Dont buy one is all I can recommend! I have just recently gone out and bought another sounder after using a combo unit for the last 12 months or so. It is painfull having to swap or split the screen. Unless you were going to spend big dollars and buy something with a larger screen like a 8084 or 8120. Best to spend the extra dollars and have two units, trust me I learnt.

THE LAZY FISHERMAN * Proud supporter of BAILEYS BAIT BOX * MSN/

hi
i use the humminbird 787 combo,its easy to use,lots of detail,came with card for all aus too
i think they retail for around $1400.00

hmmm thats pretty interesting jimbo. r u saying that the sounder side of the unit is small and hard to read?

thanks davey ill have a look at them? r u happy with it? is that price with a transducer aswel?

cheers
sam

im pretty happy with it but i would definately aggree with jimbo,
i was considering going to seperate units myself

Sam I have found it frustrating while on the move using a split screen to navigate with GPS and read the bottom while travelling. Might not bother you, but I will be extremly glad once I have put my new sounder in and have two screens to use.
And yes you dont get a lot of picture to go off when you trying to look at two different pictures that are only 6cm wide.

THE LAZY FISHERMAN * Proud supporter of BAILEYS BAIT BOX * MSN/

do you reckon its worth getting 2 units and spending $1000+ on just the sounder and then just getting a cheap gps? its not like u need a expensive gps? or do u?

cheers
sam

If I had to do it again on a budget and my main focus was fishing I would have got a decent sounder and happily made do with a black and white GPS until I could afford another one.

Colour sounder is nice dont get me wrong, but I have been missing out on some good fishing partly because I have not been able to find good ground.

In all fairness the sounder on my combo unit that came with my boat over a year ago only had a 300w transducer and was a lowrance.

For $1200-$1300 you can get yourself a Furuno FCV-620 Which is probably the bestsounder unit going for just over the $1000 mark

And for around $550 you could get a Navman Tracker 5380i Chartplotter or a Navman Tracker 5430i Chartplotter for around $350 but you would still need to buy mapping software.

To purchase equip new with a budget of $2000 I think you could set yourself up adeqautely. Others might have a different opinion.

THE LAZY FISHERMAN * Proud supporter of BAILEYS BAIT BOX * MSN/

Sam money is really better spent on the Sounder by a long way. Ive been using a little black and white unit and it does the job. Sure not as nice too look at as the fancy colour ones but you only need it to get from spot to spot.

As Jimbo has found with his combo unless youve got no choice seperate is probably a better option. You also get a much better quality sounder that way too.

Rockingham Offshore Fishing Club www.rockinghamoffshore.com

looks like ill be getting 2 seperate units! i prob would even get away with a hand held, but they might be a bit of a pain in the ass! u can pick up b/w gps for relatively cheap anyway!
thanks for the input guys..

furuno seem to be the best sounder by the sounds of it?

cheers
sam

i was looking at these..are they any good? see its my 1st boat im getting so im all new to this but i want something good and clear that finds fish n shows good structure! i spose u have to spend round the grand mark (with trans) to get a reasonable one?



was looking at the navman range and theyve got colour sounders for round the $500-600 mark...but no sure if theyre the goods?



might have to save the coin n get the furuno fcv 620 as they seem to be easy to use and a few guys rate them pretty highly!



altough steve(bouttime) has a lowrance x515 for sale and they look the goods aswell!



decisions decisions



cheers

sam

Sam  - got one for sale if you want it - 4500, $400 and it is yours. Will certainly get you through until you can decide if you need to spend up big and get a 585 or similar(like I have). Has found me plenty of good ground. Comes with manual and all that is needed for installation. Includes speed and temp.

Great topic samC as i was looking for the same thing. One sounder combo that has impressed me was the one salmo had on his little tinnie. Great split screen for a smaller boat and quite easy to use but im not sure on the brand, but i think it might be for sale with his boat??????

Keep it tight, reeeeeeel tight!

Yes i prefer seperate units but we still sell plenty of the combined as some people dont simply have the space ie centre console like your buying Sam.

If you were to go the combo unit (sounder/plotter), i'd go for the New Garmin GPSMAP 550S at $1959 rrp includes all Australia charts inbuilt.

For split system,

The New Garmin Plotter GPSMAP450 at $1349 includes all Australia charts inbuilt.
The New Garmin Colour Sounder "Fishfinder FF400C" at $799 includes transducer.

* The New Garmin units are awesome, sharp screen readings, bottom lock to find fish and fully dayligh viewable. Garmin and Furuno have near 0 returns/failures and have a good warranty back up.

The Furuno FCV620 at $1265 rrp is a very good unit but it comes down to how much you want to spend, cant go wrong either way with these mentioned units, PM me for more info Sam!



*Oceanside-Strudwick,Daiwa,Van Staal,Jigmaster Rods, Banax,Shimano,Penn,Furuno*

Owner/Operator Oceanside Tackle and Marine
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth WA
Ph# 9337 5682 ** OPEN 7 DAYS *