New boater with Electronics questions...

[gixxerjim]

I bought our first boat last fall, a 18' bowrider with an I/O. Can't wait to use it! But, it has no depthfinder at all, and with the many shallow lakes and rivers etc, and little experience on many of the waterways I wouldlike to get a decent depthfinder/fishfinder, maybe with GPS and accurate speed and water temperature readings and so on. I see some around $300.

Whaddya think? I already have a handheld GPS. What's a good cost effective way to go? I plan on having a boat for a long time and don't want to have to buy another piece of equipment anytime soon. Any recomendations would be appreciated.

 

[JB]

Re: New boater with Electronics questions...

As neat as up-to-date electronics are, they will become technically obsolete in just a few years. They will still work, but newer tech will make them seem old fashioned, oversize underperformers. Plan on updating every few years or plan on settling for old fashioned tech.

Get yourself a nice basic SONAR for under $100 and upgrade your GPS to mount on the console and use boat power.

Over time what will best suit your use will become more clear. Then go for the ideal setup.

 

[Boatist]

Re: New boater with Electronics questions...

I think most would agree with JB and he has good points. I on the other hand am still useing a 1981 depthfinder and have not updated because the newer units do not have many of the features of the older units.

When they changed to the menu driver units it was better for most because you really do not even need the book but at the Same time they took away my favorite feature.

Also which fish finder is right for you depends so much on how you will use it.
How deep you will fish, Salt water or fresh water, Do you need to see down rigger ball and lures, do you want color, ect.

In General fishing fresh water less that 50 feet you can use almost any fish finder with a 200khz transducer. Get a screen size of your desire but your next unit will likely be bigger.

When you get into deeper water and salt water then you need more power. Down to 200 feet a 200kh transducer is still all you need but get at least 400 watts RMS power.

Salt water over 200 feet then should get a dual frequency unit with at least 500 watts RMS. Also to see small fish you need a higher resoultion.

also if you want to see downrigger ball in shallow water also should get a dual frequency unit as the cone angle on the 50 khz transducer is much wider than on the 200khz unit.

I do agree With JB on the GPS. Get a power cord or rechargable batteries and a 12 volt charger. The GPS will give you your most accurate speed over ground, not water speed. Many units have Water surface temperature built into the transducer.

For shallow water look at the Eagle line, as you go deeper look at the Lowrance line or Garmin and over 400 feet of salt water Furuno is the best.

Take your time, write down the features you want, the depth you need and fresh water water or salt water and then can pick a unit right for you.

 

[gixxerjim]

Re: New boater with Electronics questions...

Excellent input guys. I am looking to benefit from everybody else's experience here.

My use: basically making sure I don't hit bottom! Fishing mostly with the kids in lakes up to 30ft deep. Occasionally out on Lake Michigan for salmon with downriggers.

All of the manufacturers offer units $100 or less and I can find one from each of Humminbird, Eagle and Lowrance that fit the bill. Any clear cut choices for the money and performance I need? Which brand is most durable? Suction cup transducers okay? Usually I will have my three boys aboard and don't want to be fiddling with the trans, just want to see the bottom and fish!

Thanks again!

 

[fishdog4449]

Re: New boater with Electronics questions...

i have an old humminbird on the glassmaster. still works fine despite it was really beat up when i got it
go with a bolt on transducer, suction cups can fail

 

[rndn]

Re: New boater with Electronics questions...

Don't go with suction cups as stated above they can fail. I'm assuming you want suction cups so you don't have to drill holes into your nice boat. The first hole is the hardest and they get easier afterwards. Just make sure you use marine grade sealant and not stuff made for homes. Marine grades are made for the environment and some if not all actually swell slightly as they cure.
I have used Hummingbirds for the last 12 years and have never had a problem. I'm sure there are people out there who can say the same for the other models. In this information age, they would not stay in business long if they didn't put out good products.

 

[Boatist]

Re: New boater with Electronics questions...

We all agree no suction cups. Do you know what happends when the suction cup come loose. First thing is the water pushes it back but the cable is attached so it swings on the cable and ends up slaming into the back of the boat or hitting one of your crew. You can get the standard transducer and just glue it on. I done that with each of my transducers until I got it in a position where it worked perfect. Another way is to buy a small piece of aluminum or Starboard and mount transducer to it with screws Then glue it to the transom. I still do this and I just use Silicon Glue. Never had one come loose but just in case I do put a tie wrap on the cable to something solid like a towing bolt. This way if it does come loose it can not swing up to the inside of the boat.

Brands for shallow water I like Lowrance first them Eagle. Be aware they are both made at the same location. Think if you want color. It add to the cost but looks nicer. It really give you no more information but can make it eaiser to tell density of the bottom, Like is a rock or a hump in the mud.

I must tell you I can not reccommend Humming Bird but that is just because about 5 years back we averaged 2 or 3 theads all the time saying can not see bottom above trolling speed. People tried everything that works on every other brand but still did not work. I came to the conclution the the transducer it self was creating turbulance and cause it not to see bottom. Since the matrix units came out have not seen any more of the old cant see bottom problem.

 

[Wet_Dream]

Re: New boater with Electronics questions...

I just had the Eagle 320C installed on my new 18' bowrider. It's small footprint and color display made it a good choice since I didn't have lots of good places to mount. I agree with the others - mount it permanently to the transom - you will have no problems.

 

[whofan]

Re: New boater with Electronics questions...

This I highly recommend. If you keep your boat a long time over the years you will switch out electronics sooner than you think.
A transducer mounting plate ; http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=tranducer+plate&noImage=0

buy two and save one. only holes in your boat is for the board. Every company has their unique bolt pattern
I can kick myself for not doing this with my boat. I have to stick with Lowrance or patch holes and buy a board next time anyway.

Iboats has the Lowrance LMS 520c. A little pricey but anything cheaper will have you upgrading sooner. The 520 is a good middle of the road unit. The Humminbird 787c2 is also a nice unit. both units will give you GPS and sonar.
I also recommend useing Ram mounts.