I'm looking for the thread discussing them. Little brother needs one bad. Any opinions. $400-$550 range is where he has been looking. He fishes Boston/ Hull area. His wife talked him into working for her at her dog groomer business. He now has less time for himself , so i'm helping out. And :rotflmao:
Bob

Hi Bob

What type of boat does he have? If it is small some of the garmin machines are not bad, if he has more room I would say Furuno. Or the small Raymarine machines are pretty sweet too. I thnk the technology is at a point now where most machines are very good at finding bait, bottom and gamefish, now it seems the added costs give you lots of bells and whistles. I would buy a decent machine and a top of the line transducer to go with it.

I plan to buy Furuno for next year. I saw the difference this fall on someone's boat. It's like night and day compared to my Garmin combo. He could probably get a gray scale furuno and upgrade the transducer to 600W and stay under $600. Color would be over that in Furuno.The transducer is the key.

I'm no expert, but I've been doing a ton of research on the 'net and have looked at a bunch at West Marine and BPS. I'm going with the Lowrance 525c this Spring.

I don't think there's much difference between the ones in that price range. It's just a matter of screen size and which graphics you like better.

I don't know the prices, but the Raymarine and Furuno units are supposed to the top units right now.

He has a 24? ft cc sea fox. he was looking at a Lowrance 510 at $550 and needs advice. money wasn't what hes looking at. just wants a good one that doesnt lie. the one he has now (garman?)is on the fritz.

Furuno. Clammer always had them, tried a Sitex and switched back.

The Furuno is a great machine and is the one everyone uses to compare to but they can get a little pricey. Raymarine supposedly has excellent results with their new digital signal processing....

I also am interested in some of the side scan sonar from Humminbird

I'm no expert, but I've been doing a ton of research on the 'net and have looked at a bunch at West Marine and BPS. I'm going with the Lowrance 525c this Spring.

I don't think there's much difference between the ones in that price range. It's just a matter of screen size and which graphics you like better.
I think you will be happy with it I have the 522C:btu:

thanks to all who answered. i will pass it all on and let him deside on the final product. i WILL how ever test his decision in the spring.:kewl:

Garmin makes a great machine!! I had one for years.

But on my new to me boat I bought a Furuno 620 and I got the thur hull Airmar transducer, I have not used it much but it looks great!!

But $900 to the door.

ABut if I had short money my money would be on Garmin

Good Luck!

The Furuno is a great machine and is the one everyone uses to compare to but they can get a little pricey. Raymarine supposedly has excellent results with their new digital signal processing....

I also am interested in some of the side scan sonar from Humminbird

Anyone use the sidescan from Humminbird yet? Any thoughts?

all i canm say is garmin,,, garmin,,, and garmin

all i canm say is garmin,,, garmin,,, and garmin

Combined unit?

I had the Raymarine DS500X for 2 years and love it.

I just started looking for one as well and I'm thinking about the Furuno 620. I have an older Garmin Combo unit that is also the back up GPS to my 210 Garmin 10" GPS. I am a huge Garman fan, but I think the older Garmin fish finders are very weak therefore I'm looking to replace it with a dedicated fish finder.

My problem is space, I already have 2 GPS's and a large radar screen on a 23 SeaCraft. I'm looking for the best small unit I can find.

Keep in mind, the sounder will only be as good as the transducer.

I got the Airmar tilted thur hull $221.00 for the Furuno 620

Hes still looking. sent me this to look at...... http://www.eaglesonar.com/Products/Sonar/SeaFinder640CDF.htm
any one know anything about it? i havent found a price list yet. i love helping some one else spend cash.

Eagle and Lowrance are the same company.

Try BOE marine they have some good deals and they are first rate!

http://www.byownerelectronics.com/store/home.php?cat=448

Cool. after getting used to the prices and hearing your comments hes leaning toward the eagle sonar SeaFinder 640CDF. it says 1,500 ft deep range. would he need to upgrade the transducer? i never saw it deeper than 2-300 foot and that was way to far out for me. i'm getting excited just thinking about this spring. thanks for all the imput.

He will at least have to replace the ducer with the one that comes with it. Unless the one he has is going to be the same brand as what he has now?

He can ask a tec that question

The new Furuno 620 is a great choice. The better the transducer the better the fishfinder.

I think I am going to go with the Furuno 620 with a 600 watt Furuno through hull tilted element that accomodates deadrise angle.

I'm no expert as I have only had my boat 2 years. I have a Garmin Matrix 35. I fish exclusively in Narr. Bay and I can see fish on the fishfinder but have to admit that I have never caught a fish that I have seen on the fishfinder. I use it for depth and water temp. I fish mostly along the shoreline so 8 to 20ft of water. Doesn't seem to help me target anything.

If your friend tunes that set up properly he will be able to watch his pogies go up or down in the water column and will be able to watch tuna/bass/etc rise to get the bait. Tuning MANUALLY instead of on auto is the ticket.

much thanks to you all. damage has been done. now ill have to wait till spring for the test. maybe it will help with our edumakashun.

On mine I can see my fine jiging! I also saw that on the old Garmin 160 I had

Just be aware that 99.99% of the transducers out there are made by Airmar. Almost all of the manufactureres buy them to package with their machines, and, by and large, they are interchangable, but you'll have to check with their tech people..