what's a good inexpensive fish finder

[CHUMSALMON]

I'm looking to add an inexpensive fish finder to my 12" alum. boat. Haven't really looked even, but would be curious to know what would be a good one for not a whole lot of cash. images/icons/wink.gif

[CAGEY]

They make one called an Eagle. It runs for about 90.00 and is easy to run and does a very good job. Has a lot of whistles and bells for not much money. BiMart has them.

[Phil Layer]

www.boatersworld.com (http://www.boatersworld.com) has a Humminbird 400 for $200 with a free, mail in speedometer and temp gauge.

I've got one on my sled and it works great - no complaints.

[Ocean]

I have used a Raytheon L365 for several years under a variety of conditions. Best inexpensive fish finder I've ever seen. Reliable, easy to operate and shows fish where they are. About $210. Gives speed and temperature.

[Dogfish]

Interphase has a new one out that is actually an active forward looking sonar. I think it only runs about a grand or so. If you want one for a tenth of that cost, look at the eagles. Mine works well.

(Inexpensive is relative to your tax bracket)

[Smily]

I had been looking at the Fishing Buddy II by Bottom line. Seen one go on Ebay for $135.00 today and they go for $279.00 in the stores. They take 3 "C" Batteries and a self contained unit. I'm still considering one of those cause I don't need to get another Car Battery. They have there own mount for the back of your transom or side of your boat. I have a drift Boat and I was thinking of getting one of those cause there self contained. It also has a side finder. I don't know if that is sales hype or if it is a useful feature. Anybody else have one of those that might have an opinion?


The 1200 model runs $169.00 at fishermans.

http://www.bottomlinefishfinders.com/site/html/bottomline/tbl_buddy1200.htm


The 2255 runs at $279.00 at fishermans. http://www.bottomlinefishfinders.com/site/html/bottomline/tbl_buddy2255.htm

images/icons/smile.gif Smily images/icons/smile.gif

[ 09-09-2001: Message edited by: Smily ]

[DF]

Humminbird 100SX
CHEAP!
and works

[Ken Drifter]

Hummingbird 100 SX Bimart had (maybe still ) for only $75.00 on sale (usually $99.00). Elsewhere $120.00
Its a great unit, it does all the average fisherman needs. reads the bottom real well, and has alot of goodies for the money. Ive got one on my drift boat mounted on the rear transom. It takes a very small auto battery to run it.

[TideRunner]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by CHUMSALMON:
I'm looking to add an inexpensive fish finder to my 12" alum. boat. Haven't really looked even, but would be curious to know what would be a good one for not a whole lot of cash. images/icons/wink.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[TideRunner]

Let's see if I got it right this time........
My Humminbird works fine now after three trips back to the factory. I like the product, but, let me say this, the company is a joke to deal with. Never again would I buy a Humminbird because of the service. One time I got it back and it didn't even turn on!

[Uncle Roman]

Hey Smiley, I own a Fishing Buddy 111 and I would not recommend it to anyone. I too use it on a driftboat mostly in tidewater and with a kicker motor. My problems are: The sidefinder only locates things in like the top quarter of the water column, and then, if it sees something, it will give me an impossible distance, like a piling 20 ft. away is shown as 80 ft. away on a stretch of river that's 100 ft. wide, it has a slow signal speed that is easily interrupted by sudden or mild rocking of the boat, and you have to turn it off, and take it out of its holder if you are on the move at anything faster than trolling speed; as the transducer creates alot of drag and you risk damaging or altogether losing it (especially if debris collects on it), its also kind of delicate and the holder is always in the way...........I would look at other options if I were to buy again. It will show you the bottom I guess, and maybe a fish or two, but almost anything will. Fishin Buddy my arse!

[CATCH AND EAT]

Not much help but I usually use a good quality BAIT! yuk yuk yuk..... Sorry. images/icons/grin.gif Could'nt resist.

[jet]

My vote is also for Raytheon... L365, with speed and temp all for the one low price you can not beat it. I looked at all the Lawrance units for x2 the money (x55,x65,x85 these units must be a whole lot more money)....lol .

The pixel count is great,it shows gray line and the depth where the fish are hiding.With the money I saved buying the Raytheon I bought a new Lamiglas Willamette special. Now I use both on the Columbia.

Jet~~~

[ 09-07-2001: Message edited by: jet ]

[StorminN]

I bought a Lowrance X85 about four years ago because it was recommended to me by a few guys in our fishing club that had them. I had to send mine back three times the first year for repair, the last time I sent it in, they just sent me a different refurbished one. I later learned that they had just moved their production to Mexico and were having problems with the first things they built there.

I haven't had any problems since, but I wish I had a finder with better pixel resolution.

I've researched it more now, and Raytheon and Faruno both have good reputations. I think Lowrance is more of a bass-boat thing.
(P.S. Eagle is Lowrance's second brand, they sell Eagle stuff in mailorder houses and big box stores, while Lowrance distribution is more limited)

-N.

[boater]

i will never buy a lowrance anything, it`s all junk, after 4 x70a-3d units and now an x-85 thats going out ive had it.

[WeldcraftOwner]

I think Garmin makes it nut theres one called a FF240 it has excellant resolution and seperation. It has a high RMS power too which is important. I think its less than $200 bucks at Boaters World.

[HOGTIDE]

If you fish Salmon, Steelhead or Trout in waters of averge depth, buy the bottom of the line 'Eagle' (apx.$129) does everything the others do.Fishtrak, Auto settings, etc. etc. Simple to operate and seems to stay very water tight! Almost all electronics are so compact and sophisticated these days, the manufacturers try to think of new modes and options, mostly for an excuse to get you to spend more.I seem to just keep looking at and purchasing expensive DF's, and then admiring the cheap ones for how much they do for less! BTW Eagle is Lowrance...compare the models.

[Smily]

ChumSalmon,
Just got the flier for Fisherman's Marine and the have good sales going on now.
Bottom line-Tournament 1100 is going for $79.99
Eagle- FishEasy Fishfinder for $107.99
Humminbird-200 DX $136.99

I'm in the same boat as you that needs one. Will be stopping by Fisherman's to check these out. I went to G.I.Joes and they don't have anybody to ask information about these items.

I was out in the Willamette Saturday and noticed the fishinbuddy were on 3 boats and people liked them. They just seem more money for the same item.


Anybody else have one of these lower line items that have good or bad things to say?