Advice on buying a depth finder???

jones56

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 19, 2011
Messages
103
What depth finder do you guys recommened? I'm new to boating and will be doing some water sports and some fishing. I noticed the Hummingbird 170 has a pretty good price on it around $124. Pros/cons or any general advice? Thanks
 

Fireman431

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 17, 2007
Messages
4,292
Re: Advice on buying a depth finder???

Two different types in general. One which displays just the depth and others which also offer bottom contour. Which are you looking for?

If you want just the numbers, go with the Lowrance. You can set low water alarms and set it to pulse for depth up to 4X per second. Also, it's gauge size and fits in a standard gauge dash hole.

If you want a screen as well, there are units available for just about every budget. One word of advice. You DO get what you pay for. You may save a bit in the beginning by buying a less expensive model, but be aware that some of the cheaper models are more prone to errant readings. Also follow the instructions EXACTLY when installing it. Your outdrive and prop are worth a lot more than your depth gauge.
 
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