Fishfinder/GPS

[SaggyBeachGuy]

Just recently put down a deposit on a new Hydra-Sport 21' walkaround ~ pretty pumped for spring --127-3-

Now I need to outfit it with a fishfinder/gps that is not going to kill the already severely diminished bank account...maybe something for under $1,000. I've dealt with Raymarine, which we had on the carolina skiff (which is up for sale if anyone is interested), however I would not mind looking at other fishfinding/gps options-just for something new.

Any advice would be appreciated ~ May is on its way :cool:

[bauerman]

I like the Garmin good service. The 188color combo is very nice.
The 185 BW is the same unit. I repleaced with the 188c .If you can get the color go for it.
might think of used,peolpe are holding on to units as a back up. and they have the charts for the area. :rolleyes:

[riptide]

For an all in one unit under a grand it's tough to beat Garmin. My buddy just put one on a skiff for around $700. Sweet little unit.

[ToddMan]

Riptide,

Terry good to see you at the show. We met up on the bus and then again at Eagles booth. I pulled the string and bought the 23 ft. walk around. I just bought a Lowrance LCX 27c, are you familiar with that unit? If so whats your opinion?

Thanks

Todd

[FishSticks]

I looked for a while before deciding on a Garmin. I thought it had the most intuitive user interface. On the advice of a friend I didn't spend the extra $ for a color unit. Mistake :mad: . I'd buy another Garmin in a heartbeat but next time I'm buying color. My .02

[SamRiley]

I stepped up from a BW GPS/Sounder to a more powerful color unit. Go color. Get the best ducer that you can swing. Airmar shoot through's rock. I can mark fish on the bottom 150' down at WOT. I thought that all the talk (like mine) was users trying to justify their $$ but I am sold now.

Keep add-ons in mind before you buy too. I know that RayMarine has weather/temp options now that I will be adding to mine. Also, some charts are way better than others. Go to a dealer where you can call up the charts for waters that you know and see which is more real. Some are so wrong it's a little :eek:

[Smcdermott]

Sam,

You have a thru-hull not a shoot through right? I thought you couldn't use a shoot through with wood (i.e. Parkers/Pre 05 Jones)?

Sean

[ruge13]

This is my VERY BIASED opinon (I work for a cartography company but hopefully I can give you some things to ask questions about) but if your price point is under a grand I would look at Lowrance or Humminbird. With the Garmin units you are limited to only Garmin cartography. Not bashing Garmin at all, but it is nice to have options and an upgrade path for updates etc. which you have with the other 2. The newer 07 Garmin units are pretty sweet. Both Low and Hum have very high service reputations and loyal customer followings. The general opinon has been that for saltwater applications the Ducers on both Low and Hum aren't good enough. Not true at all, in fact the Peak to Peak and RMS outputs are very high.

If you can afford to do so, don't skimp on color. If you are used to using black and white it will change how you view the world. Anyone who has used both will tell you that. Especially with the fish finder views and operating in direct sunlight.

Your LCX 27C is a sweet little unit. It's a step up from there 5" screen models and has a fast processor. I haven't heard a bad thing about them but they haven't been on the market all that long. Also has a 2 card slot (highly recomended) because it will allow you to keep both a navigation chart and a bathy chart in the same unit. It doesn't sound like a big deal but its is if you are prone to losing things or getting things wet on a boat. The convenience factor is huge.

If fish finding ability is your main interest,don't overlook Hummingbird. In addition to the standard sounder, the newer side imaging units are insane, especially for shallow water use (but wll work deep). They will fall in your price range. But, they do require a second ducer (still falling in your price range).

[Slamdance]

I've been more than pleased with my Garmin units and considerably less so with some of my Raymarine units.

Sean, the Parkers have no wood in the hull running surface, only in the deck. The shoot-thru I had on mine worked very well. You'd have to call JB to see if they have any coring in your hull.

[bauerman]

Sam do you like the Airmar you have the p79 ? Do you have a garmen unit ?
I have the Garmen 188C and need to upgrade my transducer. I have shoot thru now. I can do better. How much for the unit? you installed right.
And I think you can shoot thru any solid, not honey comed hull Airmar web has loads of info --127-3-

[fmw]

My vote on the under $1000 combo units is Garmin. They do a great job with these. I got one last year and its great. They're doing big upgrades this year that either just came out or are coming out in the next couple weeks.

Since they have new line coming out, you can probably get last year's model, the Garmin 498 combo with preloaded charts, in the $500-600 range. The new ones are probably close to a grand.

[SamRiley]

Nothing wrong with Garmin. I have a BW handheld and the GPS/Sounder combo that I replaced with a Raymarine. I can't say enough about the RM but at twice the screen area and in color, what should I expect. My P79 was an easy enough install (no holes too) and had opend my eyes... bathy charts helped with that too :)

[tmillerzzz]

I purchased the Garmin 178C for around $500 without charts (Already owned Blue Chart) last year and am very pleased with it. Also got the flushmount and installed it in the console of my boat. Came out very well.

[JakeFF]

I just picked up a Garmin 2006c for 699.00 at the boat show....its going to be a discontinued model....but I still think it was a good deal..regular price around...1300.00.....Boaters world

[CHUCKNDUCK9]

No bad plotters (only) suggested, but for side by side full features...

Lowrance!

(with proper installation) Sonar is better than Garmin (cmon-you guys know this right? They OWN Garmin in sonar performance)

Screen quality/durability is better (look around for issues in the past with spotting or peeling)

Mapping is FAR better (more choices for less $$ and great fishing data) You can own maps taken directly from NOAA charts vs. Charts derived from 3rd party Transas (based in St Petes Russia) data. With Garmin, you are REQUIRED to own proprietary charting...Which, from a biased but VERY informed viewpoint, isn't the best choice or value today. (see PowerBoat Reports DEC 2005 for an unbiased 3rd party comparison).

Garmin does, however, spend the MOST money in advertising!

Jeff ;)

[artb]

I have a Garmin 12 XL which I have had for years, I coupled it with aEartvision Topo Map of RI. I used this for hunting, or locating places like the gulley, or sharks ledge. This worked very well. I use to mark waypoints on the map, and then go to them either hunting or fishing. I use to use a small notebook to keep the maps, if I was going into a certain area I would just take that map. It worked great. I got a few extra bucks so I decided to upgrade to Color. I bought the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx with sd cards of the northeast area. what a big mistake. The map detail is bad, contours are jagged, trails not marked, although in their brochure they say they are, wrong. I naturally contacted Garmin, their remarks were we are using topo mapping that is years old. The Government has not upgraded them. I then asked Garmin what do I do now about their topo version not being accurate enough for me to use in the application I wanted. I sent them another e-mail which asked what can I do to switch to a different scaled topo, no answer from them in over three months. Over $500 down the drain, it is only good to drive down the road with, terrible situation. I wouldn't take another Garmin for a gift. I really don't know if I could find better, don't have the money to experiment anymore. I guess back to the Garmin GPS 12XL

[SaggyBeachGuy]

Thanks for the info ... going to shop around this week and see how the Lowrance and Garmin units match up. The "shoot-thru" sounds excellent as I'd like to be able to beach the boat once in a while at Sandy Neck etc. and not have to worry about damaging the transducer.

Is there anything in particular I should be taking into consideration when researching this kind of transducer? Are the readings just as clear/accurate?

Staying bright out later each day, won't be long --127-3- ~ thanks again, Ryan