they were out locally. They're alot more than that at the "discount" marine stores...
dburton posted 08-01-2000 02:28 PM ET (US)
You might try to coat the bottom of your transducer with a little dishwashing detergent before you put in the water. That will make the surface of your transducer "wetter". It can take a couple of days of being in the water for the surface of the transducer to get competely "wet". I have an old Loran/depth/fishfinder that will act very eratic if I don't take this step. The manual for my unit actually suggested this step.
dgp posted 08-02-2000 10:26 PM ET (US)
I noticed in West Marine today they had the Raytheon 265 for $120. I installed one of these on my Dauntless and it performed flawlessly all the way to 40 knots.
It has a dual frequency x-ducer, is waterproof and is easy to use. You may have to install new engine spark plugs that filter RFI, such as Champion's SS Marine plugs. Don
Barry posted 08-02-2000 10:59 PM ET (US)
I'd recommend another Humminbird. I borrowed a small (non-BW) bass boat a month ago that had two units and they worked great. My '74 Montauk came with a Wide Paramount that's very nice (also pricey).
Looks like the 100 SX is under $100. I'd consider the 200 DX (under $150) with the optional speed and temperature sensor.
Peter posted 08-03-2000 08:57 PM ET (US)
I've got a '93 Humminbird 600 Platinum ID with temp and speed. The finder works pretty good, the speed is pretty accurate, but the temp sender crapped out. The "swivel" mounts are definitely an advantage. The transducer sits in salt water all season.

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Author	Topic: depth/fish finder
sport15er	posted 07-31-2000 07:33 PM ET (US) Looks like my '87 Humminbird depth finder is getting ready to retire. It works fine at shallow depths (@up to 10-12'), then it gets very erratic. My marina says it's not repairable; better off getting a new one. I'm looking at a combination depth & fish finder in the under $200 range. I'm close to West Marine, or will order one from Boatus. I'd appreciate any words of wisdom from the troops. fyi >> it's for a SS15. Thanks!
triblet	posted 08-01-2000 12:06 AM ET (US) That smells like transducer, not depth finder. Got a buddy with the same unit (or a H'bird that uses the same transducer)? Try your unit on his boat. Transducers run about $50-75. That said, 13 years is a LOOOONG time on the water for electronics. Probably time to replace it. $200 buys a lot of depth finder these days (maybe more than you need, depending on how deep you fish). I had a Humminbird Wide Optic for the first couple of years. It was just fine at finding the bottom (I don't care about fish). I think I paid $125 for it. I replaced it with a Humminbird Wide Paramount 3D a couple of months ago and sold the old one for $50 and probably could have gotten more. More money buys you feachures and more resolution on the screen. I think Humminbird's swivel mount is the best in the biz. No knobs to come loose, swivel both up-down and left-right. You can pop the unit off to stow it indoors in about 1 second. Chuck Tribolet
JB	posted 08-01-2000 02:07 PM ET (US) Watch the spring sales if you're not in a hurry...I was lucky enough to catch a sale at K-Mart in May or June...a Hummingbird 300TX w/transducer and temp for $139. Wallmart would have matched the price but they were out locally. They're alot more than that at the "discount" marine stores...
dburton	posted 08-01-2000 02:28 PM ET (US) You might try to coat the bottom of your transducer with a little dishwashing detergent before you put in the water. That will make the surface of your transducer "wetter". It can take a couple of days of being in the water for the surface of the transducer to get competely "wet". I have an old Loran/depth/fishfinder that will act very eratic if I don't take this step. The manual for my unit actually suggested this step.
dgp	posted 08-02-2000 10:26 PM ET (US) I noticed in West Marine today they had the Raytheon 265 for $120. I installed one of these on my Dauntless and it performed flawlessly all the way to 40 knots. It has a dual frequency x-ducer, is waterproof and is easy to use. You may have to install new engine spark plugs that filter RFI, such as Champion's SS Marine plugs. Don
Barry	posted 08-02-2000 10:59 PM ET (US) I'd recommend another Humminbird. I borrowed a small (non-BW) bass boat a month ago that had two units and they worked great. My '74 Montauk came with a Wide Paramount that's very nice (also pricey). Looks like the 100 SX is under $100. I'd consider the 200 DX (under $150) with the optional speed and temperature sensor.
Peter	posted 08-03-2000 08:57 PM ET (US) I've got a '93 Humminbird 600 Platinum ID with temp and speed. The finder works pretty good, the speed is pretty accurate, but the temp sender crapped out. The "swivel" mounts are definitely an advantage. The transducer sits in salt water all season.