since carp anglers seem to turn up throw in their gear then sit around for, it seems, days waiting for a bite I guess a bait boat is one way of passing the time.

I fancy that the mark-up on bait boats is astronomical, injection moulded hull and deck twin motors and a hopper, around 250 - 300 quid

I had not considered finding lost boats.

As to the rest yes I discovered that bait boats are often fitted with "fish finders"

Looking at the cost of bait boats I wonder how many modellers have considered setting up a cottage industry making them.

Haverlock

Carp fishermen have been useing depth finders for many years with there bait boats, they get the telemetery in real time on a screen, would be good for finding a model which has sunk, I have one but it is a cheep one with a cable only goes about 10feet but from a dingy it is clear on the screen what is on the bottom down to about 20', even shows the type of bottom, ie mud or sand

Mark

well I hadn't thought of it BUT now you have put the idea into my head...........

Getting the data back ... systems exist to allow POV data from a model to the operator ( camera to headset) so I suspect that could be modified for data transmission.

it may be possible if you accept reduced range to use a Bluetooth system.

include a PI computer and you would have a data logger.

You would I suspect have to mount a transponder so its face is outside the hull but that's not a big problem they are readily available ( even waterproof ones).

All of this begs the BIG question why?

Locals will tell you roughly how deep a pond is and if you will need a boat or only waders to effect a recovery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007FC5R72/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1/279-6767445-4376469?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_r=1NAB42CPTT3BTY4T8RRR&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_i=B000JEOEE0

£25 plus postage looks like a good starting point .

Ok a quick bit of web research resulted in

http://www.climaxtackle.co.uk/waverunner/waverunner_fish_finders.htm

ready to go expensive BUT all you need to do what you wanted.

You mean a working one?

I would think that some of these 'acoustic rulers' might be a good start - but how would you get the data back to the shore?