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Sounders - which one? (Closed)

Cormorant

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Registered: 05-2005
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Sounders - which one?

I am thinking of putting a sounder on the kayak, and I was wondering what people's views were on the various types out there.

Particularly:
- Which solunder models do people use/reccomend
- are the sounder units removeable from the base plate?
- what sort of cost am I lookng at?

I will be using this for mainly estuary work, with some river and impoundment work as well. I will definitely go for the shoot through the hull setup for the transducer, this seems fairly straight-forward. I use epoxy for the fly-trying all the time so this will be no problem.

I need to be able to remove the display unit as I also do a lot of fishing up coastal rivers where it will be reduntant and get in the way. I figure that scrambling through log jams and running rapids are fairly sounder-unfriendly!

I don't want the transducer and mounting plate to be removeable, just the nice, breakable screen.

Thanks in advance.

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Cormorant
Canberra ACT
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Australis Squid

20/Jun/2005, 10:19 am

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The Mariner
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Re: Sounders - which one?

Howdy,

I use & recommend the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 15 sounder. Has dual beam & water temp sensing, is waterproof (not just water resistant) and has a small footprint so it doesn't take-up a heap of precious deck space. The screen is mounted to the base with a nice big easy to manage screw to so it's easy to remove the screen, un-plug the 2 cables & stow it.

PM me if you'd like any more info incl. price etc.

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Regards,

Phil.

Forum Administrator.

Visit www.hookedonkayaks.com.au for kayaks and kayak fishing accessories.

20/Jun/2005, 1:42 pm

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simond11

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Re: Sounders - which one?

Hi Cormorant
I have installed a Garmin 120 with the transducer mounted inside the yak in a block of foam. I just smear some vaseline on the bottom of the transducer, and that seems to work really well. I am very happy with it. Have a look at eBay under "fish finder". I just saw quite a few for sale.
Good luck

Simon
Q Kayak Escapade
Open ocean fishing fanatic

20/Jun/2005, 7:50 pm

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Rod L

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Re: Sounders - which one?

Cormorant,
Check out this Kayak Fishing Stuff article. It gives the basics.
Look for a screen that gives the most pixels, and colour if they are in your price range.
I use a Garmin FF120 B/W and I'm very happy, but I'd probably go colour if I did it again.
Let us know what you end up doing.

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Regards
Rod
Melbourne
----------------------------
Cobra Explorer "Fire Water"

20/Jun/2005, 7:53 pm

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Cormorant

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Re: Sounders - which one?

Thanks for the advice lads. That is really useful. Also, a big thanks to the folks who have provided the advice on setting the tranducer in earlier posts - this is what got me interested.

I will be going for the EPIRB first off, but the sounder is next on the list, and will probably be in the boat by spring.

I will let you all know how it turns out.

Thanks again for all the advice.

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Cormorant
Canberra ACT
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Australis Squid

21/Jun/2005, 6:46 pm

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Tikka308

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Re: Sounders - which one?

I also use a Humminbird Piramah Max 15. Works great and reads thru hull without any interferance. My transducer is removable as it sits in a mini lunchbox with bottom cut out and epoxy'd inside the hull. Just add water, put the transducer in, put foam on top before you close the lid so it wont move around. That's it.

29/Jun/2005, 4:38 pm

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keljad

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Registered: 02-2005
Location: Cooma, NSW
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Re: Sounders - which one?

I use a Piranah Max 10 portable, because its cheap and Im a tight @#$%, with the transducer suction cupped onto my hull, and I really like it. But if I had my time again I would go with the Max 15 like the other lads.

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James
(with the "little minnow")

17/Aug/2005, 5:15 pm

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