I was wondering how accurate these things are? I'm fairly new to boating and it drives me crazy when the shallow alarm starts going off, one second your in 40' of water and all of a second your in 2'. I know its all in what you spend but damn, my buddy's use to do the same thing and we ended up not paying attention to it and we payed dearly by hitting bottom and screwing up the prop.

Fish & depth finders need to have smooth water flow across the transducer to maintain speed readings while underway. Then you are still at the mercy of angle, gear quality, crap in the water and you name it. If the xducer is mounted well, you can expect to get decent readings at slower speeds and the lucky ones can get readings higher.

2 problems with depth/fishfinders in what you are looking for. First, the faster you go and more tossed around the boat is, the less accurate your reading will be. Second, it only reads what's behind the boat so you can still easily smack a ledge with the sonar reading 10 feet. If you're running in the harbor, there are tons of ledges that rise from deep depths to just under the surface in the span of inches - picture sheer cliffs with the "ledge" being just above water...

There is no substitute for a good map, quality POLARIZED glasses, not only will you see fish better, you can pick out rocks quicker, and time on the water. Never go sailing into areas that you don't know like the back of your hand...

I'd also recommend a power squadron course if you've never had one...

I think even more important than the sonar unit, is actually studying charts before entering an area. The depthfinder should be accurate and its really easy to go from very deep to taking off your lower unit in seconds.

Boston Harbor, especially the outer islands are all about ledges and its not usually going to be a gradual slope. That's what makes them good for fishing. Depth finders are great, but by the time you see the depth change, you may be way too late.

Study the charts and use your sonar to aid you.

And don't rely on sight either, cause alot of factors could lead to not being able to see a boulder just under the water. Glare, murky water, chop, cloud cover, etc. Polarized glasses help, but not always.

I study the charts before going out, and again when I get back in, to help myself remember mainly the danger spots... where to stay out of.

I also have a chart of the harbor on board in case I find myself in an area I don't know (or wanting to get into an area I don't know).

sorry for repeating some of the same info, we must have both been working on a reply at the same time.

I'm not preaching at all, but another good piece of equipment to have is a vhf radio... I just have a hand-held, but I don't plan on going out very far. It was only around $100, well spent if it saves my life some day.

I think alot of people rely on cellphones, but I wouldn't want to bet my life on a cellphone's service availability or how well it would work after being submersed in saltwater. My handheld has a simple waterproof bag that allows use even when inside and protected. Most vhf's also get the weather band.

Sorry if you already know all this stuff... I'm no expert, but just outfitted a new boat myself and did alot of studying over the winter and spring. Chapman's book of piloting is an excellent resource, but I agree with John, a formal course is a great idea... I want to do that myself.

I appreciate all the info I can get so don't feel like your preaching. :) Thanks

While I highly respect Mr Schoolie Monster's vast knowledge of fishing, the arts, Albert Bell, The Broncos, and all things western PA - I disagree on his choice for a radio. A handheld is great for docking or working as a backup but a full fledged marine VHF is what's needed.

A handheld maxes out at 3 to 5 watts depending on model whereas a fixed maxes at 25 watts. While you don't get 5 times the range of the handheld, you do get often a lot more than double, as well as better transmission in crappy conditions, and they are less likely to fall overboard :D

Just my opinion

Arts? You mean martial arts?... certainly not marital arts.

Its a good opinion... I really meant that as a bare minimum type of thing. It works for me, for now, 'cause I stick to the inner harbor and may stray out to the islands which will keep me within range for my radio. It has a rechargeable nicad battery, I keep a back-up std. battery pack in my dry box, and also can run off my 12v.

If you're headed offshore at all, I'd get the full-fledged version.

Dude, the albert bell shirt has almost disintegrated... unfortunately, he's retired, so maybe I'll have to get a barry bonds shirt. He's a pretty big jerk isn't he? I'd get a clemens shirt, but I really hate the yanks and especially him. Maybe manny, but he may not be a big enough jerk to warrant a shirt... and that would out me as a closet sox fan.

Well I might as well blast in a few thoughts.

I agree with John with the VHF. I have a full size unit mounted in the cabin and an 8' antenna, the short metal antennas are compact, but not that great for distance the height of the antenna increases the effective range of the radio.
I also have a spare handheld VHF on board in case of an electrical problem.

A decent fishfinder/sonar is a neccesity also, but they have issues which John and SM already discussed.

As for charts and location you must be sure of where you are, and what might be up ahead. I had relied on paper charts and handheld GPS for quite a while, but it can be a pain and very time consuming to accuratley determine your location. Not good if your moving into unknown areas.
Sooooo,, this year I bought a chartplotter and I am absolutley blown away by it.
Now that I know how to use it well, if I had to I could navigate home without looking up from the machine at all. This could be the case if thick fog rolls in.

It displays depths, structures, ledges, rocks buoys and your current position (livetime) on the chart so you can even tell what is coming. The new WAAS technology is sweet and the accuracy of your position is exceptional. I highly recommend one of these units. I gives me a real sense of security out there.
And again I keep my handheld GPS on board in case of electrical problems so i can still call for assistance.
There..... I'm done....:)
Good Luck

I always chuckle when I'm studying a chart. Bass fishermen study rocks/ledges so they can safely navigate INTO them, everybody else studies charts to safely avoid these areas.

"Sooooo,, this year I bought a chartplotter and I am absolutley blown away by it.
Now that I know how to use it well, if I had to I could navigate home without looking up from the machine at all. This could be the case if thick fog rolls in."

PLEASE! When I see this type of statement it completly scares me to Prayer for you!
The GPS will tell you where you are but will not tell you who or what is there with you or near to you! That Tug and Tow VS Sailboat is just a small example of the hazards. A RADAR will tell you what is out there in the fog as you navigate with your GPS. Use ALL AVAILABLE means to ascertain your safe passage.
The GPS WILL NOT show that other boat coming at you in the fog. BE AWARE! BE ALERT! BE ALIVE!

I agree::: BUT radar is not feasible on a 20' boat.
Besides a chartplotter it is still better by far than any other means of GPS technology apart from the radar and GPS interface.

"""""Toolka T crossed between the tug and the barge and became fouled in the submerged tow line. The yacht collided with the barge and sank as the barge ran over it.""""""

TUG VS SAILBOAT-----radar still would not let him know there was a towline behind the tug.
People have to also learn the rules of passage and not rely totally on eleltronics.
BUT>>>>>>>
As getting home in the fog was an example, if it did happen I'm still better off with the plotter than without it. This is the case for 90% of boaters out there especially fisherman who wnat to get in close to structure.

I've been boating for over 25 yrs. (w/o radar) so worry about the newcomers who are looking for information and help to get around on the water as safely as possible.
You can't overload someone with 3-4 pieces of electronics when they are starting out.

As Van did I got a gps chartplotter this winter and it does kick a-- and as Chet said it is not the do all for boating but it is about the best you can do on a small boat. The pilot of that tug had Radar and the boats still hit!!! This goes to show that all the electronics in the world don't work if the boaters are going to do something stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a new depthfinder coming thanks to all the guys that whent to the Cuttyhunk derby and felt they wanted to do something for me and I thank you all VERY VERY much but still wish you hadn't but since you did thanks again!!! Now I do not use my depthfinder for nav. at all as I just don,t think they are good enought to keep you out of trouble. But as a tool for helping you find good structure to fish and to find dropoffs and channels they are a must and I would feel lost with out one. But I find myself using the chartplotter for this even more than the depthfinder as I got the Garmin 176 which can go anywhere as it can be run on batt. and has the ant. built in. I can take it in the house at night find some reef or structure I would like to try and punch in a coarse to go there the next morn. But all most remmember the best tool to keep you safe is knowledge of your boat and the area you are going to!!! Be safe and good fishing to you:D

GB that 176 is a nice unit my buddy has one. I hope you will enjoy your new fishfinder. You went above and beyond the call of duty on the Cuttyhunk trip. We all had an awsome time, and it was the least we could do.

GB - Glad you were able to put it to good use :D . Again, we are all thankfull for oyur hospitality on the island and just to get something for you as a group! May it mark many LARGE fish and find sweet holes :btu: