I just got a 2004 Caravelle 22' Deckboat (the only deckboat they make). It has a depthfinder, but I wanted to get a good fishfinder with a nice screen, and with built in gps. It's important that what I get has good maps, etc. for fresh water lakes and oceans. I keep the boat on a lake and that's mainly where I will use it.<br /><br />I see there are different brands out there like Hummingbird, Garmin, etc. but I don't know what's the best to go with. I know that Garmin is the BEST (in my opinion) for GPS units.. but I don't know about fishfinders, etc. So I have some questions..<br /><br />1.) Who is the biggest manufacturer of Fishfinders?<br /><br />2.) Who do you think makes the BEST fishfinders?<br /><br />3.) What is the difference between a chartplotter, fishfinder and a sounder? I just see some units advertised as sounders and some as chartplotters and others as just fishfinders, but I don't know the differences?<br /><br />4.) How hard are these to install on your boat? where do you have to mount the sensor on the bottom of the hull? and do you need to drill any holes, etc.. or does the sensor just "stick" to the bottom of the boat?<br /><br />5.) BTW, do you know by chance who makes the depth-finder that is built into the dash of my boat? is the depth finder taking the reading from the bottom of the back of the hull or from the bottem of the propellor?<br /><br />Thanks guys..
