I was finally convinced to break down and purchase a fishfinder for the boat.
However, in order to avoid numerous electronic gadgets on the dash, I decided to purchase a Fisfinder/GPS combo that would replace the current Garmin GPS and RAM mount on the dash.
I purchased an Eagle FishElite 642c iGPS sonar/Mapping combo.
The mount supplied with the Eagle combo unit is very sturdy and allows the unit to be disconnected and removed when it is not in use. To make things a bit neater and conceal the wiring, I drilled a hole in the dash and the center of the mount and fed the wires through. I then used 3M 4200 sealant to make everything watertight. I used a small Perko clamshell vent to give it a finished look.
Even though the unit has its own power switch, I routed power through an accessory switch at the helm to ensure the unit is powered off when the boat is shut down.
In order to avoid any additional holes being drilled in the transom and to give it some better protection, I used the transducer as a shoot-thru and epoxied it to the inside of the hull in the bilge area.
As the Eagle unit was able to be connected to my VHF radio for Digital Selective Calling (DSC), an NMEA data cable was added to allow the transfer of information to the VHF radio in the cabin. I then obtain an MMSI number from the applicable government authority that identifies my Trophy 1802 based on the call signal sent by the VHF radio.
For anyone not familiar with DSC, it is a semi-automated method of establishing VHF, MF, and HF radio calls. It has been designated as an international standard by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and is part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). Basically, if I hit the distress button on my VHF, the Coast Guard can identify my exact location based on the GPS coordinates indicated, as well as identifying the boat, owner and the emergency contact as per my MMSI number.
The unit fits very nice on the dash. I mounted it at a slight angle so that it is directly in line of sight from the helm. It is protected from the elements by the windshield and there is no interference with the internal GPS antenna
I also purchased the Navionics SD card for the electronic charts for the unit. These charts are absolutely fantastic and are very detailled and up-to-date. I would recommend the Navionics software to anyone.
