Fish Finder advice

[bondobill]

Looking for some advice on a stand alone fishfinder.
My Furuno took a dump this last weekend, it a old tube type not worth fixing.
Looking for a fishfinder Up to the $800. range. Would be used only in saltwater, normally fish in water depth 60 to 250 range.
I have a Raymarine C80 that has radar and gps,after running in heavy fog this weekend with the split screen of gps and radar I don't want to add another window in the display with a fish finder module . Would prefer dual-frequency 50/200 khz. color display. With so many on the market which ones have anyone had good luck with.
Thanks in advance

[Aswaff400]

my dad got me a garmin 400c fishfinder last year for christmas, great little unit. picture is readable in bright sunlight

[wingtime]

I have Garmin 441S  nice unit but I wish I had a larger screen.  For just a fish finder I think Lowrance is tops in sonar.  The HDS-5 and 7 are unbelievable combo units.  If your looking for a fish finder only then look into the new Lowrance HCS units with the structure scan.

[fitz73222]

Here is a little mud to throw into this discussion. I've always liked keeping the GPS and chartplotters as separate units. It seems invariably one or the other will fail eventually. So we spend $1K on the best combo unit for the application and have an issue with one or the other and are stuck with replacing another $1K unit. By a really nice chartplotter and a GPS as separate units for about the same $$ and update or replace as individuals as technology improves. Plus you get to shop for the best as individuals. Garmin GPS/Lowrance chartplotter. Furno chartplotter/ Brand XYZ GPS. All of them have connection ports so they can talk to one another regardless of brand if your so inclined. A personal example is my boat still as the old CRT screen Furno that works perfectly and the boat is on its 2nd GPS unit... Just some thoughts

[saltfly]

Well I’ve had them all. At one time or the other, and I have 13 transducers in a box in the garage to prove it. What I did notice is that there are no lowrance one’s in that box. In fact I still run a lowrance 2330 flasher on my 16 foot aluim. Boat . I know at least one of you are now saying to yourself. Man is he showing his age. A flasher??????  Well yea. It makes perfect sense. I don’t use that boat in water deeper then 6 ft. I mounted the transducer in front of the console, under the floor. Its epoxyed in place and was mounted before I installed the floor. But I digress. My point is. Each person has their favorite this or that, but for a depth finder to get used a lot and still be working after 30 years and not been in the shop. I think when I have to buy a new one it will be a lowrance . And yes I do only buy separate units. Try being 50 miles out and losing your gps unit. It happened to a young friend and me. In his boat. Lucky for him I know how to use a compass and knew the bearings back in. :elephant:

[fitz73222]

Just reread your post. You are looking for a stand alone fish finder (dah!) As I mentioned, I'm still in the Furno camp. My 1960's technology CRT screen unit in the AS still works well. My flats boat unit is a Humminbird that lives in 0-20 feet world so i probably cant add much value. I do know that Humminbird's warranty service has been exceptional through the years. On an older unit, I wrecked the screen by washing it to vigorusly and they replaced the unit at no charge after confessing to what happened. So there is my limited testimonial.

[gran398]

The point of separates is a valid one. Have a friend here in the install biz...all he carries is Furuno. We trade out a lot, so Furuno it is.

Speaking of Lowrance....that X-16 paper unit was a honey...and a premium on them nowadays if you can find one. http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Legacy ... per-Graph/

I still have 2 old Sitex 356 paper machines somewhere.

[Circle Hooked]

I like this one myself http://www.ultimatepassage.com/cgi-bin/up/31408.html

[John Jones]

I like this one myself http://www.ultimatepassage.com/cgi-bin/up/31408.html

Exactly.
Here is another source for the 620.  I have spent a couple of thousand with Anchor Express over the years with no complaints.
http://www.anchorexpress.com/FURUNO-FCV ... 20-pwd.htm

For serious bottom fishing Furuno is still the way to go.  If you can find a used 582L you can save some bucks but I doubt the factory supports or repairs them anymore.

If you just want to know how deep the water is then most anything will do.

[bondobill]

Thanks everyone for the response, I knew you guys would come through.
I need more in a fishfinder than just telling me the depth. Over here we troll normally in the 90' to 120' range, a lot of time around structure . I have a old Lowrance x-35 in the back of the boat placed where I run the kicker, been a great little unit, mainly use it just to know the depth. Had the Furuno placed on the port side dash, it was a  color screen, unit about the size of a old 12" tube TV, used it for locating bait balls and fish, a great unit, probably close to 12 years old, only complaint with it was near impossible to read when the sun was on it.
To Circle Hooked and John Jones, the Furuno 620 is on my short list . Anyone familiar with Si-Tex model 650. Looks like it's got good reviews, very similar to the Furuno 620 but screen is larger and about $200 less than the Furuno. Furuno is very popular in my neck of the woods, don't know much about Si-Tex.
Dealt with Ultimate Passage on a couple of other purchases, great outfit, planning on using them for this purchase.
Thanks again
Bill

[wrightex]

The point of separates is a valid one. Have a friend here in the install biz...all he carries is Furuno. We trade out a lot, so Furuno it is.

Speaking of Lowrance....that X-16 paper unit was a honey...and a premium on them nowadays if you can find one. http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Legacy ... per-Graph/

I'm pretty sure I have an X-16 paper graph if anyones looking.

[gran398]

Cool! I'd put that bad boy on E-Bay, be interesting to see what it brings :bounce:

[Circle Hooked]

Anyone familiar with Si-Tex model 650. Looks like it's got good reviews, very similar to the Furuno 620 but screen is larger and about $200 less than the Furuno. Furuno is very popular in my neck of the woods, don't know much about Si-Tex.

Never heard anything bad about si-tex,i have an old si-tex Loran around here somewhere and it always worked great.

[seabob4]

I'll be installing a new Si-Tex 650 in the McKee Craft I have at the house right now.  Airmar B60 tiltable element.  Anybody want screen pics?  I can do that...I have the unit on hand...

[bondobill]

Hey seabob, Are you familiar with the Si-tex 650, got any opinions on it. Found a guy on that other boating forum that sells Furuno and Si-Tex. I am kinda leaning toward the Si-tex. Anyone ever dealt with semperfifishing. He sells the Si-tex with a airmar p66 transducer, any pros or cons on the p66. His prices are about the same as Ultimate Passage on the 650 but sells them with the airmar transducer and price incs. shipping.
Thanks
Bill