Marine Depth Gauges

As the name implies, marine depth gauges are meant to show the actual depth of water under the vessel, which is needed for safe navigation, fishing, and some other tasks. A depth gauge receives signals from the transducer mounted on the hull under the waterline and using sonar technology to find the bottom. Unlike the early echo-sounding devices, the modern ones are based on microprocessors and utilize more advanced algorithms, which greatly contribute to their accuracy and efficiency. Another factor that also matters is their operating speed; many modern models update their depth readings approximately four times per second.

When choosing such a device, consider the alarm function, a rather popular feature that contributes to safety and convenience. When it gets too deep or shallow, the so-equipped device produces a special sound and/or light signal, so you don't need to look at the gauge too often. Also, make sure you get the device with a suitable depth range; some models can show up to 200 feet maximum, while others display up to 600 feet. Besides, there can be other useful additions such as the possibility to show the air and water temperature, set keel off-set, select measuring units, etc.