Blue Tooth Depth Sounder

[trailertrawlerkismet]

We're thinking of adding a stand alone depth sounder to our R27, to compliment the one we read from our Garmin GPS. Recently we had a problem with the GPS screen where it would shut down and therefore we had no depth reading. We used charts and our iPad Navionics app for navigation but we still had no depth reading so therefore the reason for adding a stand alone depth sounder. I know about all of the conventional options but I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge of a blue tooth configuration? My thinking is that a blue tooth depth sounder would involve no more holes in the hull, no wires to run and be run as an app on an iPad, iPhone, etc as a back up depth sounder with a depth sensor adhered to the interior hull to take the reading from. Has anyone heard of such a tool? or maybe have such a device/app that they use?

Jim F

 

[walldog]

Good Morning Jim,

I do not know of a bluetooth app or interface for depth sounders. The transducer on our boats must be mounted in liquid and against the hull in order to read depth through the hull. The transducer then connects directly to the GSD 22 sonar which puts the depth information on the network. Garmin makes a GMI 10 display that will allow you dedicate depth information to it via your NEMA 2000 network. A plug and play operation saving you from having to mount another transducer and running the wires back. We are considering this. We replaced our transducer and relocated it from the stern area to a more recommended spot midship adjacent to the shower sump. This location gives us a much more reliable indication than we had from the stern. Too much turbulance in the stern area at planing speeds. I think the GMI 10 display would continue to provide depth information when the software causes a crash of the chart plotter. Crashing does not happen very often, but when it does it seems to happen in a narrow shallow channel 😱 . So for me a back up depth display would be a plus.

We have a handheld depth sounder. It works fine, but you must be able to put it in the water. Not possible from the helm and not useful for this problem.

We are able to put a router on our network, so maybe an IPad app could read the depth information that is already on the network. THAT would be nice.

 

[Crewdog]

How about this:

http://www.laylinassociates.com/r3ntf54 ... /p-98-432/

the 12 ft cable would make it possible to strap the transducer on the end of a boat hook, or use as an electronic lead line.

 

[knotflying]

The SM-5A Depthmate with External Transducer seems like an inexpensive "in a pinch" solution. However, what do they mean that the 9 volt battery is good for 500, 10 second readings? Does that mean the unit shoots every 10 seconds or do you have to engage it when you want to determine depth? If it shoots continuously every 10 seconds then you are good for 83 hours.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Herb: I like what you've said you're thinking of doing....that is using the existing depth transducer and connect it to a new dash mount Garmin display via the NEMA 2000. Question if this is done......by not having a depth sounder connected to the GPS display would this take anything away from the GPS' capabilities, other then not having the depth reading?

Jim

 

[walldog]

Herb: I like what you've said you're thinking of doing....that is using the existing depth transducer and connect it to a new dash mount Garmin display via the NEMA 2000. Question if this is done......by not having a depth sounder connected to the GPS display would this take anything away from the GPS' capabilities, other then not having the depth reading?

Jim

Jim, actually the depth information on the Nema 2K network will go to both the chartplotter as is now and also to the Garmin GMI 10 display at the same time.