Sidescanning plotters

[diverdad]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has constructive comments regarding some of the sidescan plotters that are on the market?

There was a thread previous on Structure scan images but there have been a lot of releases of late by many manufacturers.

There are lots of users on here so I would be interested on your thoughts.

Lee

[Mat856]

I have a lowrance setup with this it's very good in shallow water but over 20mt not great

[Rokraider]

I have a Raymarine Dragonfly which I am happy with. Only thing I dont like is the mount, which is too tall and rather fiddly. I have a Navionics gold card package and it is a nice package. The Sonar function gives very clear images of the bottom. Not tried any others, so can't give a comparison.

[diverdad]

Thanks Guys, do you have any images you have taken?

Thanks in advance

Lee

[Rokraider]

Bot had a chance yet.Hoping to snap a seal with it down by the colony.

[Simon B]

I now love ours, once you learn how to drive it and the limitations then they are fantastic and "cheap" according to my Ex RN mate who went into survey work in '90s.

At lower depths your target items are smaller on the screen unless zoomed in, you also need to remember wrecks etc will only like a photo if you are correctly lined up with them.

It is surprising what other things show well, divers are easy to see so less easy to lose. Any divers know where the Wessex is?

Below is;
Black Hawk Bow (Weymouth) Divers on a 6 metre safety stop and A Wessex helicoptor or whats left of it.

[diverdad]

Hello Simon, what make/ model have you got?


Thanks

Lee

[diverdad]

The reason I started this thread is that I am currently running a starfish 450f sidescan at the end of a sensor array over the side of the boat, connected to my laptop.
With technology rapidly improving I am keen to bin the clutter and go for a simple sidescan plotter.
The starfish has its place and will be used when I am particularly looking for something but for day to day running I want something compact.

Picture 1 is of the fish at the end of the sensor array, picture 2 is of a sunken boat and pontoon.

[Pikey Dave]

Sheesh! I can remember not so long ago you'd have to spend £20k+ to get that kind of resolution, incredible.

[Simon B]

We are using a Lowrance, we have an older 6.4" HDS unit and a newer HDS Gen 2 touch networked to a standard sonar transducer and also to a structure scan transducer.

Its a neat instalation and I'm pleased with how it works now that we have learnt to drive it properly. We may get even better results after some more fiddling. Lowrance does have a lot more configurable settings so some may feel its a tad techy and over complicated. We are trying to get more accurate fuel readings which is improving and we can then use these for predicting dive costs to members.

[SteveHall]

I fancy the structure scan transducer as well, but i cant justify it as its only a toy

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by SteveHall

........ i cant justify it as its only a toy

Err! and the boat is?????

[SteveHall]

I keep telling her is a tool for my employment.. if it floods I can still get to work.