gps/depthfinder
 

im looking to buy a new one for under a grand$.i need a user friendly unit,cause i anit too smart.i would like a 6" large screen.what do u guys like or dislike ....thanks dave

Dave,
I've done a lot of research and I'm changing out my old Garmin for a Lowrance Elite 5. It's only a 5" screen but at $549 (and a $100 rebate if purchsed before February 12) it seems like a good deal.

Get separate units. Get a Used garmin gps off eBay
I got a used 498 for about a duce

spend the money on the fish finder. I got a furuno fcv1000 with 10" display for another Duce & 750 for the transducer thru furuno. That unit msrp was $4,500 when new
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I also prefer separate units.

What FF said !!!

Garmin GPS.
Furuno sounder.

I want one of those
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Yep agree, separate units.

Go Garmin on the GPS without exception.

Get a GPS w/ a fishfinder or vice versa if it ends up cost-effective and then you have a backup option.

It's nice having redundancy; 2 GPS's is almost a requirement. Without a GPS on an extremely foggy morning you probably can't make it out of the harbor.

I like putting one on the "navigation for idiot's" screen that's just got an arrow; on the other GPS I'll show the chart. Helps keep you on course while narrowing down the number of things to run into ;).

Jon

I liked my Garmin too,it shows tides ,currents and is very user friendly. I went with a sitex for a fish finder and have no regrets. The performance is comparable with the furuno for a lot less ching.

navman electronics.... anyone have any experience with this brand? I am looking at the 4507 Fishfinder. I currently have a Lowrance lms 240 chartplotter / sounder with a bad module, and a Lowrance x 47 Fishfinder. My thoughts after reading this thread is to replace the puck on the 240,
and keep the 240 and spend the money on a dedicated Fishfinder. My budget is in the range of $450-$650 or so... I will be fishing Narraganset bay, Block Island and maybe Cox's
any input would be greatly appreciated. I posted this in another forum but had no replys

thanks
chris

I agree with separate. I have a garmin 498 which is small but fine and a furuno 620 which I love.

I upgraded this year to the Garmin 546 GPS. I needed a unit that was NMEA 2000 compatible.
I also bought a Garmin GDL40 which is a real neat device that Garmin came out with this year. Basically it overlays weather, wind speed, direction and currents on the 546 GPS thru the NMEA2000 network. It receives via cellular towers so as long as you are within range of a cell tower you receive. Clearly not for way offshore but great within 6 miles of the coast.
I run a Garmin 300 color FF which works great.

I use a Elite 5 dsi. Its pretty good but not as user friendly as the Hummingbird combo unit I had On old boat. Comes preloaded with a ton of coastal depths and popular channels on it all ready. Not bad for the money

well made the decision to go new on the fishfinder and repair the chartplotter. $100 should get me a new gps module, and I am going to get a sitex svs650 w/xducer. I can network them so that is good and my vhf will be networked too. Next year I can upgrade the plotter when I have more money to do so.
Thank you for starting this thread lots of great input I appreciate it.

Chris

also if anyone knows of someone or would like the old x47 that I have pm me and it is yours... xducer with it to.

wow...i,m glad i have all winter to choose, cause right now i dont know????????????? keep the input coming .i need the help. :love:dave

Dave, Joe at Pawtuckset Electronics says the best FF on the market is the thru hull Furuno FCV585. My problem is that it's $1300 without the thru hull transducer. With installation and the ducer I'm betting you are closer to $2000. For a fish finder??? To much dough for me

I would concur with Paul. Have it's cheap cousin on the r/v. The larger r/v I used to run had a 585. I could watch a cod jig bounce the bottom at 130ft...

The furunos are alot of dough, but they really are nice.

Happy New Year Bry:wave:

The FCV585 Furuno is a good unit. I went with the FCV 620 which is the same unit design as the 585 but 600w vs 1000w. Combine this with a good thru hull and your around $1000.

I have been very happy with the unit. The 585 wasn't in my boat budget.

lorance e-5
 

went w/ the price.....479.00 w/ 100.00 rebate on ebay free shipping no tax...379.00 total....i got to replace 20yr old sitex numbers unit.hope it works out

Should have went to BOE Marine. They have the E-5 for $414.73 then the $100 rebate on top of that. I was looking at that unit for my little boat.

Bo your killing me @ that price..i looked everywhere ...wish i knew that 1hr ago........

Can't go wrong with a furuno. Sitex is becoming a player in the game also.

Sitex has been a player in the game for the last 20 years! :smash: :rotf2:

Sitex = Furuno guts.

For commercial applications yes, but for us rec guys they are now becoming a viable option due to price point. Furuno is still the best and continues to be the leader in this area as seen on the world fishing fleet but you will pay for it.

Some nebe25 guy has a furuno gp-32 for sale on CL......

They have always been a viable option, I had a Sitex machine on my boat 20 years ago, and I still have one on board, albeit a different one. The current one is about 10 years old.