GPS/fish finder

[Chevyguy996]

Just wondering on your opinion which gps/fish finders are good looking to buy one but don’t know which one to buy
thanks for your help

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Budget is everything. You can pay as little as around 500 bucks or the sky is the limit. To me size is everything with a basic combo. Today with down imaging, side imagining and all the bells and whistles you can get up there in $$. What are you using it for? Basic fishing weekends or chartering excursions? Give us some details so we don't try and sell you on a unit the Navy uses. I can tell you will many opinions here. Do a search for the exact question you asked. This question comes up often here and there are plenty of recent threads asking the same $$.

 

[Chevyguy996]

Honestly I’m new to the boating world you always want to get the best bang for your buck. I’m looking at spending around $800 Canadian. We’re I live I would need it for shallow water because of rocks. I’m mostly going to be fishing but sometimes be out with the family cruising around we have a bowrider
thanks for the help

 

[dingbat]

We’re I live I would need it for shallow water because of rocks. I’m mostly going to be fishing but sometimes be out with the family cruising around we have a bowrider
thanks for the help

You can spend as little or as much as you want.

Define “shallow” water.

Using sonar for navigational purposes is unrealistic for a number of reasons. mainly because the transducer is on the transom. Rocks have a tendency to find the bow first .

Also keep in mind that the transducer viewing area in a cone. The deeper you go the larger the viewing are. Roughly 1/3 of the depth. In 10ft of water the viewing area roughly 3’ in diameter.

You have a chance running real-time, forward looking sonar ( ie PanOptix) but your looking @ $1,000+ USD just for the transducer.

For fishing, you want a real CHIRP sounder. Don’t fall for the marketing games being played with wording like “ dual spectrum”, “dual beam”, etc.

50/83/200 kHz are not CHIRP frequencies. True CHIRP is expressed as a range of frequencies ie 80-160 kHz.

For your application I would go with “high” CHIRP ie 130-210 kHz.

 

[Chris1956]

The cost of fish finders and GPS' is mostly driven by the size and the resolution of the screen. The transducer and software is pretty much the same cost and the size of the box cost is irrelevant, regardless of the size.

There also seems to be a price point, where larger screens are exponentially more $

So, take a look at some in simulation mode and see how large a screen you can get for the price you are willing to spend. Pick a resolution that looks good as well. You will not have a lot of choice in this.

Also, models are being replaced all the time, causing sales on older ones, as well as sales to stimulate movement.

 

[Chevyguy996]

Do you think that [h=1]Garmin® ECHOMAP™ Plus 75sv is a good piece for myself knowing what you know[/h]

 

[Chris1956]

I have the Garmin 74SV. It works well. It can be seen in bright light as well as dimmer light.

It has 3 sonar modes. I normally use traditional. There is a sidevu scan sonar which looks promising, but I have not really tried it.

Some critiques... IMO the screen is fine for a single display, either GPSmap or fish finder. I do not think it is large enough for split display. I therefore change from GPS to FF when I reach the ocean.

It can be set to show direction and speed while in FF mode, which works well.

All in all, I am happy with it.

I was able to get a real good price on it. I guess it was a close out. However, go with a bigger screen if you can afford it.

 

[Captain Caveman]

We don't know much about your needs.

You are new to boating so I'll just say what needs to be said. DO NOT USE the gps feature for navigation, especially at night!!! You can use it to augment your brain, eyes, and map but don't drive by staring at it. They are often off and don't know all of the navigational hazards. On my lake in Minnesota (about 35 miles long), there are a few deadly accidents every year when someone is looking at a boat track on the GPS instead of using their eyes. My gps sometimes shows me on land when I'm fishing near shore. These things aren't perfect and can run you into an island.

Off of my soap box, get yourself a cheap one. You are new to boating and won't use 95% of the features. Get something that gives you the depth, the water temps, and will show you fish arches. Once you learn more about boating then you may want to upgrade.

Another consideration is if you have a bow-mounted trolling motor. If so, you may want to pair up the trolling motor with your graph. Motorguide tm's and Lowrance graphs work together. Minnkota tm's and Hummingbird graphs work together. This allows you to automatically fish along contour lines, fish specific locations according to GPS, etc.

 

[roscoe]

My opinion....

Any of the sonar/chartplotter units made in the last few years, in the $500-$1000 price range are good
for your needs, and 95% of us.

It comes down to ease of use, the user interface, like Windows vs Mac in computers, or iPhone vs android in a phone.

Hopefully you can get to a store and try out a few to see if they "click" with your brain.

I would choose larger screen over more features. A 7" screen is minimum, 9" much preferred.

Things like "side view" or Down image" will not be used much, if at all, unless you are a hardcore fisherman.
Contrary to dingbat's opinion, true chirp is probably not needed.
If you are fishing in 40' of water or less, chances are you will be fishing general bottom contours and bottom structure.
Fishing deep water with suspended schools is a different game.

 

[JimS123]

We don't know much about your needs.


Off of my soap box, get yourself a cheap one. You are new to boating and won't use 95% of the features. Get something that gives you the depth, the water temps, and will show you fish arches. Once you learn more about boating then you may want to upgrade.

Over the past 50 years I can't even remember all the fishfinders I've owned - from an Aquaprobe Flasher to a Ray Jefferson CRT, which was as big as an old 12" tube television.

I currently own a $1200 Raymarine (with chirp) and a $1000 Simrad. Both have GPS and chartplotter capabilities and all the bells and whistles.

The boat I sold last year was a Starcraft Tinny (customized for fishing) and it carried a $99 Humminbird Piranha. It only had a 4" screen but it was close enough to my face that I could see it clearly. Right next to it was a hand held GPS, so the 2 didn't need to be integrated.

I caught just as many fish with the $1200 model as the $99 model.

The Garmin model you identified looks like a fine unit. If it fits in your space it could be a good choice.