Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

[popeyefoghorn]

Hi everyone, I am looking to buy my first gps/sounder and would appreciate some recomendations. Rather than clutter the dash with separate pieces...I want to buy a unit that will have a sounder/gps and possible a plotter. Also, why is it that most seem to come with transom mount transducers and not thru-hulls or pucks?? Oh ya... and I think I would go with a colour display since they all seem to be heading that way and I don't want to have to replace it anytime soon. thanks8)

 

[troypolla]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

garmin 176c i think has the GPS/ Chartplotter/sounder/ finder built in. or the 172c but you have to buy the sounder box/accessories.

 

[JB]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

I think the Garmin 178C has both. Probably the best value out there.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

I have a lowrance 337. I really like it. Most of my other GPS units have always been Garmin but when I compared the 2 in "like priced" units, the Lowrance had more bang for the buck. Also, the Garmin I was looking at had a few mapping problems. For example, it would show lake Tahoe as land. i would go down to a store like West Marine that has them all side by side and see which one looks best for the area you are boating in.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

Ian, The main differentiator in these units is display size. You want the largest, clearest display. Therefore check the number of pixels as well as the display size, and most of all, try to view the exact model. I saw a major brand that had an out-of-focus display, which I thought made it unusable.

If you do choose a unit with a non-paddlewheel transducer, you can mount it in the bilge of the boat, rather than on the transom. It needs to be mounted flat onto the hull, and the place on the hull needs to be the thinnest fiberglass you can find. Now get the transducer wet (a cup if water) and it should work. I do not glue them down.

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

Is it a mistake to buy a unit that is 'all in 1' if this is the only electronic piece i have so far??

 

[DrD]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

I like my LMS339c Lowrance GPS/DF/FF unit. Has a built in antenna, which is great if your don't have an enclosed cabin that blocks the signal. I have a 19' cuddy, and it works just fine {so far}. The screen size if a good fit for the helm area available, vs. full daylight color visibility, and many features.

http://www.lowrance.com/marine/Products/LMS-339CDFiGPS.asp

Good luck!

-Dale-

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

thanks, for the input...here's a question for you...I have noticed that some units say for salt water, and some for fresh water. Could I end up buying one, say... off ebay, that wouldn't work in fresh water in the Great Lakes?? I'm talking about the depth sounder feature.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

Something to think about between the Lowrance 337 and 339. They are identical units except fr the internal/external antenna. Both have the NMEA 2000 bus but since the 337 has the antenna external, you can add a $50 fuel fow senser and have your fuel flow show up on your dispaly as MPG.

If you don't need fuel flow info, go for the 339.

Both of those units are being repalced in a couple months if you are willing to wait a bit.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

Can not recomend a unit that will work for you without knowing how you are going to use it and how good your eyes are.

Deeper water or saltwater require more power to see bottom and fish. Less than 100 feet most units will work good. As you go deeper if you want to see fish then must have more power.

Most unit come with a transom mount tranducer because it will work on all boats. Thru hull transducer will not work on many types of boats. Aluminum hulls, Fiberglass that are not solid fiberglass, wood hulls then thru hull transducer will not work. Even on the best solid fiberglass hulls with a shoot thru hull transducer you will loose at least 10 percent of your signal.

Screen size depends on where you are going to place your unit and how far away you want to be able to see it from.

In my opinion Lowrance has by far the best color displays, can be seen in full sun where many other brands can not be seen. In a enclosed cab where sun will not hit the screen then Garmin and Lowrance very good.

Before you buy a unit, Know how deep you will want the unit to see fish. Go to a store that has all the units your thinking about and look at the display and compare to other brands. Most stores due not put the unit where there near a window and light from outside, so if the screen looks the least bit dim you will likely not be able to see at all outside ona sunny day.

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

thanks, well I'm only ever going to be in less than 130ft. deep here in the lake huron. I was looking at the Eagle brand ones, are these any good?? I think they are made by Lowrance?? What can you tell me? They are deffinitly cheaper, but why? As for viewing distance I would be sitting about 3ft-3.5ft from the unit.

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

so are the eagle combos any good? they are quit a bit cheaper.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

Eagle Units are made at same location as Lowrance and are very good. To see fish at 130 feet probably need about 2400 watts PeP or 300 watts RMS. Since it fresh water maybe a little less will work. Also for that depth the 200 Khz transducer will work good. I have not seen the Eagle out in full sun but belive they are useing the same screen at Lowrance. Salt water units will work fine is fresh water. If you were to get a dual Frequency unit 50khz/200khz then most of the transducers have a 12 degree 200 Khz transducer. For 100 feet of water a 200khz 20 degree transducer works best for most and that is standard for the signal frequency units.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

I belive both Eagle and Lowrance are good units.
Why is eagle cheaper, I really do not know but I have had two dealers say in responce to that question.

That when the Depth finders first came out they were sold thru marine dealers and the list price included the unit instalation on the boat. Then when places like wallmart wanted to sell the unit they gave them a cheaper price thinking they would have to take to a marine dealer to get installed since wallmart does not have people to install. Well the marine dealers lost many of their sales and complained so they changed the Brand name fo Self installed units sold to places like wallmart. I have no idea if there is any truth to this or not. Maybe some of the dealers on here can repond.

Today there are more differences between brands. Simular Eagle will usually have less power than a like Lowrance unit. I do not think too many are installed by dealers today unless sold with the boat. Again maybe dealers can shed some light.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

I think the Garmin 178C has both. Probably the best value out there.

There seems to be a lot of packages out there in this model..........may i ask would you get a dual tranducer along with a external ant?

 

[Boatist]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

You do not need a dual frequency transducer unless your going to fish in water over 200 feet or saltwater. Also if your going to fish 200 feet on more of saltwater you need at least 3000 watts PEP or 375 Watts RMS.

If you want to get the WAAS error correction signals in the north US then I think you need an external antenna. In southern states can probably get by with the internal antenna if your GPS location is just under a soft top. Hard top or and lot of metal in the your cabin where the GPS is then get the External if you need the WAAS accuracy.

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

Thanks for the input everyone. I found this Eagle seacharter 480df, gray scale but 480x480 resolution on a 5" screen.
It is a gps, chart, fishfinder dual freq. for only $350-$399. Comes with everthing. But...just how hard would it be to see in the sun? (under a hard top though) I thought if I trade colour for pixels in a grayscale model, I'll get more for my money. Or would this model be a poor choice. (accuracy, quality) I'm not going to far from home ever, this is more of a toy although it would help in Lake St. Clair where there are some shallows and islands. And someday I may add some downriggers.

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

Can anyone tell me what the difference would be betwwen an Eagle 640cDF and a Lowrance lms337df?? They appear to have the same features but the difference in price is quite substantial. Anyone know why??

 

[Boatist]

Re: Help choosing my first gps/sounder???

Depends on which Eagle 640 C your talking about.
They make 4 models of Eagle 640 C
Fish Elite 640C a 5 " 187 Watt low power 200k depth finder / GPS with 640 vertical resolution.

Fish Mark 640C a 5" 187 watt low power 200K depth finder 640 vertical resolution.

Intellimap 640C a 5" GPS unit.

SeaFinder 640C a dual frequency depth finder 200/50KHZ finder with 500 watts of power and 640 Vertical resolution.

I assume your talking about the
SeaCharter 640 C a 5 inch depth finder with GPS.
This unit has dual frequency 50/200 KHZ and 500 watts of power with 640 vertical resolution. GPS has an external antenna.
This unit has the same power as the Lowrance LMS 337C. The screen is taller and has better vertical resolution. The screen is not as wide as the LMS 337 C.

Lowrance LMS 337 C a 5 inch depth finder with GPS.
This unit also has dual Frequency 50/200 KHZ and 500 watts of power with 480 vertical resolution. GPS also has a External antenna. The screen is wider but only has 480 Vertical resolution. The screen is not as tall as the Sea Charter 640 C.

Which unit is better only you can decide.

I would say if your fishing very deep 400 feet then the Eagle may do better showing small fish near the bottom.

If your useing in split screen mode the GPS Map should look better on the Lowrance.

Either unit should meet most Fishermen needs unless your fishing very deep like over 500 feet.