GPS and Fishfinder

[rocketman]

I'm in the process of outfitting my new boat. I would like some inputt on GPS and Fishfinders. I have about $700 to spend and Can't make my mind up whether to get a Combo for about $700 or get 1 Fishfinder and 1 GPS . Can people give me input? If you have one or the other what Make and Model, and what you like about it.?
I know the combo won't take up as much room as having individual ones. Do the GPS units come preloaded with maps or is that something I need to purchase?

[Moldy45]

$ 700= Garmin 178c + blue chart

[olybirds]

lots of choices out there,

Heres something interesting to consider... Upgradable and interface options..

read this:
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=150151

[Gundog]

At that price you are at the high end of enrty level stuff and too low for the next level up.
Mike

[TheRogue]

I have enough dash space, I went with 2 units. I personally really like this; didn't like the idea of 1/2 sizing both, or switching back and forth between full screens.

My .02

TR

[Johnny B Bad]

I would go with separate units, that way you can watch you depth well and also have a big enough map to read. JOhn

[Thomas Gilg]

RocketMan,

I've been researching for about a week; lots of surfing web forums. Want to outfit my drift boat, but expect to buy a bigger 20-22' boat and want the finder to work there too.

Brand wise, Furuno and Raymarine get very good comments, but the price is way up there. Lowrance and their sister company/brand Eagle get very good comments. Garmin and Hummingbird get mixed comments. I'm starting to zero in on a dual frequency Lowrance.

Wrt combo (with GPS) or not. It appears adding an internal GPS to most brands of finders in the $300-$500 range costs ~$150 more, and at that cost I consider it a good deal. For my existing Garmin 76CSx with itty bitty screen, I could add BlueChart and other water maps for $110, and then I could hassle with toggling the maps in my Garmin between the topo maps that I usually use vs. the water maps.

As of now I'm looking at the Lowrance LMS-527C with dual-frequency and GPS. It comes with some basemaps, although the higher end water maps have to be purchased separately for about $140.

--tg

[ForeverFishing]

I have a Lowrance combo unit and love it! I'm pretty sure a black and white model will be within your budget, but if want color you might need to spend a bit more than $700. With split screen and lots of ways to overlay data it's amazing how many ways a unit like this can pay for itself.

They come with mapping software but for a bit more money you can get a Navionics card for the unit that will give you every depth, bottom contour, nav aid, wreck, dock, wingdam, and dead bird on the water from Canada to California. The more you zoom in the more detail you get.... its really quite amazing. I can even record sonar data for about 45 mins per card (and blanks are cheap) then review everything on my PC, looking for reefs and structures I might have missed when underway. Really cool stuff!

[OB1]

For that money go with the Garmin 498, easy to use and it works great.
It's also preloaded with all the off shore charts as well as the Columbia and Willamette.
These folks are selling it for $619

http://www.gpscity.com/item-garmin-g...nna/498cse.htm

[EVERREADY]

What kind of boat? Where will you be using it?