GPS/Fishfinder

[Circle Hooked]

When you guys say that a larger boat may be better to get transducer signals, would you consider a Aquasport 250 XF a good size boat that shouldn't have an issue with signal?

I think that size boat would help alot,the problem is that ducer is a good 5" long so it can't help but create turbulence.

Is Garmin better? i would put their GPS units above all others,their fish finders are average,the one thing they have going for them is they are very user friendly,with others like the HB you will have that manual out for awhile,my ideal set up if money wasn't a factor would be a Garmin chart plotter and a Raymarine fishfinder but Ray anything is very good just $$.

[John Jones]

Is Garmin better? i would put their GPS units above all others,their fish finders are average,the one thing they have going for them is they are very user friendly,

Yep.  Regardless of what bottom machine I bought I would be using a Garmin chartplotter.  Garmin's is not bad, just not as good as some of the others.  Unless one is a very serious bottom fisherman that truly knows how to use all of the features and adjustments and knows what he is seeing on the screen then Garmin's bottom machine is fine. 98% of the people out there don't have a clue how to adjust a bottom machine for full benefit nor do they really know what they are seeing on the screen.

Besides, NOAA, SAFMC, and the Gulf Council has just about killed all the bottom fishing anyway so it's tough to justify the cost of a top of the line machine.

[Boston_FB]

Thanks for all your insight - learned a lot from you all as I consider a purchase for my "new" '70 222 FB.  I haven't heard much about tranducers.  Is a transom-mount dual frequency XD that comes bundled with the combo unit good enough for fishing up to 100' of water?

Thanks, Adam

P.S. will post pics once snow melts and that's looking like July around here!

[Circle Hooked]

Adam i think all ducers would do fine in 100 ft,and I'm sure that one will,in the grand scheme of things 100 ft is considered shallow water.

[Boston_FB]

Scott,

Thanks for the help.

Adam

[Circle Hooked]

Any time.

[Newbie25]

I made up my mind and bought the Raymarine A70D with cartography and the 50/200khz transducer. I bought it off of Defender during their huge sale and only paid $1,200.00 for it!!! I also found out by one of use about the $500 rebate by Raymarine so it seems as though it just gets better and better.  

I already ordered the Platinum+ charts for it and I will post what I think about it in a few weeks. I wanna use it for couple outings to give it a fair and balanced review. I currently have a Raychart 425 and humminbird 718 that this unit will be replacing. I love the Raymarine products because there very durable and professional. The humminbirds to me look like something you would use on a freshwater lake and the screens tend to fog up. Not a big fan of my 718 because there is way to much clutter on the screen. As far as Lowrance goes I know 5 people who own HDS displays and they have/had nothing but issues with them and Lowrances attitude is "whatever". Just my .02 cents.

When it comes to electronics its like boat brands everybody has their own opinion. To me Raymarine is like an Aquasport and Humminbird is like a Bayliner. (My own personal belief)