HELP! I want advice on FISH FINDERS/GPS units...?
I want to ask those that has experience with fish finders, hopefully one with GPS capabilities ( to mark the HOT SPOTS!) I've got a 97-21Ft Maxum to install it in, I dont want a bargain basement model so price isnt the determining factor. I would like one with EASE of use, color LCD screen, GPS navigation, speed/depth, etc...I'll be using this in freshwater lakes on the Inland Northwest (Idaho, Washington, Montana)
any ideas?
There are plenty of options you can go with, from bare bones to the best (for the size of your boat, obviously). I have found that for the best of both worlds (ease of operation, clear reading, GPS/Fishfinder/Hot Spots) I would go with Garmin. Check out the 435 and the 535's, they're super easy to operate (only a few buttons) they have all of the maps uploaded, and you can purchase the MapSource program from Garmin to upload more information to your Garmin if you wish. Now, if you want a bit more high quality, you should go with RayMarine. They install just about the same as a Garmin, but at the same time are a little more complicated. They run just fine by themselves, and if you get the Navionics charts, you will realize you can't find a better chart anywhere. The detail is amazing, and with the Navionics maps loaded up, they show cartography, depth charts and hazards/buoys (The Garmin gives depth numbers, cartography, NO hazards/buoys). Just remember, for a premium product you pay a premium price. I wouldn't hesitate to install a Lowrance, but only if the customer wanted a Lowrance! They also have the Navionics charts, but the machine/unit quality doesn't come close to the Garmin or the RayMarine. The trick is to go to a marine store and figure out which one you want and which one you like the best. Make sure you pick out a nice spot on your dash to mount it so that it doesn't obstruct your guages or your field of vision, and DON'T get a thru-hull or "puck" style transducer, get the transom-mount transducer. Use 3M 5200 Wet-Dry Fast Cure caulking in all of your screw holes to prevent water intrusion, use galvanized or stainless screws, and good luck with your choice!
Installing a depth sounder on my inflateable kayak
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Humminbird XNT 9 20 T Transom Mount Transducer $74.99 The Humminbird XNT 9 20 T Transom Mount Transducer is a high-speed transducer designed to mount on the transom, or back, of the boat, in contact with the surface of the water, and operate in conjunction with a compatible Humminbird sonar or fish finder system. This unit is a single and DualBeam transducer that features 20- and 60-degree cone angles operating on 200 kHz and 83 kHx frequencies respe... |
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RAM Mounting Systems RAM-D-111U-C heavy duty RAM Universal Marine Electronic Mount $109.06 The RAM-D-111U-C consists of a short double socket arm 3.68" diameter round base and 11" x 3" rectangular base. The round base contains pre-drilled holes including two holes at 180 degrees and three holes at 120 degrees. The rectangle base contains different binations of pre-drilled holes which will match up to many electronic devices and mounts including Marine GPS CB Radios Ham Radios Gimbal Bra... |
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Humminbird PiranhaMAX 170 4-Inch Waterproof Fishfinder and Dual-Beam Transducer $99.99 One touch. That's all it takes to get easy-access to all the advanced features of the PiranhaMAX Series fishfinders. Fish ID+, fish alarms, depth alarms, zoom, and more- start putting more fish in your livewell. Clear Edge Grayscale displays ensure you'll see more onscreen, even in direct sunlight. The portable PiranhaMAX 170 features a four-inch grayscale display and dual beam sonar with 1600 W... |
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Humminbird 408120-1 Fishfinder 597ci HD DI Combo $649.99 Timber, rocks, or even fish--watch it all take shape on a crystal-clear, full-color, 5-inch display. With screens that size, it's easy to take advantage of versatile Down Imaging Sonar and exclusive Humminbird SwitchFire technology, with a beam sensitive enough to track a jig down to 70 feet and seperate fish as close as 2.5 inches apart. Find your way using built-in UniMap or up the ante with o... |
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Humminbird PiranhaMAX Series Fishfinder ... |
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Humminbird 596C Color Sonar Only ... |
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Lowrance HST-WSBL 200 KHZ Transom Mount Transducer $59.06 Easy to install, the Lowrance HST-WSBL transom-mount transducer helps your fishfinder determine everything from water temperature to depth to fish hiding spots. Equipped with a built-in temperature sensor, the 200 kHz skimmer comes with a 20-foot power cable. The HST-WSBL is compatible with the following fishfinders: HDS-10 HDS-5 HDS-5x HDS-7 HDS-8 LCX-110C LCX-111C HD LCX-112C LCX-113C HD LCX-... |
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