GPS/Fishfinder, GPS, or Fishfinder

[jdawwggin25]

I am looking to upgrade my electronics on my 20 center console. Right now I have your basic 3" or so black and white hummingbird display. I am looking to build a custom top with electronics box. My questions are that with all the different models and options, which are the best to go with. Is a separate fishfinder and gps the way to go or are the combo units the best way. Also is it worth purchasing the side imaging or hds displays. Looking to see what setup the fisherman on this board like and would recommend. With the money I am looking to spend I only can afford to do this once. Thanks for any help.

 

[dingbat]

Re: GPS/Fishfinder, GPS, or Fishfinder

What is your budget? You can spend anywhere from $140 to $10K on GPS and sonar.

 

[Snowfish]

Re: GPS/Fishfinder, GPS, or Fishfinder

I prefer two stand alone units. If I don't go fishing, 2-3 times per week, I consider it "being a while since I've fished".

My current set up is an Eagle Cuda 300 (on all three boats) and a Lowrance XOG with Lakemaster chip for Minnesota.

I can move the GPS between the boats, cars, and snowmobiles at will.

The low end Cuda provides good depth, temperature, and high speed registration. Target recognition/separation (fish) is not as precise as the models costing triple, but adequate in my opinion.

The Side Finder feature would be nice. Like Humminbird. The sonar image is very detailed and approaching photographic quality. However, I do not watch much TV at home. I definitely don't want to watch TV on the water.

My GPS gets me close to the spot. The locator shows hard/soft bottom, weed growth, and a fish or two. Then I fish.

Since my Lowrance XOG gps is obsolete now, my next one will be a Garmin Nuvi. Either the 1300 or 2400 series since they have a 4.5 to 5 inch screen. Plug in the lake chip and we're good to go.

100% of my fishing buddies, that have combo GPS/Locators, have had to through more money into repairs, upgrades, etc. I have less that $600 into three Locators, GPS, Lake maps, and snowmobile trail maps.

If a locator craps out, I have two more to swap between boats. If my GPS takes a dump (which I wish it would. I'd really like a new Nuvi) I pick up Garmin touch screen of some kind.

One more note..........If you go the portable GPS route, I'd recommend Garmin. I picked up my Lowrance XOG because it was cheap. Little did I know that the screen was not direct sunlight viewable.:facepalm: The Garmins are Easier to view in direct sunlight.

And Locators, unless it's a throw away (like my Eagles), I would not get a Lowrance. Their customer service is quite questionable, according to my friends, on the higher end stuff. On instance come to mind. They wanted $50, to send in a unit for repair, to just look at it. Told my friend they could not fix it. But would give him $400 credit towards a comparable $2500 unit. No thanks.

Sorry for the book.

Fish on!

 

[jdawwggin25]

Re: GPS/Fishfinder, GPS, or Fishfinder

I would like to stay under 2 grand total. I dont need anything larger than a 7" display i would think. Im not looking for the big 10" displays. Not sure if the all in one units are better since you can ad radar and weather later on.

 

[jdawwggin25]

Re: GPS/Fishfinder, GPS, or Fishfinder

Ideally I would like a GPS unit that would work well with Salt and Freshwater setups. I have fished only freshwater so far, mainly Kerr Lake. I am building a custom top with a radar tower so eventually I plan on adding a radar dome. That is something that i am not worried about but would like to adapt to one of the units so that I do not have to have a third display. I do not need to have the side imaging or hds, if it is not worth it. I believe that you can get a HDS unit with lowrance and just upgrade to structure scan later. Again not to worried about it for now but really just want a good starting package that can be upgraded down the road. My main things are a color display that actually works, my unit now will not work if i am going faster than 5 mph. I would like the gps for marking fish and waypoints as well as maintaining trolling speed. I believe that the two main makers are Hummingbird and Lowrance, just not sure what people agree with. I have heard of lowrance's horrible customer service but does the product still prove better than hummingbird?

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: GPS/Fishfinder, GPS, or Fishfinder

I have a small boat - 17' runabout. Earlier this year I installed a Garmin 546s Chartplotter/Sounder and I'm extremely satisfied with the navigational features of the unit. The sounder also has been very reliable and I assume those fish signals it shows are ligitimate. However, I not the world's greatest fisherman so I cannot pass judgement on that part of the unit.

 

[dingbat]

Re: GPS/Fishfinder, GPS, or Fishfinder

I believe that the two main makers are Hummingbird and Lowrance, just not sure what people agree with.

I take it you never heard of Furuno, Raymarine, Sitex, Simrad, or Garmin for that matter? I would rank the first four higher than Lowrance or Hummingbird


My setup:
Sounder - Furuno 585 sounder with Airmar B160 thru hull transducer. Trolling speed comes from a transom mount ST-01PTB speed sensor
GPS - Garmin 4208 w/ fuel flow and 4kW radar with overlay

 

[alexr254]

Re: GPS/Fishfinder, GPS, or Fishfinder

i really like the Garmin GPSMAP 740s

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-GPSMAP-740s-Touch-Screen-GPSSounder-P2264.aspx

 

[LonLB]

Re: GPS/Fishfinder, GPS, or Fishfinder

Lowrance did have some reliability issues when the HDS units came out. Long since addressed.
The Best value for a combo unit is the HDS7. Big screen, upgradeable, and latest technology. It's pricey but IMO the feature to cost ratio is the best.

If I were to go smaller than the HDS 7, I would look into a separate GPS unit.


Without a doubt the best buy is buying used. Especially if you are not looking for the latest in technology.