Need New GPS/Fish Finder

[Got Stripers]

Anyone have any experience with the Garmin 541 or 540S? Much as I'd love to have the 740, that's a lot of money to shell out, wondering if I wouldn't be OK getting a used 2009 or 2008 equivilent. These old eyes sure would like that 7" screen the 740 offers, I'm on the fence, too bad there isn't a year old equivilent with that size screen. I'm leaning towards Garmin, simply because I had no issues with the 188C until the screen started to give me issues, plus it would be nice not to have to mount and pull wiring for a new transducer.

[Van]

Originally Posted by Got Stripers

Anyone have any experience with the Garmin 541 or 540S? Much as I'd love to have the 740, that's a lot of money to shell out, wondering if I wouldn't be OK getting a used 2009 or 2008 equivilent. These old eyes sure would like that 7" screen the 740 offers, I'm on the fence, too bad there isn't a year old equivilent with that size screen. I'm leaning towards Garmin, simply because I had no issues with the 188C until the screen started to give me issues, plus it would be nice not to have to mount and pull wiring for a new transducer.

YES. I sold my Ray CP and got a Garmin 545 "without sounder". I added the vision card and it is truely awesome. The part i like the most is: you pick a waypoint you saved. Hit GO-TO-NAVIGATE and it plots a course shows you a thick purple line to follow and it keeps you in safe water, goes around hazards etc. You could put an 8 year old behind the helm and say stay on the purple line and it will take you right to the slip. It has all the other features as other CPs too.
Been flawless for the 2 years I've had it. SD card slot so you can backup your tracks waypoints etc.

I went digital Furuno with an airmar tilted thru hull ducer for my FF.
They are hooked up with NMEA so I can display anything I want between the two.

Hope that helps, Good Luck.