Depth Finder and Navigation

[Neal Haarberg]

I thought I would give an update on what has transpired owth my boat since the end of the season. I ended up getting a new depth finder. Still figuring out the working on laying tracks (and deleting old ones). I was concerd about the larger transducers and was able fashion a mounting bracket to my break away plate and it has worked out well. It has a little give in it if I hit something shoving it into the brush to hide boat. We will see how holds up this season.

I took the boat off of the trailer to replace a broken bunk. While I had it off and in the garage I took the opportunity to re-glass the gunnels as they have worn down over the years since wood was exposed in a few spots where jerk string lines have worn it down. I added Graphite powder to the epoxy for the subsequent coats. Not sure it will help with abrasion resistance but I figured this way I don't have to paint it and I think it look cool. THere were also areas at the chines in the inside that needed some love. they were sanded down with a few fresh coats of epoxy as well Touched up some spots on the bottom that had worn down and recoated the keel. Hopefully I am good for another 18 years! Below are some pics and the "finished" product on the water

 

[HenryHawthorne]

Like your poling platform!

 

[Neal Haarberg]

Thanks Henry, I used some old pipe from a dog kennel for the frame with a wood platform. I figured If I could make the platform with stuff I had lying around, why not, and it was well worth the time. I like to sight fish for carp on the Columbia in the summer with a flyrod and with somebody on the platform it is a ton of fun. I almost like poling around and spotting the fish as much as catching them! It is just bolted down with 4 hand nuts so i can remove easily when I don't need it. The bench that rests on comes off for duck season and the blind goes on. I have been toying with the idea of making a casting platform... Last time I was out, there was a real flats skiff on the river which looked severely out of place in the northwest.

 

[HenryHawthorne]

Thanks Henry, I used some old pipe from a dog kennel for the frame with a wood platform. I figured If I could make the platform with stuff I had lying around, why not, and it was well worth the time. I like to sight fish for carp on the Columbia in the summer with a flyrod and with somebody on the platform it is a ton of fun. I almost like poling around and spotting the fish as much as catching them! It is just bolted down with 4 hand nuts so i can remove easily when I don't need it. The bench that rests on comes off for duck season and the blind goes on. I have been toying with the idea of making a casting platform... Last time I was out, there was a real flats skiff on the river which looked severely out of place in the northwest.

I plan to use my boat in the off-season for redfishing in the marsh, so appreciate the idea and may have to make something similar.

 

[RM Anderson]

As the season has come to a close I am thinking of all the work that needs to be done to me boat which I built 19 years ago. There is some maintenance where the fiberglass on the gunnells has worn and some other spots that need some love. I was also thinking as I motored out into the darkness on saturday holding my phone in one hand to navigate the marsh that It may be time to replace my depth finder. I currently have an old humminbird piranha that is about 15 years old. No color just an old LED display. Work great for giving depth and temp which all I have ever really wanted. However fish finders have come a long way in the past 15 years. When I do use my boat for fishing I don't use the fish finder other than water temp so I am not concerned with all of the new exciting ways to see everything under water.

What I do want is navigation capabilities so I can keep both hands free and not use my phone. Lay down tracks to navigate safely in the dark. I have been looking at and will most likely get the Garmin Echomap UHD2. Still deciding on the 5" or 7". Due to space constraints this is as big as I can go and would not want ot go bigger even if i could. I like this one because it does NOT have a touch screen. Buttons are good for when you are wearing gloves. Looking for opinions on Lowrance and Humminbird in case there is something I am missing.

Neal,
I just purchased a 7" Garmin Echomap UHD2 with touch screen and maps for inland waters. It was spendy and has way more features than I will ever need. The main reason I purchased this model was for the touch screen and mapping/chart plotter capabilities. I also elected to purchase the model with no transducer so that I could purchase an in hull transducer separately rather than having to constantly replace the transom mounted transducers that break easily. I have no interest in side scan, forward scan or any other type of scan. Depth, my position and a good map are all I need.
RM