Recommendations Wanted: Fish Finder/GPS/Sounder Combo

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Recommendations Wanted: Fish Finder/GPS/Sounder Combo

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fishingneighbor

Posts: 92

Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:15 am

I am looking into up grading to a new Fish Finder/GPS combo unit and would like some recommendations.

Currently have a Lowrance Elite-5 that has an internal issue and expired warranty.

Just started to get into bottom fishing more so than trolling.

The unit would be going on a 21' semi-v hull.

Any suggestions?

DOGKILLR

Posts: 1182
Location: Mooresville, NC and Harkers Island

Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:19 pm

I put a Garmin 741xs with chirp transducer on my boat last year and love it. Can watch the rigs on the way to the bottom.

BarryTurano

Posts: 3003
Location: Wilmington NC

Tue Jan 27, 2015 2:00 pm

I have a Garmin 740s as with all Garmin units VERY user friendly. 600kw triducer dual angle 50/200. Can accept Garmin radar as an overlay on the plotter screen. Bottom resolution is very good also. Had a Furuno on my old boat great unit also but not as user friendly.
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CAP1

Posts: 395

Tue Jan 27, 2015 4:00 pm

The Garmin 741 is on sale right now for about $869+-, which is a heckuva deal considering it was $1300 not too long ago.

EllisHugh

Posts: 240
Location: Wilmington, NC

Tue Jan 27, 2015 4:09 pm

Install the largest Garmin screen you can.
I have a Garmin 4210 (10" screen) and love it.
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lwr37

Posts: 2601
Location: Carolina Beach

Tue Jan 27, 2015 4:11 pm

I have garmin and lowrance units. Both have their good points and bad points. It'd be nice if you could get out and test some units and see how you like them. Whatever you do get the biggest screen size you can. You'll be thankful you did later.
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CUTiger2011

Posts: 224
Location: Clemson, SC

Tue Jan 27, 2015 4:54 pm

You want to get the best results for bottom fishing? Furuno, no doubt.

You want to do decently enough with bottom and have the best charting capabilities and be able to be operated by a cave man? Garmin.

70dv on my boat, but it's just an inshore boat so no need to worry about NMEA 2k and radar and all that hoopla for a 17' boat.

BarryTurano

Posts: 3003
Location: Wilmington NC

Tue Jan 27, 2015 5:21 pm

"You want to do decently enough with bottom and have the best charting capabilities and be able to be operated by a cave man? Garmin."

That's me Atouk, ZUG ZUG Lana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqbTHwknMZk
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DOGKILLR

Posts: 1182
Location: Mooresville, NC and Harkers Island

Wed Jan 28, 2015 7:00 am

I'm planning on adding xm weather to my Garmin this year so I can watch the weather and see sea temps while on the water with the weather subscription. Anyone else use this?

MidnightWind

Posts: 3885
Location: Carolina Beach, NC

Wed Jan 28, 2015 7:14 am

EllisHugh wrote:

Install the largest Garmin screen you can.
I have a Garmin 4210 (10" screen) and love it.

X2

I have had the Garmin 4208 with sonar and XM weather for about 7 years.

Furuno makes a good bottom machine, but awkward GPS. Don't think their sonar is any better than Garmin.

You couldn't give me a Lowarance.

Good Luck in your search.....

Back-Lash

Posts: 3028
Location: Sneads Ferry NC

Wed Jan 28, 2015 7:39 am

I have never liked the combo units and the more I look the less I like ,,, I have a JRC combo in the new to me boat I just bought . I am not sold on it yet but I am trying to get used to it ,,,,,, mean while I am adding my Furuno's in the mix esp my gp 32 and bottom machine
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Tmclendon0201

Posts: 63

Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:06 am

DOGKILLR wrote:

I'm planning on adding xm weather to my Garmin this year so I can watch the weather and see sea temps while on the water with the weather subscription. Anyone else use this?

We have it linked to a Lowrance Unit. It is nice to have for storms in the summertime, but I have been disappointed with the resolution of the temperature maps. It is nice to be able to get an exact temperature reading at certain way-points though. It won't put you right on top of a break line, but it will get you in the ballpark.

Captain_Grady

Posts: 17
Location: North Carolina

Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:24 am

If you have to go with a combo unit the Furuno GP-1870F will do the job . Works great for me .

crabman00

Posts: 336
Location: Rockingham cnty

Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:55 am

I've always found it interesting how different brands seem to be favored for saltwater applications vs fresh water.
Wonder why?

CUTiger2011

Posts: 224
Location: Clemson, SC

Wed Jan 28, 2015 9:34 am

crabman00 wrote:

I've always found it interesting how different brands seem to be favored for saltwater applications vs fresh water.
Wonder why?

Marketing

fishingneighbor

Posts: 92

Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:34 pm

Thank you for the feed back and recommendations.
I am going to research Garmin as my first option.

drumchaser73

Posts: 2322
Location: fishing

Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:29 pm

Lowrance HDS-7 Gen 2 is a good one also.

lwr37

Posts: 2601
Location: Carolina Beach

Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:59 pm

drumchaser73 wrote:

Lowrance HDS-7 Gen 2 is a good one also.

Yes it is.
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rdnkvet

Posts: 1433
Location: Wallace, NC

Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:52 pm

Be sure to check out the new Garmins being released in next month or so.

lwr37

Posts: 2601
Location: Carolina Beach

Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:24 am

rdnkvet wrote:

Be sure to check out the new Garmins being released in next month or so.

That Garmin 7610xsv sure looks like a nice unit.
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rdnkvet

Posts: 1433
Location: Wallace, NC

Fri Jan 30, 2015 11:37 am

I've wanted one of the xs models, but they do not fully network. These new ones will. I'll probably add the 7608 later this year.

CAP1

Posts: 395

Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:45 pm

PM sent.

lwr37

Posts: 2601
Location: Carolina Beach

Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:54 pm

rdnkvet wrote:

I've wanted one of the xs models, but they do not fully network. These new ones will. I'll probably add the 7608 later this year.

From all the research I've done they are going to be hit. I'd like to get the 7610 and pair it with a PM265LM but I have too much stuff to do this winter. Maybe next year...
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WildCard

Posts: 1600

Sat Jan 31, 2015 9:58 pm

BarryTurano wrote:

How did I miss this? Thought I was the only one left that remembered, this Oscar nominated sceen! As far as the electronics go, put me down for the ones start with F and end with O. Over time, my humble experience has shown them hard to beat. Frank

waleeedijaz

Posts: 1

Fri Mar 11, 2016 6:35 am

Bottom resolution is very good also. Had a Furuno on my old boat great unit also but not as user friendly.
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LuisFisher

Posts: 1

Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:34 am

if your budget less than $1000, my recommendation is Lowrance hook 7 for 2016. It's a new version product, flaunting a 7-inch, 800�480 16-bit Full-Color SolarMax Plus TFT VGA LED display with backlighting capabilities, on-screen images can easily be seen in full sunlight, from vast viewing angles. The Multi-Window display feature offered by Lowrance, allows you to swiftly select from a wide range of preloaded page layouts, which includes a 3-panel view.

Or you can see more at this top rated reviews & guide article: http://fishfinderselect.com/best-fishfinder-gps-combo/

knot-a-option

Posts: 111
Location: Rich Inlet

Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:57 am

DOGKILLR wrote:

I put a Garmin 741xs with chirp transducer on my boat last year and love it. Can watch the rigs on the way to the bottom.

Same here, and the prices have come down.

Afterviout

Posts: 1
Location: 1546 Hickory Heights Drive, Hanover

Thu Apr 28, 2016 3:19 am

Good to hear that you are experienced with the Lowrance series and you are using the Elite-5. Lowrance Has updated the features this year for the new fish finders and Lowrance Elite-7 HDI one of them. You can read Lowrance Elite-7 HDI here for further detail.
Humminbird Helix 5 SI is another fish finders that I also recommend you.

Happy Fishing!

Capt. Cane

Posts: 782
Location: Holden Beach NC

Thu Apr 28, 2016 5:53 am

Furuno Product is hard to beat. No matter how old if you really like the unit and have trouble you can send it off to be repaired. The GPS store has some good rebates going right now. I have the 1870 and its been solid.
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amffish

Posts: 42
Location: Greensboro/Hampstead

Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:51 pm

We have used both Lowrance and Garmin with great results. The Garmin units are more user friendly, and the new 76xx series are absolutely awesome with full touch screen and integrate easily with additional items on your helm such as your VHF, Entertainment and different brands of equipment such as autopilots. It has built in chirp and we love the additional features such as side scan and downvu. Other folks like other brands for a variety of reasons, but at the end of the day, we chose Garmin for our offshore needs.
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