My old 185 craped out,I am going to get a Garmin 498c.
I know it is being discontinued when the new line up comes out in
April.
The unit is loaded ready to go with charts and ducer for around $619.00.
I hope the price drops a little more when the new line is introduced:btu:

I have either the 492 or the 498, the one that is gps onlt, and I love it. Preloaded with charts for everywhere, fast enough refresh rate, easily readable screen in sunlight.

I haver a Lowrance 337c with the dual frequency transducer, and I llove that as well. But don't go by my word, I am new to this crap

:buds:

Where does it say you can add the side sonah!!!!

Dunno, he's got me looking at side now. This is all I could find:

http://www.humminbird.com/retail/pro...duct%5Fid=1390

[QUOTE=Raider Ronnie;470748]
Strange I never had any issues with mine....lightning fast...:huh: :huh:

Thats why i went with another one, but color this time.

Anyway check on other boards too and get opinions. Garmin does a nice job too.

[QUOTE=Van;471063][QUOTE=Raider Ronnie;470748]


Strange I never had any issues with mine....lightning fast...:huh: :huh:

Thats why i went with another one, but color this time.


Maybe you just don't know any better :rotf2:
:hidin:

Van you never see redraw on a garmin. With my Raymarine on a drift it constantly redraws. If your under way it's not bad at all, but when your trolling real slow near rocks it gets a little hairy waiting for a redraw. Or when your hooked up and you want someone to steer while you reel one in and they can't figure out whats going on.

This is the newest version the 435, could be different.

Independant review

http://www.marinews.com/electronic_t...ils.php?tID=81


Summary:
The Raychart 435i performed well on our test session, with quick updates when the scale was changed. Display size is excellent for the price, easily visible at low speed and excellent in daylight.
The chart colouration is great with close renditions of paper charts available. Navigation figures are big and bold. Like all multiple purpose tools, there is a bit of getting used to the menu system, but it's not at all a clumsy unit.
I found the menu system is easily to work using the multi-directional Trackpad and accompanying entry buttons. The screen has a status display on top and a dynamic function list below complete with pop-up screen menus. You soon get the logic from the concise manual and it is easy to use.
Accuracy was good on our trip. Lights and features all popped up about where they should have been as we passed them by. Only real drawback was the gloss screen. This can reduce visibility at night due to ambient light glare; it certainly made it darn hard for me to photograph at sea.
In summary, this is a competitive chartplotter on price and most definitely in terms of quality.
The fact the 435i can be linked with a PC for waypoint storage is another advantage. Also at a retail price of around $1800, plus chart costs it makes a good choice for a boatie short on dashboard space.

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Ronnie maybe you don't know how to use it.:buds:
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Anyway jk sorry for the thread hijack, this is prolly not helping. Search the internet and make your chioce based on your OWN education about these units.

get a cheap handheld and spend the savings on the fishfinder.

The Garmin 172c is a great, economical unit...cheap money......The bluecharts are pretty decent as well.

Garmin, Raymarine...both excellent make excellent economical GPS units. I do however prefer my Lowrance.....awesome graphics...but again. all make great units.