Mike Y Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 My brother and I are taking our 14 foot coastliner down to the Helford River at the beginning of June for a week's fishing around Falmouth. We had an old Eagle Ultra portable fishfinder which is no longer working - anyone abel to recommend a good portable fish finder? Do they do colour portables yet?? Any help gratefully received Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Removed Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 Mike, cant you get a small Garmin unit to install on the dingy, they come quite cheap. Rich Need a cabin boy?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Y Posted May 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 Rich I really need a fully portable unit as the boat gets winched up a pebbled beach which will remove any transducer and it would be nice not to have to lug a 12V battery around too. Good to meet you in Alderney - really enjoyed the banter. Seems ages ago now sat at my desk. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 Had a cracking Garmin unit which was as good as any other B&W. It took half a dozen big batteries and lasted ages. Transducer was on a suction cup. Think it was hardly anymore than a standard unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Y Posted May 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 Sounds just what I am looking for Tom - will see what ebay has to offer. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Removed Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Mike, when I get a minute, I'll nip into Garmin (Europe) head offices here in Romsey, and see what they have on offer for you. What date is the Falmouth excursion?? Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Y Posted May 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Thanks Rich - we are going down for the week begninning 5th June Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamouse Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 It isn't exactly portable but MES had the Garmin 240 on offer at 80 quid!! For that much money, worth getting one and mounting the transducer thru-hull? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 For through-hull, try mounting the transducer on a block of moulded-in plasticine, bought from some toyshop ! Really squidge it in well, and it should stay in place nicely. It was tip I heard of years ago, and when I installed a fish-finder on my last boat, I did this, and it worked fine (apart from the fact the fish displayed never seemed to swim to the left....) Other approaches are glassing-in the transducer, and using a sealed oil-bath - neither of which I wanted. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 (apart from the fact the fish displayed never seemed to swim to the left....) Mike, this was due to the fact that they were always swimming faster than you were travelling.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Removed Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Mike, mail me your address at rich.swain@tiscali.co.uk, I'll go into Garmin today, and take my best and heaviest beating stick, to see if they are a little flexible pricewise towards PBSBAC members. I'll mail catalogues through to you. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 The Garmin 80 and new Garmin 90 have portable versions. Eagle and Hummbird also do portable FF's. All are B&W though, I think. The Garmin 160C is colour and comes in a portable version. BF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Y Posted May 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Thanks Bob Think I have found a portable Garmin 80 which looks just what we need. Kind regards Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 I went into Garmin Europe' head office today, crikey they've expanded. I spoke to techies, and they dont produce a truly portable system, in that transducers have to be permanantly fixed on the hull. I asked about a suction cup type, which they dont provide. he said that that chandleries may have a transducer that fits onto a suction cup, but Garmin dont actually produce one. (Although he did try and sell me a few transducers for Mike just in case one got broken recoevering the dingy across a pebbly beach..........thanks but no thanks, I actually thought he might do better to pop back to his desk and invent a unit mounted on a suction cup, but all Garmin Rocket Scientists had been given the day off I also approached the marketting department regarding sponsership for our open comp this coming november, so have banged off a letter, to see what they can do. Sorry to get your hopes up re the unit Mikey..... Badger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 They always used to have one on a suction cup, I know, I had one! If not, take the standard transducer and mount it on a small aluminium pole, this can be clamped to the transom when you need it and set at the required depth, when not in use, it is simply removed. The even simple way, is to to the same, but with a bit of wood. The transducer is simply screwed to the bit of wood, exactly as it is with the transom. The wood is clamped to the transom as and when needed. The downside to this method is tat if you use softwood it will only last a few sessions. Not a prob as it is such an easy fix. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Y Posted May 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Thanks for your help guys - I think a battery operated garmin unit with a tranducer mounted on temporary mount/pole is the way forward. Rich I tried to send you some e-mails yeserday but they were returned this morning - thanks for taking the effort. Will e-mail you the numbers of my secret cuckoo wrasse mark!! See you on the water soon Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 I also approached the marketting department regarding sponsership for our open comp this coming november, so have banged off a letter, to see what they can do. Cheers Rich PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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