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My Depth finder on my Piper is actually a fish finder. When the boat is level, depth is accurate but when heeling, which happens in a sailboat, I can't get an accurate reading. Is there a solution to this problem. For information, the tranducer is glued inside the boat near the centerboard.

Does the sounder work better on one tack v the other?

I had one on my Piper. It was fixed with some blue potty in the starboard trunk. I did not rely on it too much because when it indicates 2 feet!... It is actually too late!
I always prefered not to get too close of shore and check the charts.

I don't have one on my Tanzer 16. The centreboard and rudder both swing up if I hit something or the bottom.

Dave, as far as I know, it only has one track.

JacquesR wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:46 am

Dave, as far as I know, it only has one track.

What I'm meaning does the depth sounder work more reliably when sailing on one tack v. the other. Written a different way sounder works is sailing, healing, on a port tack but not when sailing on a starboard.

Sorry Dave. My mistake. I'll have to check that next season to be sure but I don't remember it being different. My guess is you are saying that my tranducer being on the starboard side of the centerboard, it can't read when i'm heeling on a starboard tack. Is that your opinion.

JacquesR wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 31, 2021 6:32 am

... my tranducer being on the starboard side of the centerboard, it can't read when i'm heeling on a starboard tack. Is that your opinion.

Yep, that's what I'm thinking.

Then I guess it's a good thing I also rely on charts. But it is fun to see fishes on the screen. So not everything is lost.

I use a wireless, non electric, completely infallible "Nantucket Sounder". Its available from Woodenboat for $159.00. It has the added advantage of being able to tell you the makeup of the bottom when you use the enhancement included just for that reason.

https://www.woodenboatstore.com/product ... 0597115048

I have a hand held depth sounder similar to the Norcross H22FX but mine doesn't have the flashlight function. It was about $130 Canadian from the Chandlery in Ottawa. They carry a couple of models but I guess mine has been replaced with a newer product. It gives instant depth and water temp and is easy to use, just hold it over the side and at most sailing speeds it is accurate. I have had mine for about 5 years I think and I'm still on the original batteries. I don't use it that often but it is good for checking depth as you come into shore or if you are going through unfamiliar channels. I moved my boat to a new area a couple of years ago and it is a maze of islands and rocks so I use my charts(laminated) and the handheld to navigate the tricky places and I keep the unit close to hand in the cockpit.
I looked into permanent mount units and decided the heeling problem among other things made it simpler to go with the hand held sonar...works for me.