Looking for "The Plastic Jusus"

South Paw · 08-25-2003, 03:41 PM

OK. I'm not going to get out for tuna in the boat this year but I will be ready for next yea. So here's the question. Which Sonar/GPS Sonar/GPS/Radar is the true "Plastic Jesus". I need to step up the the plate and place my faith in one. Lowrance's X17, Some kind of a Furuno? I've been seeing the Ramarine stuff in the Saltwater Fishing Mag. Any good? I need some enlightenment please. Let me know what y'all would do for under 2K. Heading to ConsumerReport. Thanks.

Lepper · 08-25-2003, 06:20 PM

Everyone is going to give you a different opinion based on there experience. That being said, I love my lowrance.. and I personally am not excited about anything that is raymarine.
dave

Pete · 08-25-2003, 06:38 PM

Lepper'r right about everyone having an opinion. No two systems come with all the same stuff, so comparing price and capabilities varies. At the low end of the price spectrum for GPS/Sonar units, the Eagle SeaCharter 320DF comes with GPS antenna and dual frequency transducer for about $500. For a little more you can add a memory card, reader and programming to let you view and edit maps on your computer. That's the full meal deal for about $650. From there you can go up in price.

Mello-Yello · 08-25-2003, 07:21 PM

Just like buying optics...figure out what the absolute maximum is you can afford, then buy the next model up. :grin:

The only problem I see with the 'all-in-one' unit is...if it goes down, everything goes down.

I have a Raymarine fishfinder...don't much care for it. The major disappointment is...I was prepared to spend a lot more, threw myself at the mercy of the 'boat experts', and ended up with a low-end unit. Most of the time, it works ok...but all too often, it tries to convince me I'm in really shallow water. Even when I know I'm in 2000'! For the most part, it's just a glorified thermometer.

I'm satisfied with my Garmin GPS152 for now. Having bought a house recently, I try not to pay too much attention to what else is out there. :depressed:
This unit accurately gets me where I want to go, and I've never had a problem with it. Granted, it's a pretty cheap unit for what's out there.

Good Luck, I'm sure this post will start showing common preferences. I'll be watching it too!

M-Y

[ 08-25-2003, 08:25 PM: Message edited by: Mello-Yello ]

WP · 08-25-2003, 07:32 PM

I agree with M-Y in that I prefer to have separate units. I had an all in one and found I prefered to have stand alone units. For a fishfinder-sonar unit, the Garmin 240 blue has been a great unit for me. The Magellan 324MAP Color is my GPS/ploter and I have been thrilled with its performance so far. Lots of good units relatively cheap. Good luck and get what you want...not the thing to go too cheap on.
WP

South Paw · 08-25-2003, 07:41 PM

Thanks all. Your opinions are all great the more the better. I'm all ears and listening.

blubeast · 08-25-2003, 08:57 PM

Suggest you go to a large electronics shop and compare units. Look at their displays and map detail, ease of use. Have the salesperson do the same steps on each unit. Be sure to ask what the map chips cost on units so equiped... they can be very spendy.

I ended up with a Raymarine chartplotter and separate Raymarine depth finder...like both...fished with a guy who had a combo unit... did not like how he had to keep flipping between displays...so I chose two units. Bought Raymarine because of clarity of display and may detail. Look at the units side by side before you purchase.

Rodgers has a complete line of many different mfgs to compare. Spent lots of time in their booth comparing units at a boat show... determine which I liked then shopped for prices....

good luck.

Lepper · 08-25-2003, 09:17 PM

Hey mellow, Check how your raymarine is hooked up. on mine there was a little ground wire that was not hooked up. They just cut it short and hid it. when I Was argueing with the manufacture (cause the boat place wouldn't help me with it) They said to check that. I couldn't even find the thing until I took it off the boat. It is seperate from the regular power wire hook up. you have the red one and the (if I remember the black one? maybe white?) but there is a third wire in there

dave

[ 08-25-2003, 10:20 PM: Message edited by: Lepper ]

kenai · 08-25-2003, 09:23 PM

The one thing I keep hearing is the blue chart chips used by garmin are the best navigation chips for a chart plotter. I have the raymarine sounder (465 I think)and I'm not impressed. I also use the garmin 152, its a trackplotter not a true chart plotter but it gets me out there and back.

I was in a boat with the Raymarine system where all the separate components talked to each other, radar, GPS, sounder, plotter on a bus of some kind. Excellent system but pricey I'd guess.

Mr. Fisherman · 08-25-2003, 09:26 PM

I had the same delima.
I absolutly love Garmin for a GPS and Lowrance has to be the best sonar for finding fish.

I went used and bought Furuno. I really like the unit so far but the learning curve has been steep. That is 1 benefit with the all in one or consistant units, you only have to learn the controls and features once. Garmin is very simple.
There is a cable to connect my Furuno GPS/FF to my radar that will allow some flexability with the two displays. I like what I have even though it is a little dated.
With a color fish finder you can distinguish between species of fish (or so I'm told) and having a color GPS is like reading a chart on the table. I like it.
I saved 2 to 3 thousand dollars by being patient and shopping the used market. As a bonus I bought the same unit that three of my regular fishing buddies have so I know the electronics on their boats too. It may come in handy.

I hope this helps, take your time and make the right decision for you. If you choose to buy new wait for one of the big expo's or a sale. You can also ask about price protection so that you can get a refund of the difference in price if you want to get the unit you select a bit early.

Let us know how it works out...

Badger · 08-25-2003, 10:24 PM

I'm partial to Garmin for GPS, just because I've had several and know the controls inside out. Screen size is very important, color is nice but adds bucks quick. With a higher budget, the 2006C is killer but out of my price range at $2k. The 182C looks like a good all around fixed unit, color and mid size screen, charts, PC compatible, might be a good fit for your budget.

As far as radar goes, I've only had Raytheons. I have two, an R20 & R40, and would part with one for a reasonable price. They're somewhat dated but functional. Doesn't help find fish but I wouldn't want to be out there when the fog sets in without it.

About the only two component's I'd consider combining is the GPS and radar, they go well together, otherwise I'd keep them separate and not be tied to one single box.

For sonar, I've got a Lowrance (X15?), it finds fish very well but I hate its controls. I'd like to see what other's think are good units, especially the ones with subsurface topo software that can be added.

Shop around. Or better yet, try spending a day fishing with someone who has what think you want to get.

crabbait · 08-25-2003, 10:58 PM

I went with the Magellan 324 Color chart plotter, Standard Horizon Spectrum Plus VHF and Lowrance X16 color.

One GPS antenna will supply GPS data to both the Lowrance and Magellan units. Either will connect to the VHF radio giving you constant lat/long on the radio and the ability to trnsmit your position continuously in the event of an emergency (DSC).

The Magellan unit has a host of features including tide display and a voltmeter (nice feature). It also has a full numeric keypad for entering your buddies coordinates rather than pushing a cursor around trying to find a fix. I got it for less than half the asking price by shopping online. Software to cover mid-Washington to mid-California was another $250. About the same for the Lowrance software. Nice to have a separate fishfinder that can double as a GPS plotter when/if needed.

I need a day or two in a hogline to catch up on my manual reading!

Pilar · 08-26-2003, 05:36 AM

Many of the new units have sacrificed the numeric keypad for screen size. Although the drive-in movie screen can be seen from the other end of the boat ... you will miss the keypad.

Radio fish can be typed in as heard, you skip the paper and pencil step. By the time I push the 'save' button and throttle up the box is giving me a bearing.

Lowrance LMS350a is obselete but somehow it still does the job. A combo unit and this concerned me at first but not anymore. The sonar is good and the 12 sattellite gps is reliable.

Good luck Houston, it'll be fun buying the hunk of plastic.

Spoiled Daddy · 08-26-2003, 06:26 AM

I have used the Raymarine L470 for 3 years and like the unit, but it does the same thing that Mello-Yello complained about. It will read shallow once in a while, even while I am in very deep water. I have to turn it off/on to get it to reset. I am now going to check for the extra ground wire and see if mine was properly connected when installed. (Thanks Lepper!) Other than that, I have not had any other problems with it and like its features.

I have an older (last software upgrade 1997) Garmin GPS w/ an external antenna. It has no bells/whistles of the new plotters/chart machines, but it has always got me in and out our favorite spots. The price was right (free) from someone that was upgrading their electronics.

When/if I upgrade, I will stick with seperate units. I have fished with a couple of friends that have all-in-one units and they do a lot of fiddling with them as we are running from spot to spot. Just my .02

SD

bait boy · 08-26-2003, 08:11 AM

Furuno 1650 WF for a dual purpose unit.... Ray is right there is a learning curve associated with this unit and if you're afraid of pushing buttons don't get it. I like the style of the Furuno like the fish finders in that there are dials for sensitivity and gain. I hate "just letting auto take over" and would prefer to see exactly what I want without navigating through several screens... like this unit FCV667

Beer Waggin · 08-27-2003, 02:57 PM

Fisherman's has a few of the above mentioned finders/gps's on sale right now. I almost bought a Lowrance x15 just becasue it was so cheap! Like $500 and some change.

8knots · 08-27-2003, 06:42 PM

I have three Garmin GPS's and like them. Love my Furuno radar and I have had two. Had bad luck with an older Ratheon radar. I have two relatively new Ratheon depth finders and I have really been disappointed. I think they are the 465 and 750. I got the top of the line non - color Raytheon's based on specs of watts, ect and I have the same problem the others have noted. It was installed by a Rogers tech, so I don't think the third wire is the deal. Wish I had gone Furuno on the depth sounders, and I will some day.

TideRipper · 08-27-2003, 09:48 PM

I would definitely go with separate components if you have the room for them. I would split the $2K at $400 for the fishfinder, and $1600 for the GPS plotter. I'd leave the radar for a future investment. $2K just isn't enough for all three if you want quality equipment that you can put your faith in.

My choice for a depthfinder would be a Lowrance or an Eagle. Get the unit with the best resolution and power for less than $500. I have an old Eagle Z-9000 that I bought 20 years ago and it just wont die. It started out on my brothers 12' jon boat (cost more than the boat!)and now its on our Campion Explorer. I've even hauled it around on a sled, on frozen lakes in northern Minnesota, to shoot thru the ice before drilling the hole.

As for a GPS unit I would go with a Raymarine or a Garmin. The bigger the screen, the better, but dont sacrifice resolution. Big sturdy buttons are important too - especially when your bouncing around in choppy waves or underway. Some of the buttons should be dedicated to display the most used screens like highway mode, map mode, nav mode, etc.

Here are a few more tips:
West Marine has a great master catalog that has an excellent buying guide section and gives you the pros and cons for different technologies.
Rodgers specializes in this area and can also install and service the equipment. Wear your polarized sunglasses when picking out a unit. Most of the older style screens become nearly unreadable through polarized sunglasses. Avoid units that are touchy and place too much emphasis on menus. A good unit will have a fast zoom that displays the next zoom level quickly. Also, try moving the cursor off the screen to see how well you can move around without losing your place. Some antennas come with the unit and others have to be purchased seperately.

I can't leave yet without telling you how much I like my Standard Horizon GPS - NOT!!! :depressed: . I bought the CP150 because it fit well in my boat and had more features for the money than any other. At best, it is only a good entry level unit and more of a toy than a tool. It has failed me at times when I really needed it, like once when I was crossing the Columbia bar in a heavy fog. It will "lock-up" for no good reason and the only way out is to shut it off and turn it back on. A real bummer if your navigating on a route because you lose your place and have to start over. Sometimes when it locks up, even the power button is locked up and you can't even shut it off. Another problem that developed was that it began lagging behind the real time position of the boat. You know, that little mark on the screen that is supposed to show you where you are? Well it would slow down for some reason and I would have to stop and wait for it to catch up to me. It would do this at any speed. I should mention though, that the update rate was fixed with either my 3rd or 4th software upgrade. My favorite little glitch though is when it just decides to erase all of my personal settings, routes, waypoints, and marks.

. I now always keep a backup copy on the boat. Speaking of backups, a backup GPS is a very, very, good idea. I've got a small inexpensive Garmin handheld that works great for that and a few other things too.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to go with.