Hour Meter and Depth Finder

jjaszkow · Posted: Jan 21, 2007 7:17 pm Post subject: Hour Meter and Depth Finder

My boat did not come with an hour meter or depth finder (went the budget route as we were new to boating). I am not planning on adding these since I have found that they are pretty important to have.

I am trying to decide if these are things that I could install myself. I am considering the following items:
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/overtons/detail/pdetail2.cgi?r=detail_view&item_num=75681&fcat= or http://www.overtons.com/modperl/overtons/detail/pdetail2.cgi?r=detail_view&item_num=74431&fcat=

and http://www.overtons.com/modperl/overtons/detail/pdetail2.cgi?r=detail_view&item_num=71260&fcat=

I am pretty confident that I can install the hour meter without a problem, but I am not sure if I should pay the dealership to install the depth finder or if I could do it myself.

Does anyone know how well the thru-hull depthfinders work? How involved is the installation. If I go with the second option, I would most likely pay the dealership, since it involves drilling a hole in the hull.

QNev · Posted: Jan 21, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject:

We have a thru-hull DF and it works really well until you're in 200'+ deep water. It would definitely be worth it if you spend any time at all on a river or shallow lake.

jjaszkow · Posted: Jan 21, 2007 9:31 pm Post subject:

good to hear. Did you do the installation yourself? I am assuming it is as simple as finding a flat location near the lowest part of the hull and epoxying it to the inside of the hull. Can it be installed on a sloped location and the transducer be re-aimed to point directly down?

HHI Dave · Posted: Jan 21, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject:

jjaszkow, My '06 Tahoe came with a depth guage/temp sensor as a dealer installed option. It comes in very handy living on the coast and dealing with constantly changing tides.

Here is a link to the installation and instruction manual for the LST 3800. You might find some useful install info there. Hope this helps.

CrazyRazzman · Newbie Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 5

If you haven't already got one you might take a look at this one from Norcross Marine. I got one last year and it works great and the price is right. It comes with white or black faces and bezels to match your gauges.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hawkeye-NorCross-DF1000D-B-Digital-Depth-Finder-Sounder_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ38630QQihZ017QQitemZ270087048048QQrdZ1

Nauty · Addict Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 827 City: Lake Dallas

Yes, depth finders are very easy to install. You just have to make sure the epoxy is well mixed and that there are no air bubbles in it (air bubbles will give you a false reading). I have found that depth finders are very tempermental. The one I installed a few years ago had a bad digital display. I ended up having to send it back to the manufacturer to get a new one. On my current boat, the dealer had to replace the depth finder 4 times for the same reason before they got one that worked.

Therefore, be prepared for some tweaking when you install it. It may be a good idea to spend a few more bucks and buy it from a local dealer. That way you will be able to return it locally as opposed to having to send it to the manufacturer should there be any issues.