Right now I've got a Hummingbird 300, and I'm thinking of upgrading, possibly to color. Any thoughts or recomendations appreciated.

How much you want to spend and what size screen?

I'm hearing those new digital Raymarines are the cat's butt but they are pricey. Otherwise Furuno is the favorite for a lot of comm guys. How much do you want to spend?

I saw the raymarine at West Marine today, looked good kinda pricey! Ultimately I 'd like tp spend in the 5's or so , Which furuno's are the comm guys using ? what price range

Look at the Furuno 582 L Nice machine!

Don't worry about wattage.

You want for out put power 600wrms or you can go to the 1000wrms.

You can read 3/8" lobsta pot line on the machine.

My 582 color was $ 2000.00 it may be cheaper now.

The 1000 goes for $3500.00

If you have the 1000wrms any boat that comes within 75 yards that has less power gets screwed up.

I have the Raytheon L750 which is a monochrome machine with about 500 watts, 50/200 dual freq 'ducer. It has been a good machine for the money, I bought it new on ebay for $375.00. It was a left over from the previous model year.

But, when I can put together the cash, I will go with the Furuno 582. Some of my commercial buddies have the Simrad bottom machines which they seems to like real well. They say they are superior machines for bottom fishing, cod and such, but the Furuno machines they like better for tuna and midwater stuff.

I think the 582 is about $1,200 now which is reasonable.

The model below the 582, I think it's the 600, is about $695 and I have heard that is also and excellent machine.

-Hooper

Garmin is comming out with a new $300 price range color the 320C. Was going to ship 3/31 but they are late. I'll have a 160 Blue for sale when this happens!

582 is the way to go. The raymarine stuff looks nice in the store with all the pretty features, but it isn't a furuno. It wont show a thermocline. The technology is new and unperfected. Look at the Commercial boats. Almost all have furuno. 582 is still entry level for furuno, but will work great for rec. fishing.