Sea water temperature on Garmin

[Irish Mist]

I am getting slowly to know my way around the new boat I have an R29 2011 with the Garmin 5215
I am working through all the options and all is good except when I display the water temperature it has a place for it but doesn't show any readings.... Do I need to add equipment ? I can't imagine having all the information it has but no water temp sensors ?
Thank you

 

[GulfSailor]

.... Do I need to add equipment ? I can't imagine having all the information it has but no water temp sensors ?
Thank you

I'd guess it's because you don't have a temperature sensor installed. 😉
You probably have the Airmar P79 transducer which is depth only and mounted on the inside if the hull.
What you need is a combined depth and temp transducer which penetrates the hull and is in contact with the water.

If you go here: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=148&pID=11189
then click on 'accessories' and then on 'transducers', you'll see a wide range to choose from.

 

[Irish Mist]

Thank you I just thought that would be installed from the factory

 

[GulfSailor]

Thank you I just thought that would be installed from the factory

If it's any consolation I've had temp/depth sensors on other boats and the temp part always seems to fail after a while.
Also, the 5215 can do other things like display an image from a video camera, or show a Sirius weather map, but you don't get a camera or a Sirius receiver installed as standard equipment, and I'd guess that thinking would apply to a combination depth/temp sensor as well.
Just my 2 cents though, I can't speak for the factory.

 

[RProffer]

I don't understand why a surface water temp sensor would be important. I could understand knowing what the temp is at certain depth layers in order to help find the fish. I have not been able to figure what the surface temp is used for. Does anyone know?

 

[Irish Mist]

Thanks for your comments it is nice for me to see water temperature purely for interest sake as it changes a lot depending on where we are on the lakes . I checked with the dealer and he said should be working I realize the unit can do a lot more with added equipment. I just know that any other unit I have had or friends have had have the temp built in... Really no huge issue I was just wondering if anyone had the same boat same year same unit could comment. Other then that I am very impressed. Every time I go on the boat it seems bigger!
Thanks again

 

[colinm]

I don't understand why a surface water temp sensor would be important. I could understand knowing what the temp is at certain depth layers in order to help find the fish. I have not been able to figure what the surface temp is used for. Does anyone know?

I believe the biggest benefit is when you see a sudden change in temperature that's a tell tale sign of a current shift where two flows of water are meeting - these are sometimes hard to see visually.

 

[nzfisher]

Temperature breaks (different temp bodies of water are like walls in the water) are critical to finding some species of fish as well as locating where you are in relation to satellite temperature imaging- (if you continue in a direction is the temp getting cooler or warmer and how does that relate to the image?). Salmon, tuna, even rockfish are temperature sensitive and often the surface temp is all you have to go by. I changed my electronics so I could get this data for fishing.

 

[Scuffy]

I.M.
Water temp only shows on certain screens as I remember maybe not on combinations. Try going to a full just sonar screen.
Surface temps are nice to know for trailer boaters who may not be familiar with new areas they boat. They would influence how I would deal with something tangled in the prop or going swimming etc. Also how fast hyperthermia might set in. I would think running 80 to 90 degree water might have an effect engine temps compared to running in 50 degree water. Can't have too much information available to you is IMHO.

 

[knotflying]

An infrared thermometer works for me and I can use it to check the temperature on my stuffing box and key elements on the engine. For me it is a win/win.