Ayrton Oneill
Depth finders are a valuable feature for anyone hitting the water, but which one is best for your small boat? Depth finders use sonar technology to locate fish and structure, and can also include a keel offset feature that enables you to calibrate the sounder to show a depth of zero feet when the bottom is at or near the lowest part of the keel. This ensures you have a margin of protection when it comes to keeping your boat from scraping the bottom. Many depth finders also include an alarm that you can set to sound off at a specified water depth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To find the depth of the water |
| Other features | Chartplotters show a visual map of the body of water with topographic lines that show bottom contours |
| Fishfinders use sonar technology to locate fish and structure | |
| Some depth finders are compatible with other navigational instruments | |
| Some depth finders include an alarm that can be set to sound off at a specified water depth | |
| Some depth finders include a keel offset feature that enables you to calibrate the sounder to show a depth of zero feet when the bottom is at or near the lowest part of the keel | |
| Some depth finders include a GPS readout |
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What You'll Learn
Fishfinders
Some fishfinders include a keel offset feature that enables you to calibrate the sounder to show a depth of zero feet when the bottom is at or near the lowest part of the keel. This ensures you have a margin of protection when it comes to keeping your boat from scraping the bottom. Many also include an alarm that you can set to sound off at a specified water depth.
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Chartplotters
A chartplotter or digital map with GPS will also keep you and your crew safer when the weather turns bad or you stay out past dark and need help finding your way back to the dock or boat launch. Many depth finders include a keel offset feature that enables you to calibrate the sounder to show a depth of zero feet when the bottom is at or near the lowest part of the keel. This ensures you have a margin of protection when it comes to keeping your boat from scraping the bottom.
Some depth finders are compatible with other navigational instruments, meaning that while you may not have an all-in-one system, they can be integrated with other displays. Compatibility boils down to the unit’s data interface. You can also find some high-tech combination gauges such as the Faria Chesapeake, which is a 4” drop-in replacement for your existing speedo that brings you a digital depth gauge along with an analog speedometer, a GPS readout that works with a built-in antenna and a thru-hull transducer.
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Keel offset features
Many depth finders include a keel offset feature. This feature enables you to calibrate the sounder to show a depth of zero feet when the bottom is at or near the lowest part of the keel. This ensures you have a margin of protection when it comes to keeping your boat from scraping the bottom.
Depth finders are a valuable feature for anyone hitting the water. They can be used to locate fish and structure, as well as to navigate. A fishfinder uses sonar technology to locate fish, while a chartplotter has those same sonar capabilities as well as mapping technology. Chartplotters will show you a visual map of the body of water you're on with topographic lines that show bottom contours. This can be used to home in on certain fishing depths or to know which areas of the lake to avoid due to shallow water or rock hazards.
You can also find high-tech combination gauges that bring you a digital depth gauge along with an analog speedometer and a GPS readout. A chartplotter or digital map with GPS will also keep you and your crew safer when weather rolls in or you stay out past dark and need help finding your way back to the dock or boat launch.
Many depth finders also include an alarm that you can set to sound off at a specified water depth. Some depth finders are compatible with other navigational instruments, meaning that they can be integrated with other displays.
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Alarms
Many depth finders include an alarm that you can set to sound off at a specified water depth. This is a valuable feature for anyone hitting the water, as it can help you avoid shallow water or rock hazards.
For example, the Faria Chesapeake is a high-tech combination gauge that includes a digital depth gauge, an analog speedometer, a GPS readout, and a thru-hull transducer. This device can be integrated with other navigational instruments, such as chartplotters, which can show a visual map of the body of water with topographic lines that indicate bottom contours.
Chartplotters also have sonar capabilities, which can be used to locate fish and structures underwater. This information, combined with the depth gauge, can help you navigate and avoid potential dangers.
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Compatibility with other navigational instruments
Depth finders with chartplotters will show you a visual map of the body of water you're on with topographic lines that show bottom contours. This can help you navigate and find certain fishing depths or know which areas of the lake to avoid due to shallow water or rock hazards. Chartplotters with GPS can also help you and your crew stay safe when the weather turns bad or if you need help finding your way back to the dock or boat launch in the dark.
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Frequently asked questions
Boat depth finders work using sonar technology to locate fish and structure.
Boat depth finders can also be used to map out the body of water you are on, showing bottom contours.
This can help you to find certain fishing depths, or know which areas of the lake to avoid due to shallow water or rock hazards.
No, most companies don't sell a unit that only shows you depth because most boat owners need to know a lot more than depth.
You should look for a depth finder that can be integrated with other displays, such as a chartplotter or digital map with GPS. This will help to keep you and your crew safe when the weather turns or you need to find your way back to the dock in the dark.
