Need GPS with depth contour and spot sounding

[Kymasabe]

Hey everyone. My 10 year old Humminbird Wide Optic fish finder is finally starting to act up. Display is a little faded, there are spots on it I can't get off and the thing on the transom is falling apart (transponder? transducer? I can never remember).

Anyway, I'd like to get a GPS/fishfinder combo and I kinda like the Humminbird 595C but...whatever I get HAS to have depth contour and spot soundings...like a chart. I'm on a budget so am looking for the most affordable unit I can. I'm not particularly brand loyal so open to any suggestion (Lowrance, Garmin, Eagle, etc...). I prefer a color screen, and 5" diag. would be a good size though I could live with a 4" if I had to.

What is the most affordable (and reliable, and easy to use) GPS/fishfinder combo that has (or can affordably upgrade to) depth contour and spot soundings.

Option #2: I could repair my fishfinder and deal with the weak display and get a dedicated GPS-only unit.

By the way, this is going on my 16' center console fishing boat for coastal fishing.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Need GPS with depth contour and spot sounding

The general concisions at the moment is that Garmin makes the best plotters (smaller 5XX series and larger 4XXX/ 5XXX series units )and the Bluechart G2 vision charts are arguably some of the best the available on the market. Network capable and fully expandable (sonar, XM weather, radar) to met your future needs.

I just put in a 4208 and all I can say is??.. Wow

 

[Zackman]

Re: Need GPS with depth contour and spot sounding

I have the Garmin 378 (Inland Water) the 478 is the basically the same unit but includes maps of coastal water. The 378 is portable and I use it more in the car than I do in the boat and it was almost worth the cost just for that... I added a dual frequency (200/50 Khz) 600 Watt transducer with a 20 degree tilted pickup and the Garmin sonar unit both for around $400. I think the 378/478 is currently going for around $800 - $900.

The thing about GPS/Sonar is you have to look at the big picture. You can go inexpensive and add maps, features, etc as your budget permits. Or you can bite the bullet and get everything you need from the get go, but you need to figure out what you need and what you want.

The transducer and is usually purchased seperately (range $60 - $200). There are in-hull, thru-hull and transom mounted transducers. You can get angled transducers that compensate for your deadrise to give more accurate readings.

Someone posted a link to Lowerance Tutoral website, which you may want to look at... Goto http://www.lowrance.com and select Support and then Tips and Tutorials.

 

[Kymasabe]

Re: Need GPS with depth contour and spot sounding

Thanks for the input....I think I've decided on a Garmin 440s, or the now-discontinued 492/498.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Need GPS with depth contour and spot sounding

I prefer Lowrance to Garmin because of the brighter Color screens. This year at the boat show some of the new Garmins are almost as bright as the Lowrance units. So if you looking at older units go look at them some place that has most of the units on display before you buy. For me screen brightness and Power of at least 500 Watts RMS or 4000 watts PEP is needed for salt water.

Depth counture is available for most of the high power units. Some are built in and some you need to add a memory card.

If you buy without going and looking at units side by side in a store then you will not get the best unit for you.

 

[Kymasabe]

Re: Need GPS with depth contour and spot sounding

Thanks for the tip Boatist bit I don't necessarily need the most power. I'm on Florida's Gulf coast and will be spending most of my time around the barrier islands and mangrove islands. Around here, you have to go miles and miles off shore before you hit water over 40 feet deep. I have no intention of taking my '83 Cobia SunSkiff 156 that far. In the areas that I fish, I'm routinely under 10 feet of water and often have to dial down the gain on my fishfinder.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Need GPS with depth contour and spot sounding

Your right in shallow water you do not need power. Also in that shallow of water do not get a dual frequency unit. Buy a 200 khz unit.

Lot different here on the West Coast, out 10 miles can be over 1000 feet. Even 2 miles out can be over 400 feet. The other big difference is water tempature. Northern California water Temp range from 51 to 55 degrees.

 

[Kymasabe]

Re: Need GPS with depth contour and spot sounding

I took your advice and looked at Garmins, Humminbird, Lowrance, Eagle, and whatever else side-by-side at multiple stores. If I had the cash, I would have bought the Garmin 440S, just as bright as the Lowrance and super easy to navigate and use. Lowrance didn't have anything in my price range so I ended up buying a Garmin 498, got a decent deal at $427 brand new, internal antenna, less transducer. I'll pick up the transducer you recommended.