Fishfinder decision
Submitted by plugga25 on Sat, 2015-08-08 16:25
Hi all. Im looking at upgrading my fishfinder.
I have been using Humminbird for years since i put a Humminbird 100sx in my 4m DeHaviland back in 1997.
Currently have a Humminbird Piranha Max 160 in my boat. Having never used a colour sounder except for my commercial fishing days, any help would be great. I am looking at possibly getting a Garmin 350c. I am limited to size as the dash area of my boat is not very big.
Any help would be muchly appreciated.
Cheers
Meeuwissen
Posts: 755
Date Joined: 29/03/13
lowrance chirp
I used to have the has 5 and loved it. What's the deepest you head out in?
Down the Line
Catch the Experience
plugga25
Posts: 54
Date Joined: 27/01/13
I do all sorts from bream
I do all sorts from bream fishing in a few rivers, chasing whiting to getting a few dhuies so its a real mix bag.
30m over coral ground is usually about the deepest though
quest
Posts: 248
Date Joined: 03/08/15
Furuno FCV-620
Mate, I have a Furuno fcv-620 sounder with a p66 transducer on my boat and find it very eazy to use and quite good in 100m and less water.
flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
Ray marine dragonfly would
Ray marine dragonfly would be perfect.
Fisheagle
Posts: 349
Date Joined: 04/02/12
Raymarine a98
I started with Hummingbird, moved to Navman, then Dragonfly 5, then Dragonfly 7 - now finally Raymarine a98. For around $2k you get the touchscreen multifunction display with built in DownVision, WiFi and a CPT-100 Transducer. Also has the option to add radar, thermal night vision, autopilot and video input. Good value for money.
Fisheagle Ed
https://www.youtube.com/user/fisheagleed/videos
plugga25
Posts: 54
Date Joined: 27/01/13
All sound but i dont think i
All sound but i dont think i want to put a $2000 sounder in a $3500 boat. Space on the dash is my biggest limiting factor as the 350c is 150 x 152 x 42mm. I think the 550c is about the same as well
Hutch
Posts: 2221
Date Joined: 21/04/13
Combo unit
Marine-deals.com.au have the Raymatine Dragonfly 4 pro for $399 on special this week. Doesn't look like a massive unit
z00m
Posts: 1086
Date Joined: 10/05/14
Be careful selecting a very
Be careful selecting a very small screen for combo or acuracy while you are under way or in sloppy conditions. My boat had a Garmin 440s combo when I first got it and while you could just get away with using it as either a plotter or a sounder it was virtually useless as a split screen. Worked ok in the driveway when you had your face right up close but out in battle it was not much use.
I use Raymarine a78 and it is excellent, yet I would still prefer a larger screen for combo work. Instead I networked an a65 so I can have separate screens for sounder and plotter.
If space is an issue then you could always use a RAM mount or similar to help out if it suits.
plugga25
Posts: 54
Date Joined: 27/01/13
To be honest, i havent even
To be honest, i havent even entertained the thought of a combo unit z00m but i appreciate the comment. I know that the 350c and 550c are capable of split screen soundings.
I have a dashmount cradle for my Garmin GPSMAP 78sc and i find it to be a great little unit so im not in the market for a plotter. I havent heard many positive reports on the Lowrance sounders with CHIRP. As i have only ever used Humminbird in the past, i am rather unsure. I have had a look at colour Humminbird units tgat some mates have had and they didnt like them. Alot of guys have gone to Raymarine, Furuno and Garmin.