Hello all mapping Yoda´s.

Is some type of depth finder or sonar which is better to use for mapping ?

Like Lowrance or Humminbird better than Garmin or some kind of depth finder or transducer which are particularly better to use to map a lake or sea. Does any got experience in different types of depth finders ?

Listige the pros and cons of every combination of unit and ducer on the market today would be asking a lot. ;) What sorts of depths would you normally operate in, and do you have other preferences then just making a map?

Yes you are right.

I use humminbird depth finder to map the depth and bottom harndness, then I use sidescan sonar to search the ocean floor. My main usage is in the sea where bottom depth is 100 to 150 meters.

Your Bird will do just fine for those depths, but you should use another ducer then the OEM one. The low cost alternative would be Airmar P66 (transom mount) or B60 (through hull), the high end alternative would be Airmar TM260.

As for Sidescan, Reefmaster is about to let you make maps using Sidescan, but this will be for Lowrance/ Simrad. (Correct me if I'm wrong Matt).

The sidescan mosaic module will work great with Humminbird data! You won't be able to put an image back onto your HB unit, as you will with Lowrance/Simrad, butall other functions will be available. Personally, I'm not convinced of the merits of putting the sidescan mosaic back on to the unit anyway - far better to simply trace features of interest in a user map and have them show on units as lines/polys. This can still be done with HB.

Here's a small part of a mosaic export from the new module, created with HB data. There are (parts of) 8 individual tracks in this small section and 30 in the whole mosaic:

Ok that's interesting idea of using another transducer. I have to look better into that.

I have a small inflatable boat, 4,3 m long, which i have put the transducer on the back, which is not that good position, but the only option that I have. I put it on a aluminum pole which I can lower down, to get better depth data. But at higher speed I will get all kinds of depth. So I have to go at around 5-7 knots max when collecting depth data. Also when I running side scan sonar I have to run It far away so it would not interfere each other.

The picture of sidescan mosaic is excellent. It is a great additional feature with the RM program.