The ”Basdic”

Proving Grounds Proving Grounds

SONARS5

The ”Ramoen” was the first commercial vessel to be fitted with Sonar. The technicians at Simrad needed a testing ground, and the Norwegian boat trawler would provide the perfect solution. Active Sonar – which sends as well as receives – was a young technology at the time of the ”Ramoen”, so compared to today’s standards, the first Sonar was bulky, expensive and not exactly user friendly. The ”Ramoen” however, was an amazing success, because without it, the Simrad tech- nicians would never have come up with the Basdic Hand Operated Sonar. In 1955 it became the first widely used Sonar mounted in the skiff. The ”Basdic” Sonar sold over 5000 units and is still in use by some of the original ”early adopters” today - testament to the build quality still apparent in all Simrad products.

Where as the ”Ramoen”featured fixed Sonar, the Basdic had a handle, allowing the transducer to be directed at all angles.This opened up a whole new era for Sonar,and was the first of many innovations that Simrad has given the fis- hing industry. The ”Ramoen” - the first commercial vessel with sonar. The”Basdic”, here shown in a water proof cabinet juring an exhibition in 1954. ”Basdic” transducer unit.