Miss Delmarva

[Blue Agave]

Nando, you are correct in that regard as to commercial guys.  But then, I see Lowrance units on your boat...      

That is true Bob, but this is not about my boat. It's about providing Scotty opinions. And who better to give an opinion on Lowrance than someone whom owns a Lowrance. I bought one and I wouldn't buy another one. The second unit was given to me. It came off of a customer's boat, he upgraded to a Furuno.

[seabob4]

I know, Nando, but one has to look at the bigger picture here.  Scott's not looking to skunk the local kingfish guys, he's looking for all around performance at a reasonable cost.  Given his fishing/cruising preferences, it makes sense to go with a unit that is an "all-in-one", yet focuses it's specialty on the FF end of things...in the recreational, more shallow water market, Lowrance and Hummindird are very good at this.

Keep in mind, an electronic chart and GPS are just that...and everyone has them.  Navigation around the unit's features is what sets them apart.

Interestingly, although I'm sure Furuno is heavily into the CHIRP sounder technology, It is Simrad (part of the group that owns Lowrance) that is making headway, and receiving raves...

[Skoot]

I want to give my take on this.

Im friends with several commercial and charter fishing capts.  They all agree to go with 2 units, but that cost $$$$.  Sure 2 units are nice, if you have the funds. It makes sense in case one goes down you have a back up, also dont have to deal with split screens. As for brand, most if not all of them have Furuno.

Now, from a recreational fishermen side.   These commercial guys are doing this for a living and rely on there electronics to make a profit. We/Scott is not a commercial fisherman, so In most cases these units will have too much power, functions and cost alot money, etc than any recreational fisherman would ever use or need.

Just my thought,

Im out Sucka'zzz

[Circle Hooked]

My turn    for plotter Garmin all the way and for FF I have been looking at this one http://www.furunousa.com/products/produ ... sh+Finders can be had for much less

[seabob4]

Scott, good to hear from you!!  Come on up 2/4!  You have the shortest drive.  From your house, go up alt 19 to 19, then straight up.  Nice drive, done it many times...but not at rush hour!!

The CHIRP install I did for my customer Rick in Tampa, the electronics alone cost him (from BOE Marine) around $15K, but it works for him, and he has the $$$.  He deep drops in the stream, going from 600' to about 3000' in a matter of yards, along the ledges where the stream gets deep.  Targets YFs that hang suspended along that wall.  Hell, he's got probably $30K in electric reels alone!!  He and his good friend have a Coleman cooler set up with 4 deep cycles just to run the electric reels!!

He may not be commercial, but it's what he likes to do, and he can afford it.  It all is relative, you know?

[seabob4]

And what Scott D said about Garmins and plotters.  Hell, you don't find GPS/Nav devices in airplanes other than Garmin, at least what's available to us fisher type people.

If the emphasis is on all around FF performance...Furuno or Si-Tex.  GPS/Charts?  Garmin.  Radar? Raymarine or Furuno.  Combine them all together?  A mutt...

[Skoot]

Scott, good to hear from you!!  Come on up 2/4!  You have the shortest drive.  From your house, go up alt 19 to 19, then straight up.  Nice drive, done it many times...but not at rush hour!!
He may not be commercial, but it's what he likes to do, and he can afford it.  It all is relative, you know?

Exactly

Bob, Thanks I would love to too, got it marked down, I really appreciate the offer. As for the absence lately, I've been searching for a new job, which is currently takin up most of my free time.

Thanks again

[gran398]

Brothers,

So true...from day one, she has been a chicken-eater.

To that extent...I'm looking SIMPLE. if she goes out past 120 feet...it will be on a rope....going the wrong way.

Don't need bells and whistles...no system interconnect, Wi-Fi compatible, NMEA radar interface, SAT NAV, BJ conducive, etc., etc.

Just need to find the sandbar, and the route home in case it gets foggy at night

Really don't need much at all. Those cardboard Nav screen cutouts like they have at the boat shows.. may be a cheap solution.

Ya'll please advise on your best thinking for my nav/finder budget...$1800...and that's the max.

Thanks

[Circle Hooked]

If the emphasis is on all around FF performance...Furuno or Si-Tex. GPS/Charts? Garmin. Radar? Raymarine or Furuno. Combine them all together? A mutt...

Mutts sometimes make for the best dogs  

Scott that furuno ff can be picked up for 700 then pick out you Garmin plotter, about the same $ your well below your number

[seabob4]

If you want matching, and I've done an install for a guy who fishes and cruises about like you...Standard Horizon CPF390i... http://www.hodgesmarine.com/shoppingcart.asp

Twin 7" head units, come in at around $1740, add another $150 for the Airmar P-66 transom mount ducer...

Just a thought...

[seabob4]

I'm going to bed, guys, too much thought processes involved this eve!  Must work on Scarab tomorrow!

We'll talk tomorrow!!!

[gran398]

Hey Scott, found a Ritchie SS-2000 for $251.34...http://www.jandhproducts.com/product.aspx?pf_id=10345 , white or black housing, blue card...

Snag it, bud!

SB you ever done any biz with these folks...they won't answer their phone. tx

[seabob4]

Can't say I have Scott, but then I usually don't call...

[wingtime]

I found the Lowrance user interface much easier to find my way around in than the Garmin.  I had a Garmin unit on my 200XF for almost two years and I still had trouble getting it to do what I wanted...  Just clunky.  Twin screen Lowrance can be had in that price range.  

If you are looking at just pure sonar/ fish finders.  Furnuno is hands down top dog.

If you are looking at just pure GPS/ chart plotters than Garmin I feel has the best GPS-Navigation.

[GoneFission]

OK - I'm the outsider here, but I like the side-scan hi-def Humminbird.  It's really nice to see the rocks or fish or whatever off on each side of the boat.  It really is pretty cool once you get used to it:  http://www.humminbird.com/leading_innov ... aging.aspx