Friends I need your expert advice. I need some new electronics......

...what's the best GPS/Depth Finder Combo for my $$dollar for fishing around the bay??????

Please give me some help and thank you as always.

Have some buddys that run lowrance and they really like them. Not sure what models you might want to look at. I am sure someone will chime in before to long.

I know the lowrance models have ALOT of buttons and choices, as where the garmins are pretty simple. At least thats been my experience.

I've never used a Lowrance unit before, but have owned and used Humminbirds, Furunos
and Garmins. I have a Garmin 440s combo on my boat(1yr) now and I have to say that it as
easy to use as anything I ever had. The graphics are as good as all the units I mention and
if not better. You can see the display in full sun perfectly. It was the smallest combo unit
Garmin had at the time, I bought it ($479) I think. For a small bay boat (19ft), the display size
is good for me. For the money you can't go wrong. Go play with some models at the stores
and you'll find a model for your bay boat.



_______________________________________________
Hope ya'll catch'm on your next TIMEOUT

Nice report!!!!

don't buy a combo. If there is a problem with one then your kinda out of luck.

Garmin hands down. i have had a combo machine for 6 years never had any problems. i have moved to 3 different boats always works fine . Very user friendly

I got a Garmin 492 GPS and a Humminbird Matrix-12 FF.
IMO Garmin makes the best GPS and Humminbird
the best FF.

Never had a problem witrh either.

Just my opinion.

+2

I have two combo units on my boat. I have a Garmin GPSmap 178c and a Humminbird 797c2i. I also will say that the Garmin has a better GPS, but the 2D sonar is excellent on both. I really do think the Humminbird is worth the money for the 3D (side imaging) sonar. I use the Garmin on the bow and the Humminbird on the console. They both take a beating and keep going. But IMO when it comes to fishing, you can never spend too much money. My wife uses reverse psychology on me in the tackle shops. For instance, I'll be looking at a new trolling motor and she'll say "You ought to go ahead and buy it, you've got the money" . And I'll say "Nah, I don't need it" See? It worked.


BTW Nice report!

Anybody seen a GPS/Sonar machine with a screen that is bigger than 4" that doesn't cost a fortune?

Could you define fortune?

The cheapest I have seen is $1300 so less than that $500-$800 range perhaps

I have a Lowrance HDS5 after adding the Nautic insight map plus tax out the door was $800+. That was alot of money for a 5 inch screen IMO. However now that I have had it for a year I absolutely love this machine. The features are awesome and the add on's are endless. This being said I believe Garmin makes a more accurate GPS and Lowrance a more accurate Fishfinder. Hummingbird works off the same networks and satellites as the Lowrance GPS I think there are a few more possibilities of maps and charts than with Garmin. Don't forget that Eagle is the baby brother to lowrance and you can get almost everything on an Eagle for less money. Hope this helps.

Ask yourself some questions when buying. Do I plan to look for fish bait and structure with my fishfinder? Do I need a GPS to help me find very specific items in the water or general locations? Because if you just need to know how deep it is then get a $80 hummingbird or eagle FF and if you only need general locations than a plain jane handheld with no map upgrades would work for you for around $100. If you go the handheld route than be sure it can run on 12volt and you have a place to plug it in on your boat.

Where did you go to look at the different types of models? Last time I bought one was from Boaters World and they didn't have much of a selection?

Where did you go to look at the different types of models? Last time I bought one was from Boaters World and they didn't have much of a selection?[/quote]


bass pro has the most on display i think