HELP! I want advice on FISH FINDERS/GPS units...?

Question

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?

Answer 1

I have had great success using Raymarine units. Yes you can get cheaper brands like Garmin but the Raymarine is user friendly, high quality and reliable and very easy to change screens back and forth or have multiple displays in one screen.

Answer 2

Hi there

Personally, Lowrance makes a heck of alot of good machines. They have a wide variety of both salt and freshwater units and are really user and price friendly in my opinion and have GPS capable units as well.

Good luck to you and also they have  great daylight color readable screens as well.

Answer 3

Check out consumers marine dot com.  It has a lot of info on several different brands.  Be sure the unit you pick is good for fresh water.  There is different specs for salt water.  Some do either.  Lowrance, Humminbird, Raymarine, Furuno and others all make units.  One of the problems with some of the Raymarine and furuno, besides price, is that they are built to be part of a network.  Look for a self contained unit,  get the biggest screen you can afford in terms of dollars and space,  make sure it is daylight friendly, do not skimp on the transducer and mount it as far forward as possible.  OK,  I know the transom mount is a lot easier. Good luck.

Answer 4

Anything made by Lowrance is top of the line for marine use. And Garmin is in my opinion the best GPS available so I don't believe you can go wrong with either.

Answer 5

Lorance X-17 is a very good depth finder large screen and is capable of everything you mentioned.

I work for tracker and this is what we commonly install in Bass Pro Shops Pro fishing team Boats

Answer 6

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 s***w holes to prevent water intrusion, use galvanized or stainless screws, and good luck with your choice!