depth gauge
- Thread starter jacktm
- Start date
Was the water cold when you jumped in and went over your head? :grin:
Depth is usually read from the bottom of the transducer (i.e. bottom of the hull). It all depends on your preference but I like to know how much water is under my running gear and not from the surface so I've callobrated mine so it reads from the bottom of the props. I get really nervous when it it reads 1.5....
Not sure how you can do with Smartcraft but I'm sure it's possible. It's possible with the Raymarine guages and even my water temp had to be callobrated.
Depth is usually read from the bottom of the transducer (i.e. bottom of the hull). It all depends on your preference but I like to know how much water is under my running gear and not from the surface so I've callobrated mine so it reads from the bottom of the props. I get really nervous when it it reads 1.5....
Not sure how you can do with Smartcraft but I'm sure it's possible. It's possible with the Raymarine guages and even my water temp had to be callobrated.
When you are in shallow water that reading is extremely important considering your out drive is hanging down below the hull and is in danger of hitting bottom.
For example, the draft specifications from Sea Ray for a 220 Sundeck with the outdrive down indicates that the drive is 16 inches below the hull bottom when all the way down. That means in your example of a reading of 3.5 feet, you would only have about 2 feet of water under your skeg. If your reading was actual depth, you would be lulled into a sense of false security in my opinion. If it were me, I would want to know the depth from the hull bottom rather than how deep the water actually is.
For example, the draft specifications from Sea Ray for a 220 Sundeck with the outdrive down indicates that the drive is 16 inches below the hull bottom when all the way down. That means in your example of a reading of 3.5 feet, you would only have about 2 feet of water under your skeg. If your reading was actual depth, you would be lulled into a sense of false security in my opinion. If it were me, I would want to know the depth from the hull bottom rather than how deep the water actually is.
The transducer is not the place where the calibration is made. It would be made on the display side (smartcraft in your case). The transducer is going to send what it sends (probably a voltage or resistance) and it's up to the display electronics to decypher it, make it readable, and make it accurate.
Larry&Leisa
Active Member
You should have a separate manual for the SmartCraft info. And there is a way to calibrate .. should be able to just go thru the menus and find it if nothing else. (I'm not at the lakehouse where the info is or I'd be more specific)
boatmailster
Well-Known Member
jacktm said:
reading is from transducer not from waterline
on smartcraft there should off-set adjustment, but looks like you are reading good
i prefer setting "0" when there is at least 1-2 ft from bottom to out-drive skeg
brian2001ss
New Member
good info guys. I agree, I would definetly like to know how much distance there is under my props
