Speedometers....and depth gauges

[Speedwagon]

Ok, so I've been reading about speedo's on here, because mine doesn't work. And I've been thinking about getting a depth gauge too, so I don't tear up my prop again.<br /><br />Found this while reading another post, and following a link...<br /> http://www.airmartechnology.com/airmar2005/ex20/RMProducts/ElectCat.asp?ProdID=68&Man=All&PageNo=131 <br /><br />Any idea how well these work? Or how much they cost?<br /><br />Also like the look of this one, that gives speed/temp/depth...<br /> http://www.airmartechnology.com/airmar2005/ex20/RMProducts/ElectCat.asp?ProdID=6&Man=All&PageNo=15 <br /><br />Anyone use these? How good and reliable are they? And what do they hook up to? I can't find mention of the display in what I've read there.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Speedometers....and depth gauges

Speedometers are pitot driven so yours may not be working because the tube is pinched or there is debris in the pitot. Depth gauges have digital read outs. Every boat should have one either as a stand-alone gauge or part of a fish locator. They work well but they won't prevent you from running aground or dinging a prop. You need to pay attention to where you are going. The depth gauge tells you how deep the water is beneath the boat. At speed you will not see the rock before you hit it.

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Speedometers....and depth gauges

Well, on the river/lakes I live on, there are alot of no wake zones, and if you drift just a few feet too far, you start tearing up the prop. This is what I'm looking to avoid, more than anything. It's the slow speed running nearer the shores that I'm worried about. I only run high speed in the middle, where I'm not too worried.<br /><br />And my speedo doesn't work because my pitot broke. But I'd like to replace it with something a bit nicer, and more accurate if possible. And I don't like having alot of stuff hanging off my transom, either.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Speedometers....and depth gauges

There seems to be lots of things you don't like but here goes. Depth gauges are available that use a shoot-through-hull transducer. Regardless where its mounted, a depth gauge cannot predict how deep the water is anywhere except under the boat. If you see the depth changing from (for example) 20 - 15 - 10 - 5 etc., there is a good chance you better stop or at least try to reverse the trend as you are definitely headed for shallow water. As for the speedometer, the only device for measuring speed is the pitot (from the engine), a separate pitot on the boat, or a paddle wheel style pickup for an electric speedomter. The last option is GPS.