Home built Side Scan Sonar

[Forgotten Field]

I was talking to a friend yesterday, and he said that there were models out there for building some pretty nice working side scan sonars from depth/fish finders. Has anybody here on the board done this? If so, what was your cost for build? What was its operational capability and durability? What kind of resolution could you get? PM me if you don't want to post here. Thanks in advance.

[homer]

ive heard of homemade marine magnetometers not sonars, i would say your looking at 15k bare minimum to build anything.

jwfishers are yor best bet

[airnutz]

Quest Electronics offers an affordable new unit for about 10k...nice
image resolution, too!
www.questelectronics.com

FF, from what I've read, the price a "homebuilt" is based on the
scrounging capabilities of the builder. I lurk around old boat shops
here by the Bay and fish-finders are "dime-a-dozen". Gathering
the compatible bits in $$..depends, like anything else on how much
of a "hurry" you are in. Find a mad divorcee and the price gets cheap.

Here is a very informative website of a fella that has built quite a few.
Dans Homegrown Side-scan page
www.portup.com/~dfount/sidescan.htm

At the botom of his page is a link to an "active and current" side-scan
forum..I'm sure these guys can answer any of your questions.
Happy Hunting!!

[HarvardIV]

Thanks for that great info. airnutz. I'll also take a look at what you posted under the "T-6 Salvage" post.

Thanks,

Chris