Advice needed

G

Guest

Guest
Hi there,
I would like to install a Chartplotter and depthfinder on my dinghy.
I am not sure which model I should choose. Can anyone make a suggestion please.
I am not looking at a portable unit as I will have it permanently installed on the dinghy.
Don't want to spend a fortune either.
Main use will be for exploring.
Thanking everyone in advance.
 
Can you provide some info about the dinghy? How will you transport it while under way?
 
I have a center console Zodiak and installed the Garmin 178C, GPS, chartplotter and fishfinder . It is great for exploring shallow waters and potential anchorages without bringing the big boat.

Bill
 
The dingie sits on a hydraulic lift while the boat is under way.

this is a center console dingie (zodiac yl340dl).
 
cr0ck1 said:
a chart plotter on a dinghy? if your just taking the dinghy from your boat to land why do you need a chart plotter?

If you want a nice color depth/fish finder i have a garmin 160c like new in the box for sale cheap.
Click to expand...

We use the dingie for exploring so we need to mark items on the chart plotter.
 
I certainly understand why you are doing this. I put a permanent VHF on mine because I got tired of 1) the kids dumping them in the drink and 2) 10 miles away and a handheld sucks. We use our dinghy, like you, to explore and check things out before bringing in the big boat and grounding it.

I went the protable depth sounder route (looks like a flashlight) and that was a big mistake. I also want to put a real depth sounder/chartplotter on the thing. The issue I am concerned with is battery drain/usage as the small battery on mine has an issue keeping up with the radio let alone with a few more serious electronics.

Keep us posted with what you find out.
 
Thats a good point Gary, never thought of the battery issue. I guess I can always go to a bigger battery (I hope).
I placed an order for the Garmin 520S with a transducer. I will place a photo once the unit is installed. Should be a few weeks.

Rob, I will take a picture of the dink on the lift this coming weekend and will post that as well. Everyone that comes to see the lift really likes the simplicity of it. Only draw back is that you can not use it as a submersible swim platform. This is one issue that the kids keep reminding me of. Sure beats towing though.
 
Steve36 said:
.... Only draw back is that you can not use it as a submersible swim platform. This is one issue that the kids keep reminding me of. Sure beats towing though.
Click to expand...

Slight hi-jack here....could you make a small flat surface, with contoured bottom, that fits in the cradle (after the dink is deployed) which could then act as a platform with the cradle lowered???? Hmmm...Dom's Diving Davit....nah...I tried that already...
 
I installed a "Hawkeye" depth sounder on my digny and we love it, it came with two "faces" one white and one black along with trim rings-we installed the white one cause it looks the best and matched our fuel gage on the dink. This cost me $100 and it has been worth everypenny! It "flat-lines" at less than 2 feet, mine is a jet tender so we don't need much water. I also have installed a RayMarine vhf radio under the wheel, It's a small unit but it works great, I have a shakespere 4' fiberglass antenna mounted on a rachet mount to raise or lower when the dignys on my platform lift. These are two MAJOR improvements from handheld vhf. I also mounted a small Garmin 76CSX color plotter (handheld w/mounting bracket). We use this for the cartography when cruising. We turn on our plotter/gps everytime we run our digny, We have logged almost 400 Miles Just this year, on our digny- The Nautica only burns about 2 gals./per hour- a lot less than the big boat!
 
Dom, don't laugh. I am toying with the exact idea. Problem is where do you store the piece of plastice when you are not using it?
 
Steve36 said:
Dom, don't laugh. I am toying with the exact idea. Problem is where do you store the piece of plastice when you are not using it?
Click to expand...

It doesn't have to be big...just big enough to cover the cradle. If it's small enough, it could be stored in the dink...maybe ss piano hinged so it folds....
 
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