best gps and best fishfinders??

[suzukidave]

there are plenty of posts like this and I've read through them, but I don't feel greatly enlightened so I'm hoping to collect all the wisdom of the users here in one place for my benefit and the benefit of others. <br /><br />I run a small boat for fishing, camping and cruising. I intend to replace my fishfinder (an old humminbird that can't find the bottom) and maybe add a gps this winter. For a finder I need something that is saltwater ready, accurate and rugged and I don't need too many bells and whistles. For a GPS I can't even figure out all the features that I might want to have. There is too much terminology outthere for me to digest, especially on GPS, so I am very interested in what people think are good sites with discussions/reviews and also what people think is the best choice/value on a gps or fishfinder and, more importantly, why.<br /><br />On the finder, I've been thinking about a garmin 160blue but I've just looked at these new cheaper navmans which look like new kids on the block. What's wrong with them (if anything)?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

Garmin. Probably the best I have worked with. The higher the price the more whistles and bells just be sure to purchase one that is WAAS equipped which will deliver a more accurate reading.<br /><br />Bob

 

[Major Woods]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

I'll second that. Garmin GPS/Fish finder unit. Easy to use and accurate.

 

[Jacques321]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

G'day,<br /><br />Get a unit that combines both GPS and Fishfinder. I'm partial to lowrance. To me Lowrance have always been on the cutting edge of technology.<br /><br />It also depends how much you're willing to spend??<br /><br />Have a look around their excellent Website:<br /><br /> http://www.lowrance.com/marine/default.asp

 

[Valv]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

Dave,<br /><br />If you can get to the price, Lowrance x15 is one of the best on the market right now, you can purchase base unit then get GPS antenna later, it will run around $ 600 / $ 700, but definition and capability to find fish is awesome.<br /><br />I have a Garmin 160 (not blue, but it's same thing) and I've been very, very happy with it, great sonar for the price, it also has capability of haven flasher bar on side of screen, which gives you more realtime info.<br />I use mine a lot, even icefishing rigged up as portable, and it takes cold (I mean cold -30) very well.<br />As everybody will say it depends on money, but these 2 units I described are my pick for the moment.

 

[allanwh]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

The 160 blue is a fine unit but the raytheon series are excellent value for money and are very reliable and perform well . The 365 and 470 models are what I would recommend.. Gps from what you say a portable / handheld unit would do you just fine... Garmin seem to be the benchmark in these smaller units and have very good functionality and are easy to operate..<br /><br /> Thye worst days fishin, is better than the best day at work.

 

[Boatist]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

I also like the Lowrance X91, X15, or X16 if you are fishing Freshwater up to about 150 feet but if you fish deep Saltwater,(300 or more) I would go with Fruno. Lowrance units have no bottom track or bottom lock feathers in auto so will not see Rockfish or other bottom dwellers in deep water. GPS units if get module for Lowrance make sure it has WAAS as still lots of modules on store shelfs that do not have WAAS. <br />Garmin makes very good GPS units.<br />Fruno GPS units do not have the WAAS feather either because they sell world wide and right now only two WAAS birds up, one for the East Coast and one for the West Coast of the us.

 

[Mike NZ]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

I've taken a liking to the Hummingbird 450 but I havn't handed over my money yet. Has anyone got any thoughts on this GPS?

 

[Mike NZ]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

Edit. I mean fishfinder.

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

I have 3 GPS units, a 48, III and MAP76, all Garmin. I've stuck with Garmin because I've had great service.<br /><br />I have MapSource Waterways & Lights for general cruising but also a Bluechart for the MAP76 of my local cruising area. The BlueChart is exactly like having a paper chart in the palm of your hand. <br /><br />My DS is a low power unit -- for accurate shallow readings. I don't care how deep the water is, I want to know how shallow it is for depths below 5'. I love to explore shallow water.<br /><br />I wouldn't have a combined unit. I have 2 RAM mounts for the MAP76, one for the boat and one for the car. While the GPS is invaluable on the boat, it spends most of it's time in the car (I also have the MapSource Roads and Recreation CD.) It's also small enough that I can use if for hiking.<br /><br />For all around use, I suggest the Garmin GPS MAP76. It can download from the MapSource CD's as well as being BlueChart capable, and even if you don't use or know about them going in, you'll have all the features you'll likely ever need.

 

[Basenjib123]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

On a GPS I don't think it matters all that much, they are all about the same. I guess I'd go with Garmin for the customer support. Fishfinders, Furuno LS6100 and Humminbird "Legend" series, Both of these unit are superb in all aspects. Good Luck, Joe.

 

[JB]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

Ahoy, Dave.<br /><br />Opinion #1: Get seperate units.<br /><br />Opinion #2: For sweetwater, Lowrance (or Eagle) is the best value.<br /><br />Opinion #3: Garmin is in a class by itself for GPS. I like the GPSMAP 162. Get the Fishing Hotspots CD.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[suzukidave]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

Wow, that's a lot of info. Thanks to all. I invite people to keep contributing their thoughts to this thread as a resource because it has sure helped me.<br /><br />I am leaning towards Garmin now, on price and reputation from this site, with maybe a handheld GPS. Lowrance looks good but the X15 price is too high for my boat and the same goes for Raytheon. The Garmin and Lowrance websites were very informative, which was not as true for the Navman site which does not give basic info like the output of its transducers. I think I'll let someone else find out if Navman has the right stuff. <br /><br />Mike NZ I have a humminbird 400 ffinder and a humminbird handheld vhf that was a gift. Both are okay, but in practice the ff is really a depthsounder with pretty meaningless pictures of fish on it and a tranducer that loses the bottom if you sneeze, and the VHF only has a broadcast range of about half a mile unless the receiver has a high power set up. On that basis, I wouldn't go humminbird again.<br /><br />For those who suggest the GPS/ff combo units I am thinking they are nice but too expensive to my mind with a lot of features I don't need. Also, one thing I didn't mention is that because I fish prawns I need something with accurate depth down to about 450' (nothing worse than running out of line or hitting bottom early when you are setting a trap by hand at those dpeths). It is interesting that according to the website the Garmin GPS/ff combo 168 model, which is right at the limit of my budget, only finds bottom down to 400' which is less than just about any decent entry level stand alone FF. It makes more sense for me to grab a 160 blue for less than half the price and pick up a handheld GPS which I can use in other ways.<br /><br />Finally, JB, thanks for as always the succinct and sound advice and congrats on becoming "Ancient mariner". Watch out for the albatross.

 

[josepr]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

I just got a Garmin 188 and it is incredible !!<br />Great depth readings,visually superior, the maps are very detailed. Fish finder works great as well.<br />Pretty pricey but well worth the investment for my particular uses (saltwater).

 

[Boatist]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

Suzukidave<br />If you are looking to get good readings down to 450 feet of salt water You need a unit that uses 50 kHZ and at least 4000 watts peak to peak or 500 wats RMS. My Lorwance unit has 3000 watts peak to peak or 375 watts RMS and even with a 8 degree transducer will not see any bottom fish over 300 feet deep. The specks say good up to 1000 feet of salt water. If all you want is to see bottom power my unit has will just do, but you will not see structure, plants, or fish.<br />Lowrance has a simulator you can download and run on your pc for the X15 or X16. I do not recommend Lowrance for your depth as only way to expand the bottom is a 4 times zoom so in 450 feet of water each pixel = 5.625 inches so even to get two poxel display fish has to 11.25 inches high. Remember the spec they give is ideal conditions with no plantan, air, jelly fish, plantlife ect.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

suzuki<br /><br />I did a lot of looking for both a GPS and a fishfinder. I still haven't bought a GPS but I bought an Eagle Fishmark 240. Same unit as a Lowrance X91, just less power. I don't need the power for the small lakes and the Eagle was a wack less money.<br /><br />But, I have two suggestions. Talk to Steve at Rauer Electronics in North Vancouver. I don't have the number but look up "Sea Scanner" (I think) in the white pages. This guy supplies most of the other shops with the Lowrance stuff.<br /><br />Another suggestion is to visit Popeye's (also in North Van). They have a Lowrance LMS 350A with the GPS antenna but no transducer. Cost about $350 (a reverse auction thing) and probably another $150 for a transducer and you have an excellant unit with 3000 watts, a bigger screen than what I have and GPS. Don't get too caught up in the WAAS as it won't be real effective in Canada as the extra satelites are over the equator. Maybe you should buy mine and I'll get the 350.<br /><br />As far as a standalone GPS, I'm leaning to a Lowrance iFinder as I want an external antenna for the truck and boat, rudimentary mapping and it is $200 less than the Garmin V.<br /><br />BTW, all prices above are Cdn $.

 

[suzukidave]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

Boatist, thanks for the tips re bottom power needed -- that's really useful because the websites don't make that clear. I need an accurate steady bottom reading at 450' in salt water but I don't really need to know what the fish down there look like. <br /><br />Hey Tacklewasher thanks for the local knowledge. I've heard Rauer are a good business from others too, but be cautious dealing with Popeyes. They made what may have been an honest mistake with me that cost me a $150 item I had consigned. I gave them the benefit of the doubt but they don't get my business anymore.

 

[Boatist]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

Suzukidave<br />About what Tacklewasher said about WAAS is correct. The WAAS birds are Geostationary so must be above the Equator and as far north as you are may not be able to receive it. Only two bird up right now one over the Eastern US and the other over the Western us. Transducer are only about $50 US.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

I've only been to Popeye's once and I'm in to them for $0.27 (taxes in) for a prop cone for my old OMC I/O. What a weird place though. I can see how they could make a mistake with all the junk they have there. Unless there database is really good, no way do they know what they have. Just thought the Lowrance was a good deal and was wishing I hadn't already bought my finder.<br /><br />Boatist. Who makes a sounder with 4000 watts? Not something I need but I'm curious.

 

[Boatist]

Re: best gps and best fishfinders??

Tacklewasher Lowrance X15 and X16 the 200 khz is 4000 peak to peak or 500 RMS and the 50 KHZ is 8000 watts peak to peak or 1000 rms.<br />Many Fruno and Raython or I guess now Ray Marine.<br />I like the Fruno for deep water as have several botton track options where you can expand the bottom and actually see bottom fish. Old Lowrance units also had this feather before they went to the menu type systems. My unit when fishing deep usually set for bottom and up 30 feet. Can set as for as low a bottom and up 10 feet but with swell and all I like about 30 or 40 feet.