Best sonar option?

[newbster]

I currently have a Garmin 4212 and am considering the GSD22 sonar unit. Is this my only path other than a separate unit? What integration can be done with other brands or stand alone units?

Is there any functionality that I might be giving up? For example, my GMR18 radar overlays the chartplotter screen. If there are no gains then I might as well keep them separate to keep the main screen clean. I'll be adding a tr-1 gold kicker autopilot this year.

What's good enough and will I really care about it? I have not tried comparing different units enough to know one way or another. Beyond depth, and showing different sizes of returns how much more functionality matters?

All I have now is a couple old Huminbird units including the 3d version.

I'm in the Washington and target salmon, tuna and halibut down to 800ft.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Best sonar option?

I'm running a 4208 as a stand alone unit with a Furuno 585 fish finder. Can't see sharing screens unless absolutely necessarily. The performance of the GSD22 is marginal at best anyhow.

Finder wise, nobody has ever been fired for buying a Furuno fish finder. Probably used on more commercial fishing boats than all the other brands put together.

What ever you don?t skimp on the transducer. Buy the best transducer you can afford. http://www.airmartechnology.com/airmar2005/ex20/RMProducts/RMMain.asp?LinkID=

I have the two units communicating via nema 0183. The FF is able to display position information from the chartplotter and the chartplotter has the ability to display depth, water temp, and paddlewheel speed from the FF.