I would think when its more important to know how much water is under the keel of a sailboat or bottom of a boat rather than actual water depth.
Depth Offset Menu ...
We've had a few threads discussing adjusting the Depth Offset Menu "+" to account for how far a TM xducer is immersed in water ...
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Explain the scenario where a negative (-) Depth Offset adjustment could be beneficial ...
Rickie
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I would think when its more important to know how much water is under the keel of a sailboat or bottom of a boat rather than actual water depth.
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Bill H. PTC USN Ret
Chesapeake, Va
I don't have a sail boat,but like to no how close to the bottom my motor is
Agree also. Neg when you have something to protect (keel, skag, motor) below where the xducer is mounted. Positive when xducer is below like the waterline etc and wanting to know actual depth. Keel offset on Garmin. I do remember this adjustment making my 500 series HB go nuts. HB kept telling me it was unique to me, but BPS and Gander said they had a ton of returns for the same thing.
I would think for accuracy of your maps, for me in high water on a lake, if you knew how high the lake was, you would set it to have your mapping set by putting the high water in the minus. For example if the lake were 3’ high, put minus 3 ft in the setting. I never worry about the keel or prop in the water depths. Normally on the lakes I fish, I don’t change anything.
PROUD MEMBER OF TEAM GEEZERauthorized by: Billbob and "G"Alphahawk LIKED above post
This setting is used to off set + or - when the actual sonar depth is not reading right. In other words if you are in 10' water and your sonar is reading 9' you can use the depth offset to correct it.
Depth Offset
(Advanced) Settings:-10.0 to +10.0 feet or -3.0 to 3.0 meters [International models only], Default = 0.0, or Off
Depth Offset will adjust the digital depth read out to indicate depth from the waterline or boats keel. Enter a positive vertical measurement from the transducer to the waterline to read the depth from the waterline. Enter a negative vertical measurement from the transducer to keel to read the depth from the keel.
Be safe and good luck fishing
Some time ya just don’t read the question right. Seeing as how the question is about setting a minus, if the lake is down you set a minus amount to compensate for your maps.
PROUD MEMBER OF TEAM GEEZERauthorized by: Billbob and "G"
There's a difference between depth offset and water level offset.
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"If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes" UnknownSlabprowler LIKED above post
I would use negative to provide a buffer for depth from keel of boat or skeg. I hate jumping in to take measurements though....LOL
short grub LIKED above post