Opinions of Side Scan Sonar

[Unregistered]

Burton's side scan sonar

Hi everyone,

As you, I've decided to purchase G.BURTON'S side scan sonar. I'm waiting for its delivery. the fact that it's a single channel doesn't bother me because as you you don't search at random here and there, but on the faith of information found either in records, books or reports, or according to what fishermen tell us.
The price of this unit coupled with all I heard about it made me decide Burton's SSS instead of a sportscan!
Glenk, I'd like to ask you (and other burton's side scan's users) to keep in touch with me in order to share our impression about this unit, maybe exchange info in order to improve the use of it, and picture of wrecks.

Thank you,
Gérard

[Unregistered]

cost

As stated before, I have owned a Sportscan, but I sold it to some one else.
So I'm very aware of the Sportscan's capabilities.
If you use the saved US$2500.- in gas, then get a better boat!

Why just run the boat for hour after hour, without any clue of what, if anything, is down there?
Our search methods start in the files, archives, stories and so on. Then we gahter information about this, and get a idea about what area to search.

But if your search just consists of running the boat without any clue where to look, why dont invest in a better system? Something other than the Sportscan that only covers 240 meters on long range, and then with bit a loss in quality?

I have used it, and I know what it can, and can not, do!

Now its time to try the system that Burton has developed.

I'll make a thread here with some images from sonar scans done by me, when I receive the system from Burton.

Glenn

I believe you can still get a single frequency dual channel SportScan for $3750US new or maybe slightly more because of the exchange rate. I am not promoting Imagenex or the SportScan, in fact I think there are several obstacles to the SportScan being "user friendly". Everyone has their own preferences and reasons for their purchases. I am just trying to provide my insights to all the facts. You choose for yourself.
As for $2500 in gas I spent much more than that last year alone covering over 70 square miles of bottom. I found four virgin shipwrecks and I do not use a SportScan or a Burton unit!

[Glennk]

I believe you can still get a single frequency dual channel SportScan for $3750US new or maybe slightly more because of the exchange rate. I am not promoting Imagenex or the SportScan, in fact I think there are several obstacles to the SportScan being "user friendly". Everyone has their own preferences and reasons for their purchases. I am just trying to provide my insights to all the facts. You choose for yourself.
As for $2500 in gas I spent much more than that last year alone covering over 70 square miles of bottom. I found four virgin shipwrecks and I do not use a SportScan or a Burton unit!

As I said, I have had an Sportscan in my possesion, bought it last summer.
Now it's time to try Burton's system.

Please tell us WHERE to get a Sportscan brand new at $3750US.
No use in shouting out lies. If you dont like to share the info here in public, please send me an PM with info about where to byt a portscan for $3750.
As I am most likely to buy a dual-scan Sportscan during this summer.

Glenn

[Unregistered]

As I said, I have had an Sportscan in my possesion, bought it last summer.
Now it's time to try Burton's system.

Please tell us WHERE to get a Sportscan brand new at $3750US.
No use in shouting out lies. If you dont like to share the info here in public, please send me an PM with info about where to byt a portscan for $3750.
As I am most likely to buy a dual-scan Sportscan during this summer.

Glenn

Sorry, I just checked the exchange rate from Canadian to US$ is .903 so the US$ is 4450. The $3750 was based on a .75 exchange rate. IF you are interested contact Chris at www.roperresources.com and tell him TomK referred you. He will work the best deal available.

[Glennk]

Still: I am using the M1 system from Burton this summer.
This is a picture of a barge covered in mud, that I found when I was adjusting the gain on the Sportscan last summer.



Glenn

[Unregistered]

Still: I am using the M1 system from Burton this summer.
This is a picture of a barge covered in mud, that I found when I was adjusting the gain on the Sportscan last summer.



Glenn

It would be nice to see some of your SportScan images alongside the M1 system. To compare the two on the same image.

[GaryF]

Here's a few more images recorded with the Burton side scan sonar.

http://www.ub88.org/sidescan.html

GaryF

[Glennk]

It would be nice to see some of your SportScan images alongside the M1 system. To compare the two on the same image.

I'll post some images from the M1 system from Burton when I receive the system and got it running!
User: Unregistered, maybe you should register, so that you can be "identified" when posting messages? Always nice to have at least a name to relate to

Glenn

[Glennk]

Here's a few more images recorded with the Burton side scan sonar.

http://www.ub88.org/sidescan.html

GaryF

Nice images!
What range was used on this scan? And how was the bottom? Just silt and sand?

[GaryF]

Nice images!
What range was used on this scan? And how was the bottom? Just silt and sand?

Glenn,

This was imaged on the 200 ft range. The bottom of LA Harbor is very fine silt. I have to apologize for the quality of that image. At that time I had an unknown onboard noise problem. If you look closely you can see that the image looks pixelated as the sounder tried to filter the noise. I have since remedied that problem.

GaryF

[Glennk]

Glenn,

This was imaged on the 200 ft range. The bottom of LA Harbor is very fine silt. I have to apologize for the quality of that image. At that time I had an unknown onboard noise problem. If you look closely you can see that the image looks pixelated as the sounder tried to filter the noise. I have since remedied that problem.

GaryF

Really a great image, not at least as it is 200Khz at 200ft range. I think these images from the sidescan of Garry Burton must be the best images I have seen from a sss system with this low frequency. These images really can match those from a 600 Khz system.

I'm really looking forward to try this system in the water!!

Glenn

[Glennk]

What kind of noise problem was there? Caused by irregular voltage or what?
Rippel noise on the current or other?
What kind of set-up do you run in your boat? Please supply with pictures if possible?

Glenn

[GaryF]

What kind of noise problem was there? Caused by irregular voltage or what?
Rippel noise on the current or other?
What kind of set-up do you run in your boat? Please supply with pictures if possible?

Glenn

The noise problem was completely unrelated to the side scan. It was caused by a faulty NMEA multiplexer.

Here's a shot of my helm. The sounder for side scan is on the left.

GaryF

[Glennk]

Maybe a little off-topic, but it seems like you have a really nice boat!
All I have availiable is an open 16ft aluminum boat, but still, we do 95% of our work in lakes and small waters, making it unconvinient to have a big boat. The 16ft is easy to trail, and easy to launch and retrieve from the water.

Glenn

[Unregistered]

Here's a few more images recorded with the Burton side scan sonar.

http://www.ub88.org/sidescan.html

Gary, I was interested in how you used the SS sonar to locate a lost anchor. What's involved in determining lat-lon numbers for an object observed on the sonar? Does it require a fair amount of math/geometry between the measured GPS position of the boat, boat-towfish distance, towfish depth, estimated range to object based on position in frame, etc?