Need Side Scan Sonar

[TheBuccaneer]

Hello,

I am new to this forum, so if I've posted in the wrong place, please let me know.

I need an affordable side scan sonar capable of painting the bottom - max depth of 400ft.

Our group is mechanically, electronically, and software capable - and we can assemble something but would most likely be hit with failure the first few times out and would prefer to just get a complete solution from the beginning.

Any information you all can provide would be most helpful.

Thanks in advance.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Budget?
Boat size?
type of water body?
resolution needed?
final product needed (georeferenced map?)?
Type of people doing the work? (engineers, geologists, biologists)
Whats the ultimate goal? (mapping sediment types, wreck hunting etc?)

[TheBuccaneer]

Budget?
Boat size?
type of water body?
resolution needed?
final product needed (georeferenced map?)?
Type of people doing the work? (engineers, geologists, biologists)
Whats the ultimate goal? (mapping sediment types, wreck hunting etc?)

Budget - as little as possible, but enough to get the right solution
Type of Water Body - Ocean
Resolution - as good as possible, but not an over riding concern
Final Product - georeferenced map
Type of people - engineers, divers
Goal - wreck hunting

[RIROCKHOUND]

OK. helps a bit.
You can get a Yellowfin side scan (Imagex)
http://www.imagenex.com/Downloads/Wh...fin_specs.html

for ~10K or so. They make a smaller one (Sportscan) but I am hearing less stellar reviews about it. These are light tow fish, so unless you modify it a bit it is best only in flat water.

For ~30K or so your into a basic EdgeTech system.

Go as high a frequency as you can. The higher the frequency, the better the resolution. Your best bet if you can afford it would be a dual frequency, with ~300 and 600kHz; low for searching and higher for getting great images.

Don't skimp on the software for processing, I recommend Chesapeake Tech SonarWeb for making a final product, OR if you can afford it SonarWiz.Map for real time data mosaicking... http://www.chesapeaketech.com/

good luck!
Bryan

[RIROCKHOUND]

Forgot to add;
Send me a Private message on this site with an email address and I'll get in contact with you via email if I can be more help.
Bryan