Furuno vs Lowerance vs Navman
Submitted by Jobbie on Tue, 2009-11-10 16:57
Hi all, I'm new to the site and it looks great!!
I'm wondering who owns what in regards to sounders and what you think are the best points. I already have the GPS, I'm looking to spend about $1500-2000 in the near future and if the 600w vs 1000w is worthwhile as I don't do much over 100m but i would still like to explore out there one day. Can anyone help me out with a recommendation?
Thanks in advance,
Jeff
Feral
Posts: 1508
Date Joined: 01/11/06
ive got a furuno set up as
ive got a furuno set up as my sounder atm .. also have a lawrance combo unit just running as a gps. imo the navman aint even in the same race. as for power - i think the 600w is good enough for most ppl but if your really good at reading your sounder than go the 1kw
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15653
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Welcome
G'day Jeff. I have Navman 5600 and its pretty good for what I paid. I've been on a mates boat recently and he has the FCV-620 - lets just say its ship hot. It will definately be on my to-buy list when I get a bigger boat.
If you have any questions about the site, just ask.
Cheers,
Adam
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HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
I have a furuno 620
and have been on other boats with other sounders and I love my Furuno - but they aren't cheap! The 585 would be killer (bigger screen), but above your budget. The 620 is ~ $1600 with a 600kW tranny, the 585 is ~$2600 with a 600kW tranny.
The 600kW tranny will be more than ample to read 100m - 200m, I know guys that do it. The 1kW would be nice, but it wont connect to the 620 and its ~$1000 for the unit.
I'm not sure exactly how much the Lowrance HDS-7 is, but they are also a pretty well regarded unit with Lowrance's broadband technology.
Personally, I wouldn't have a Navman (Northstar) sounder.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Versus!
Welcome aboard Jeff,
I have a Furuno FCV620 on my flats boat and i'm very impressed with that unit. Good resolution, fish detection and colour sounder readings. The 600w is good to 200m in particular so up to 100m would be sweet definition. The 1kw will give you more definition and better for depths of 200m plus but the cost of that unit (FCV585) versus what you plan to use it for (& budget) isnt necessary!
Navman/Northstar priced well in the market but they're getting out of electronics so PASS on them!
Lowrance GPS/Plotters in particular I do like, as for the sounder side of things i prefer the Furuno by far. The color pallet, fish detection and screen resolution isnt to the Furuno standards imo but a good unit still!
Sounder preferences in order;
(1) Furuno
(2) JRC
(3) Raymarine
Billcollector
Posts: 2086
Date Joined: 16/05/09
Furuno, Furuno, Furuno. But
Furuno, Furuno, Furuno. But love my Raymarines. Stick ya Navmans/Northstar too many problems
adamsmith84
Posts: 402
Date Joined: 04/11/09
one of the best
Furuno are #1 on my list because there well priced and have good detail when at work.
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
the thing i like about the
the thing i like about the lowrance Fish Finder units in the shape, shows more history, if only you could get the furuno picture on a lowrance shaped screen
Brunno
Posts: 22
Date Joined: 13/08/09
Definitely Furuno
I reckon the Furuno processing beats anything else on the market. Certainly in their mid range models they have made an effort to include some really smart fish detection features. There is a reason the pro's use Furuno.
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
humminbird side imaging
once you see the side imaging you wont go back
but if you dont need or like them then i would vote the Furuno 620 for the price.
but at the end of the day its how you use it!
i would not buy a lowrance myself but thats me.
and welcome aboard
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
lowrance is doing a "side
lowrance is doing a "side scan" as well now mate
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
so I see Brad, should be interesting
however humminbird are about to release new software for the side imaging which will include a full vertical scan. Just got to plug into the website January next year and download for free.........of which constant software upgrades are free which as i understand are not with lowrance.
different features on the lowrance also.
but worth a look if you like lowrance.
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
lowrance already has a
lowrance already has a vertical scan
nah i agree, they do look good, check your PM's mate
Wreckless
Posts: 92
Date Joined: 02/11/09
Sounders
I have a Furuno FCV 585 with a 1kw in hull transducer. It's a great sounder and better than the JRC FF30 I had previously. It reads fine at 35 knots and really has pretty good definition. I have used it to around 200m and the deeper I go the slower I have to travel to keep the image.............I tend to lose some definition as the water deepens. Dont get me wrong I have been fishing outa boats for 20 years and this is the best I have seen (non commercial).
I intend to go out wide in water 300 - 600m deep.................I dont know if the FCV 585 will do the job, has anyone tried it?
I have been looking at the new Lowrance broadband sounders.........they use the exact same trannie as I have (Airmar IHD-525). I tried one in Darwin recently and it was ok.............about the same definition as my Furuno, but I only used it in 80m water.
I'm thinking that I may need a commercial unit with 3kw.
Mick
wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
IVE
I have a Furuno 585. Picture/ pixels on the screen is great..easy to sit up the back of the boat and watch the sounder.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18079
Date Joined: 11/03/08
for the $ range you have i
for the $ range you have i would be going the furuno 620, same gear as the 585 but a smaller screen
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together