Your thoughts about a fishfinder

[crawford23]

Ok, we're a few months away from getting the old boat all ready to go an I wanted to get a new fishfinder/chartplotter, etc. I don't know much about these but this one crossed my eyes as I was in Boaters World today. For those with a boat, what do you think of this fishfinder? Will be used for coastal waters. Or any recommendations on something better. The retail is $1,250...on sale for $1,000 and through my brothers hook up there, can get it for a reall nice discount on top of that.

Lowrance LCX-28C 50/200 kHz Sonar/GPS+WAAS Chartplotter Combo - 000-0123-18 - BoatersWorld.com

[Exudedude]

Originally Posted by crawford23

Ok, we're a few months away from getting the old boat all ready to go an I wanted to get a new fishfinder/chartplotter, etc. I don't know much about these but this one crossed my eyes as I was in Boaters World today. For those with a boat, what do you think of this fishfinder? Will be used for coastal waters. Or any recommendations on something better. The retail is $1,250...on sale for $1,000 and through my brothers hook up there, can get it for a reall nice discount on top of that.

Lowrance LCX-28C 50/200 kHz Sonar/GPS+WAAS Chartplotter Combo - 000-0123-18 - BoatersWorld.com

Well I haven't had one in 3 years....but with boat electronics you definitely get what you pay for. A combo unit is a really nice way to go... but if you plan on expanding later with radar and auto- pilot go for the single and dual screen with the individual modules. Raymarine makes a nice set-up for that.

But if you want to stay just with a plotter/finder... Lowrance, Furuno, Raymarine all have good combo. But to be brand specific is hard, one company ...say like Garmin excell in GPS, but suck in deep water finders. So you really want to do your homework.. Pick the type transducer you want and can afford.. thru-hull, transom or a puck type that you glass in inside your hull.That could add some bucks to the purchase.

I am partial to Furuno... If I was to get a boat for island fishing I would go for something like this..

Home > Electronics > Fishfinders >

FURUNO GP1650WF 6 GPS/WAAS CHART PLOTTER FISHFINDER


List Price: $1,595.00
Our Price: $1,283.98
You Save $311.02!

Product Code: BT009265

Description The innovative GP1650WF is a 6" color TFT LCD system that offers precise GPS/WAAS performance, advanced chart plotting and superior fish finding capabilities. Furuno has built all of these features into a slim-line, waterproof display, ideal for smaller fishing boats and pleasure craft. While the GP1650WF is compact, it is an extremely powerful navigation and fish-finding tool.

The GP1650WFs sensitive GPS receiver gives accurate boat speed, heading and position information. For an even higher level of accuracy, the GP1650WF utilizes WAAS technology, offering an unprecedented 1-3 meters accuracy. And, if that isnt enough, the unit features a dual-frequency (50/200 kHz) 600 Watt RMS (2400 P-P) echo sounder that detects fish and provides detailed bottom information.

This unit utilizes Furuno and Navionics mini chart cards.

Chart Plotter Features

• Enhanced Daylight Viewable, AR-Coated 6 inch (5.6" viewable), 8 Color LCD (TFT) with Wide Viewing Angle
• RISC processor for rapid plotter redraw
• Vessel position display in L/L or Loran-C TD's
• MOB key stroke stores vessel position and time
• North-up, Course-up or Automatic Course-up display modes
• Plotter range scales from 0.14 to 6,144 nautical miles
• 835 Waypoints including Quick Points
• Plotter, Nav Data, Steering Director or Highway display modes
• Automatic waypoint route switching and Autopilot data output
• Up to 200 routes consisting of up to 35 waypoints
• 16 different mark symbols may be used
• Waypoint entry by L/L or TD position or target Range and Bearing
• Plotter position interval may be set by time or distance traveled
• TLL position from specific Furuno Radars or Echosounders
• Utilizes Furuno or Navionics mini chart cards

GPS/WAAS Features

• Integral parallel tracking GPS/WAAS receiver
• Integral receiver is DGPS ready
• 20 seconds for position fix, 900 knot tracking velocity
• GPS position accuracy of approximately 10 meters, 95% of the time with S/A off
• WAAS position accuracy of approximately 3 meters, 95% of the time with S/A off

Fish finder Features

• 50 and 200 kHz Operation, 600 watts RMS output (4800 P-P)
• 8 preset ranges, with maximum scale of 2,500 feet, offset to 5,000 feet
• 8 or 16 Color Fish and Bottom returns including white
• A-scope for rapid species identification and size estimate
• Surface water temperature graph (Sensor input required)
• Multiple display modes, single or dual frequency with Bottom Lock Zoom, Bottom Zoom or Marker Zoom
• Utilizes a 10-pin Transducer/Multisensor connection

Shipping Information

• 12 pounds, one carton

Power Requirements

• 12 or 24 VDC, 15 watts

I have alot of friends that sell electronics in Fla and they pretty well taught me. You can get more out of a less expensive unit if you really learn how to use it.

There are alot of folks that spend big money on these things and leave them on auto...and they really miss out on what's truly underneath them.

Good luck,

[phishy]

im familiar with the lowrance. I really cant say i was impressed with its overall performance.

As said above, you get what you pay for when it comes to electronics.
First you have to figure out what your needs are and then might as well say forget the budget. It may cost ya some bucks.

Far as the all in ones, many say stay away from them. I think thats something that came from old, when these units first came out. Most still navigated by stars and all this new fangled equipt was just beyond their imaginations. So they say stick to you compass or have as many monitors as you can, to clutter your overall view. This way you can look between the cracks of the 8 displays units you have. Or you can just go back and forth till you get a headace from all the screens.
Now with that out the way.

Todays electronics have come a LONG way. Network systems are becoming the standard in todays electronics. Most units are dual or more. With a router you can add as many as you like. The draw back is the screen size isnt really usuable when you split it to many ways. A 7" screen isnt bad for a 2 way split, and not something you have to do unless your metering. With a network you can start off with just a single monitor and your transducer, then work your way up to a radar, etc...all very easy to integrate and they talk to each other.

Now as far as backups. I think this is the most important thing. And where the oldtimers have it right. You shouldnt be dependent on any electronic. They can be off a bit and it could be fatal. Use you head, learn to navigate with a compass, take a coast guard class..etc..AND have a Backup GPS just incase. something that has its own batteries incase your main blows a fuse.

Fish finders. Furuno by far makes the best. This lowrance model your looking at...well for lack of a better term....IT F'IN SUCKS......go with something that has color, and good detail. This claims to, but ive seen it in action...not impressed. Also have to look at your uses. If its truly coastal and your a weekend warrior..nothing to serious..cheap isnt a bad way to go. Plan on trying to decipher if thats a piece of kelp floating or a gamefish..might want to spend the money on something better.
Transducers.
stay away from the transom mounts and go thru hull if you can afford it. This is really where it makes the difference with any fish finder. Most transom mounts loose bottom at anything more then a slow troll. Noise from the out drive can ruin your over all and create havoc. With a thru-hull you get away from that and you can keep bottom and meter at much higher speeds. I usually meter doing 8kts without a problem slowing down when i need more detail.

As i said things can get expensive. Look at your needs and do alot of research, making the money you spend work for you. Ask lots of questions and read reviews. There are alot of sites dedicated to this. The hull truth is a very good one for that.
Reliability is always going to be a concern, and your installation will be important. With that im more then willing to help. Ive done a few installs now, including a complete boat rewire.

Far as what i have, i have a garmin 3006c fishfinder/36 mile radar/gps/XM combo. Love it. Recently purchased a garmin 478 as a great back up. It comes installed Streets and Bluecharts G2. Use it in the truck and on the water. Its a stand alone with a built in antenna and its wired to a separate battery, it also has a 9 hr battery.
With all the junk i have, im about 6k in on just electronics.

[Carnivore]

Garmin gps units are by far the best in my opinion with furuno FF being tops. I personally don't like all in one units unless you just don't have the room. If one part of the unit breaks you have nothing where you still have one unit if the other breaks. Past that if you don't have the room the you don't have a choice. I like the garmin ff too that is what I have to go in what ever I wind up getting.

[Joey805]

Garmin color GPS and a Furuno Color fish finder...

No better combo in my honest opinion.

Also, go with a through hull transducer if possible. You'll get alot better performance.

[marineslayer]

the lowrance is way user friendly,great detail,meters bottom at 30 kts, very happy with it.The furuno's abit more complicated .

[crawford23]

Thanks guys with all the help. Looks like I've got alot of research to do. well its a couple months before the boat will be ready so that gives me time to take everything into consideration and get the outfit suitable for my needs...Thanks again for all the information and advice as it will help greatly in my electronics pursuit.