my fishfinder is not a reliable depth finder, i also use my phone as gps, i am considering getting a new gps/depth/fishfinder combo. are they worth it? i want something that could help me in unknown territory. for example learning to navigate bulls bay. or possibly go out into the ocean a bit (i only have a 17 foot boat). what brands should i look at and how much cash layout am i looking at? thanks
17.5 grady cc 115 yam
salt water rules
Satellite photo overlay helps a ton with somewhere like bulls bay. No chart is accurate in that area except for the ICW and main creek runs. Satellite photo overlaid on your chartplotter is pretty accurate, however.
Lowrance HDS and a navionics platinum plus chip are what I recommend because of features and performance for the money. Don’t worry about getting the built in nautic insight charts. Go with the navionics platinum chip instead to get high definition satellite photo overlay.
HDS has built in sirius radio and weather controls if you buy the antenna and broadband sonar as well, but broadband isn’t that big of a deal inshore. Most any sonar unit with a 50/200 transducer is going to do fine inshore if the transducer is mounted on the hull properly.
Luke 8:22-25
'Been happy with my Garmin 441s. It is small, but, I don’t have much acreage on the dash. Built-in charts are entirely adequate. With the dual frequency transducer, the sonar is great. Very good resolution and detail. User interface is very good. Screen resolution is very good (even though small). It was fairly straight forward to hook up to my new VHF to the VHF has coordinates.
I stay inshore usually and make it out to the jetties and shipping channel occasionally.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
Ditto on the 441s. It actually has a few more options than I need but I got a good deal. Probably the only thing I might do different is get the 541 (bigger screen). Other than that, it is a good unit.
phin, palmer and dfreedom, thanks for the ■■■■■■■■, how much cash are we talking installed on each setup that you speak of, thanks
17.5 grady cc 115 yam
salt water rules
I wanted to buy local but West Marine Marine (in Columbia) would not match a price I found on the net. I ended up buying mine last year from BOE Marine and installed it myself. I believe I paid around $425 for it.
Got mine for a screaming deal at West Marine in Charleston when the 441s first hit the market. I think I got the unit for $349. Add some for the dual frequency transducer. Prices have gone up. Must be a popular product. Glad I got mine when I did.
Note also, that on WM’s web site the price does not include the transducer, another $100 for the single frequency unit.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
I have a Hummingbirg 798ci SI combo I will sale. Bought it last year at Christmas for 800 at Bass Pro. Never been installed and still in box. Comes with transducer and has internal antenna. Had son last Summer and do not get to go nearly as much as I used to. Been once all year since I bought it.I will let it it go for 700. Send me an email at shawj283@gmail.com.
441s is a nice small boat unit. I paid around $450 for 441s with dual frequency transducer in May. If you look around on line there are some good deals out there.