Depth Gauge? Do you run one or not?

[HAVASUSUN]

My boat currently does not have a depth gauge in it so I was thinking of adding one. I don't really want to cut another hole in the dash so am really torn about whether or not to add one. Thought I would throw up a poll to see what the consensus is amongst the boating community. Do most builders include them as standard equipment? My local lake is know to get pretty shallow towards the middle to the end of the summer. It would be nice to see how much space I have between my prop and the ground.:skull

 

[scottietwohoty]

Get a jet boat and your worries are gone.

Sent from my T-Mobile G2

 

[dancudmore]

My boat currently does not have a depth gauge in it so I was thinking of adding one. I don't really want to cut another hole in the dash so am really torn about whether or not to add one. Thought I would throw up a poll to see what the consensus is amongst the boating community. Do most builders include them as standard equipment? My local lake is know to get pretty shallow towards the middle to the end of the summer. It would be nice to see how much space I have between my prop and the ground.:skull

Never owned a boat that had one. Been on some that did...
My take, other than when floating or fishing, useless...
By the time the gauge tells me its shallow its too late.

 

[CoolCruzin]

For me, they are good knowing how deep of water your in for throwing out the anchor .
To use in shallow water it too late from from the time it reads a high spot and your moving past it .
I miss the jet boat for shallow water.

 

[Singleton]

By the time the gauge tells me its shallow its too late.

Agreed, found that out the hard way on my old boat.

 

[chaser]

love mine for shallow coves (go in slow) and when throwing anchor ( hate pulling that box up ) also have a temp gauge that is really nice also.

 

[SuperJet]

I normally have a depth passenger lol. Plus I own a jet so depth really doesn't matter much.


Sent from that vibrating thing In your pocket using Tapatalk

 

[PokerRun388]

I have one, can be annoying at times... Beeps constantly going through the channel, most of the time I just turn it off, and Look Down...

 

[Outdrive1]

I never pay attention to them.

 

[HAVASUSUN]

Good feedback. I have never had one in a boat either. Last summer I spent some time on friends ski boats and was freaked out by how shallow the water was in areas that I regularly hang out. The cove you can find me in most weekends only had 5' of water in it n some spots at the end of the summer. Water is so murky it could have been 3' or 100' and it would look the same.

 

[HAVASUSUN]

Looks like I will be moving my depth gauge budget into some other winter project.:champagne:

 

[milkmoney]

Looks like I will be moving my depth gauge budget into some other winter project.:champagne:

atta boy... thats like puttin a fishing pole in my boat, i see fish although will never fish out of my boat.....

 

[Scott E]

Have had one on each of the three boats we have had built. Useless while at speed but good when idling into coves that you are unfamiliar with.

 

[XX14]

I know some folks swear by them and I would like to have one but with my stepped hull it wouldn't work once above around 20 mph

 

[Chestah Cheetah]

I'm replacing mine that took a shit. Just picked up the new Humminbird. It comes with a transom mount transducer. They have a program where you can ship it back to them and they replace it with a puck style transducer to install on the floor of the bilge. Should receive that next week.

 

[Cheaper To Keep Him]

I Have One On The Toon And Like It Going Into Narro Coves And Such

 

[BajaMike]

I really like having one. It's cool running up to the sandbar and looking at the gauge at the mouth of the river and it says "1 foot".....(I think that one was about 6" off).

It's helpful when anchoring and it's fun to park and look up a 500 ft cliff on Lake Powell and seeing you have another 500 ft under you.

When sailing in the islands (Catalina or BVI or Bahamas) it's required.


:thumbsup

 

[Tom Brown]

I thoroughly enjoy my depth gage.

 

[2Driver]

I never pay attention to them.

Yeah no shit.

 

[Outdrive1]

Yeah no shit.

Lol

 

[mjc]

I have one as part of my gps. It is depth and fish finder. Don't use it much but sometimes it is interesting to see what its down there

Sent from ????

 

[spectras only]

I thoroughly enjoy my depth gage.

is it set for 3" or 4" alarm

 

[spectras only]

One great feature of a depth gauge is, shallow/deep alarm settings.
It's important for tidal waters if one is anchoring overnight close to shore.

 

[28Eliminator]

I know some folks swear by them and I would like to have one but with my stepped hull it wouldn't work once above around 20 mph

I have one, and look at it occasionally ... But I can attest to the fact that NO, they don't work on stepped hulls after about 20 MPH. It just flashes 99 the whole time i'm on plane

 

[Fun Times]

Having one installed would help with lowering your insurance cost a little bit.

 

[GRADS2009]

I have one on the Shockwave but it is the first boat I've ever owned with one.

I'm so used to not having one that most of the time I forget it's even there.

I would think by the time you realize you're in too shallow of water, it's too late.

 

[TPC]

Wouldn't run without one.
Had one on every boat I've owned.

 

[TCHB]

I have had it in all my boats and tend to use it as a toy. Havasu when it gets shallow you can see it before the alarm goes off.

 

[HAVASUSUN]

I can see where it would be a "nice" to have. I really don't want to cut another hole in the dash. I am going to do some research on gauge options. Maybe I can combine my two fuel gauges into one??? This would free up a hole.

 

[GRADS2009]

Try using a depth gauge on Lake Tahoe, it's kind of funny.

You start to see bottom and think the water may be getting a little shallow, so you look down at the depth gauge and it reads 30'.

 

[Classic Daycruiser]

Only fishing boats use depth finders:skull

 

[Outdrive1]

Try using a depth gauge on Lake Tahoe, it's kind of funny.

You start to see bottom and think the water may be getting a little shallow, so you look down at the depth gauge and it reads 30'.

Parker is clear like that right now. We were floating last weekend in the middle of the river, it looked like it was 3' deep. I would guess its closer to 12/15 in the Lapaz Park area.

My guess is the mussels have played a huge roll in cleaning the water.

 

[Phebus]

Parker is clear like that right now. We were floating last weekend in the middle of the river, it looked like it was 3' deep. I would guess its closer to 12/15 in the Lapaz Park area.

My guess is the mussels have played a huge roll in cleaning the water.

I thought it had more to to with RD spending more time in Havasu, and less Bud Light Lime being extracted into the water.

 

[Outdrive1]

I thought it had more to to with RD spending more time in Havasu, and less Bud Light Lime being extracted into the water.

That's highly possible.

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Only fishing boats use depth finders:skull

Only fisherman and "high maintenance" boaters need depth finders. The pussification of our performance boating world is truely depressing to witness. :thumbsdown

 

[Phebus]

Just invest in a good pair of "Blue Blockers" and you will be able to gauge the depth of the water within micro inches.
Even In Tahoe.

 

[2Driver]

I boated all my life without one until our most recent boat.

It's fun to watch, more importantly some our lakes around Phoenix aren't quite as clear as the river. Idling into some of the long coves you don't know if it is 40' or 4' and it can be either.

 

[Echo Lodge]

All my roll bar boats have had them. Skiing on the Strip they are nice to have as my hydrofoil drafts more then the boat.

 

[2Driver]

All my roll bar boats have had them. Skiing on the Strip they are nice to have as my hydrofoil drafts more then the boat.

Ever scrape bottom with the foil?

 

[Crazyhippy]

Only fisherman and "high maintenance" boaters need depth finders. The pussification of our performance boating world is truely depressing to witness. :thumbsdown

Your fish finder should be able to tell you the depth.

And don't try to BS me about your boat not being a fishing boat. Fish love chrome, the bassmasters just grind it up and add it to their gelcoat!

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Your fish finder should be able to tell you the depth.

And don't try to BS me about your boat not being a fishing boat. Fish love chrome, the bassmasters just grind it up and add it to their gelcoat!

Well I do have the flake going on so maybe I need one of those...

 

[Abc123]

They are anoyoning if you boat on the Colorado River.

 

[steamin rice]

I can see where it would be a "nice" to have. I really don't want to cut another hole in the dash. I am going to do some research on gauge options. Maybe I can combine my two fuel gauges into one??? This would free up a hole.

I have one on my boat, and look at it once in a while when idling, but if I didn't have a depth gauge I don't think I'd miss it.

You should be able to use a single fuel gauge to monitor two tanks. Just wire a switch to select between the senders of the tanks and read the level on the gauge. My Hallett was set up like that and I liked the setup.

 

[Outdrive1]

I have one on my boat, and look at it once in a while when idling, but if I didn't have a depth gauge I don't think I'd miss it.

You should be able to use a single fuel gauge to monitor two tanks. Just wire a switch to select between the senders of the tanks and read the level on the gauge. My Hallett was set up like that and I liked the setup.

I hate that. I need two tank gauges so I don't forget to switch back and fourth. I like to know what's in each side real time.

 

[hallett21]

I hate that. I need two tank gauges so I don't forget to switch back and fourth. I like to know what's in each side real time.

Is that cause you are running twins? We have one gauge two tanks one motor. I have never really thought about one draining faster than the other. :hmm

 

[Echo Lodge]

Ever scrape bottom with the foil?

I have had the pleasure of hitting bottom 2 times over the past 15 years.... Not fun.... 30 mph to zero in half a second.... Luckily damage was minimal to the foil and my body...

 

[hallett21]

I have had the pleasure of hitting bottom 2 times over the past 15 years.... Not fun.... 30 mph to zero in half a second.... Luckily damage was minimal to the foil and my body...

In a boat or an air chair?

 

[Singleton]

Is that cause you are running twins? We have one gauge two tanks one motor. I have never really thought about one draining faster than the other. :hmm

I have 1 motor, 2 tanks and 2 gauges. I like being able to see both and since it is a cat it helps to make sure I am draining tanks evenly.

 

[hallett21]

Can you shut one off to compensate if you have too much fuel in one?

 

[Singleton]

Can you shut one off to compensate if you have too much fuel in one?

Have a switch and only pulls fuel from 1 tank at a time.