sparky
2010-03-02 01:14:56
I am thinking about installing a forward looking sonar in my 38 foot troller i see that interphase makes one for around 2500 bucks it involves installing two transducers and will scan 180 degrees to 1200 feet in front of the boat,my goal is to identify feed and possibly fish, some words of wisdom shure would be appreciated thanks.
Once and Future
2010-03-02 02:27:37
Hey total stranger! I can save you $2500!!! These are a total P.O.S.!!!! Yes, I owned one, and the forward-looking feature didn't act as claimed at all. And this topic rang a bell so I searched this site for the word "Interphase" and found it was Yak that posted about them before and the opinions he found were in total agreement with mine. There are very few instances in life where I can give advice on something with no gray areas. This is one.
While on the subject of free "Words to the Wise", I can also warn you that a "Digital Prostate Examination" is NOT the modern electronic procedure it sounds like at first! (And if you go into your doctor's office and ask for one out loud (because you saw a recommendation in a pamphlet) you will receive quizzical looks from the staff!)
shakers
2010-03-02 03:45:45
Forward looking sonars depend on the vessel being in a calm state. They send a beam and pull the echoes back with timing.
if you are on a straight level plane with no forward motion they can be effective in locating feed, reefs rock formations and such.
in practice they are less than effective in our application.
To compensate for lateral roll and other common seafaring conditions techs used a towed array or "fish" as they are called.
the fish is gathers data and transmits it to the computer for the software to pick through. they are highly effective in picking up critters. you can even see the organs inside of them. to study bottom formations you must run it less than 20 feet from the structure, (dont let it hang up).
The equipment to do the job right takes tens of thousands of dollars and several months of training to use it.
perhaps the cheapest and more fun device is a simple underwater camera. you can pick them up online for 500 or so, plug it into a tv and watch for hours.
they work best drifting a few feet from the bottom or, over your school of feed.
the cheap ones do not work well under way things move to fast and the field of view is small.
The cameras are great fun to see underwater without getting wet.
-SJ
ashadu
2010-03-04 01:03:56
Re: Digital postate exam, Perhaps we need a new thread to deal with the issues of aging which are so boring to those not immediatly concerned. Or should we have a separate thread about the wide range of marine products whose purchase would best be preceded by a "digital postate exam" Salty, now more than ever, your opinion would be of value.
Salty
2010-03-04 02:33:40
Well, folks I had a colorful post describing a personal experience with forward looking sonar and a prostate biopsy but my wife walked in and saw it and vetoed posting it. Too bad since it had a nice comparison to modern medical equipment and a nice flexible hollow herring threader.
I have cut it out and if you want a private post I will share it.