Twanger said:This lying depth sounder thing is one of my pet peeves .... So to all the charter companies out there: please don't get cute with the depth sounder - please make it read as accurately as possible. Don't dial in a foot or two for a "stupid charterer" factor. You're already trusting us with your $500,000 boat, so this type of gamery simply serves to tick us off.
Second that.
There are many who use only a good set of current charts and a lead line or a well calibrated depth sounder to navigate one's way through tight spots.
As a newbi to BVI chartering, I'm perplexed that anyone with a brain who works for a charter company would do something like that. But, man, I appreciate the comments here that the depth sounder needs to be checked out thoroughly.... I liked the idea of asking the guy who owns the boat in the slip next to your charter boat what the depth there is. I have never been one to "add" a couple of feet to the sounder reading. It is what it is as long as you know its accurate.
Calibrate.
