[Rhodes22-list] Depth sounder

[David R. Keyes]

Speaking of having to drill a hole in the hull for the depth sounder, I've
not done so, and mine works perfectly.  In 2001, we glued the puck to the
inside of the hull under the stern hatch.  We've never had any trouble with
getting accurate readings.

David Keyes
S/V Arrowhead
Lake Travis, Texas

-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of mputnam1 at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 3:08 PM
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Solar Cells, Batteries, and GPS

As I've mentioned before, I'll be receiving my recycled R22 from Stan in the
next month or so ... and I have a question about battery power and solar
cells.
 
As some background: The 1990 R22 that I'm purchasing has one solar cell and
one battery (although Stan is checking to be sure there's not another
battery hidden somewhere on board).
 
After much agonizing over cost, I went ahead and purchased a GPS system and
a separate depth sounder.  I mainly want the GPS in the event of an
emergency, if I'm sailing in unfamiliar waters in the Chesapeake, and in the
event I anchor overnight.  I understand the GPS alarm can (hopefully) wake
me up if my boat drifts from its anchorage overnight.
 
I mainly got the depth sounder for anchoring.  I'm not thrilled with cutting
another hole in the side of the cockpit, but I didn't want to have the GPS
screen be split between the GPS display and the depth sounder display.
 
Anyway, here are my two questions:
 
1) Will one solar cell be enough if its to power the GPS overnight, in
addition to other power drains on the battery?  Should I spend the money to
have Stan put on another solar cell (and another battery, assuming there's
only one on board) in order to have a dedicated battery for the GPS (with
the other battery dedicated to the radio, depth sounder, and any other
electrical needs)?  I have no idea if a GPS can drain a battery overnight.  
 
2) I purchased a GPS with an internal antenna.  My plan was to mount it on a
bracket that could swing into the opening of the cabin and, thus, have a
clear view of the sky.  I didn't want to mount yet another instrument on the
cockpit wall (there's already a compass mounted there).  But now that I
think about it, if I want to rely on the GPS while anchoring overnight,
should I have gotten a GPS with a separate antenna so that it could be
mounted somewhere on the roof of the cabin?  That way, I can close the cabin
door at night and not worry about obstructing the GPS's view of the sky.  If
so, where would you mount the GPS antenna?
 
This is all new to me, so I appreciate any and all advice on these two
points.
 
Thanks,
 
-Mark
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