Raymarine Dragonfly with Chirp Down vision

[Circle Hooked]

This just premiered at the Miami Boat Show, looks promising  http://www.raymarine.com/view/?id=6855

[seabob4]

CHIRP is THE deal for the offshore deep drop guys ...the Simrad system I did for one of my customers can pick up returns on fish suspended 2' off the bottom in 2000' of water!!

Looks like a May timeframe release, coming in at around $1100...

[Circle Hooked]

Everything I saw said release next month and starting at 649 without maps, 719 full charts, all include tranducer

[seabob4]

Everything I saw said release next month and starting at 649 without maps, 719 full charts, all include tranducer

DAMN!!  Well stupid me, I was reading a New Zealand press release...  

[bondobill]

Damn!!
Got to get me one of those to replace the old aft mounted Lowrance .
Been wanting to replace the 10 year oldLowrance but the darn thing just won't die.

Bill

[Curious]

Wow, this certainly changes things...  I was just getting ready to purchase a Garmin 546s (around $700).  Regarding the Garmin, the size, price and ease of use all fit what I need to do.  But this Dragonfly sure looks tempting for all the same reasons AND the sonar quality obviously blows the Garmin away.  What should I do?  Just using a handheld now, so I definately need to pull the trigger this spring.

[Circle Hooked]

Worst has this in their new catalog for 649 with charts 614 without, you can beat that, a comparable Garmin is the new 547 but it's 850 the you have to get the ducer for another 300  

[pete]

One nice side effect of all this new technology coming out is that it drives down the price of the "old" but still very serviceable equipment,some great deals out there on the garmin and lowrance 5 and 7 inch units.

[Circle Hooked]

One nice side effect of all this new technology coming out is that it drives down the price of the "old" but still very serviceable equipment,some great deals out there on the garmin and lowrance 5 and 7 inch units.

Great point

[kraw2]

The specs show depth up to 600 feet. That's not gonna cut it with some of us.

[Circle Hooked]

The specs show depth up to 600 feet. That's not gonna cut it with some of us.

That' true you would just have to use the 2d chirp any deeper then that, good to 1200 I believe, I'm not sure any of the side or down imaging units out there go any deeper then 600.

[Curious]

I resurrected an old discussion from a few months ago about a Garmin Combo Unit but here's my dilemma:

"So I was very intrigued by the Raymarine Dragonfly discussion until I stopped into West Marine the other day.  I initially had my mind made up on the Garmin 546s until I talked to the salesman.  The 541s is going on sale between March 7 and 17 for $499, (down from $639.99).  AND with that purchase there is a $200 mail in rebate on the g2 Vision card which is normally $299.  I think I would be foolish not to take advantage of this offer and I'm pretty sure I wont see those prices anywhere else.  And it looks like the Garmin can do a few things that the Dragonfly can't.  Although the Dragonfly looks like a nice unit at a great price with amazing sonar imagery, I really don't need that level of detail.  What do you guys think?"
Thanks, Dan