Inshore shallow water FF/GPS combo under $1K.

[jdlough]

For use in the Lower Nanticoke River/Tangier Sound - someday may creep out to the Chesapeake. 99% under 50' of water. SeaSwirl 2100 DC Striper boat. Aside from trying to catch Stripers, trying to avoid running aground.

Looking for a FF/Combo under $1000 or so. I know there's a bunch of posts on GPS/Combo reviews, but I mainly need shallow water and am also looking for end-of-season deals.

The Raymarine A57D has a $450 rebate going on til the end of Nov. The screen's 5.7". Buttons to access favorite pages/settings.
http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=1856&PRODUCT=4214
I can get it with ‘enhanced’ coastal marine charts for under $1100 - $450 = $650.

All the following are 5" screens:

The Humminbird 597cd HD DI has regular sonar + down imaging. One issue is that the regular sonar has only 25 degree as it widest setting.
It's around $600. The map may kinda suck, and you can't use Navionics Premium Plus maps.

Next step up is the Humminbird 788ciHD DI combo. Has regular sonar + down imaging . Same 25 degree widest regular sonar. Same can't use Navionics Premium Plus Coastal maps. Includes lake maps. Has buttons to quickly access favorite pages/settings. Networks with everything I'll never buy. About $700

Next step up is the Humminbird 798ci HD SI combo. Two big improvements: The regular sounder goes out to 60 degrees, and it has down + SIDE IMAGING.
It's normally about $1100. Cabela's has it on sale for $799. http://www.cabelas.com/sonar-gps-combos-humminbird-798-hd-side-imaging-sonar-50-channel-internal-gps-receiver-combo.shtml Still cant accept Navionics Premium Plus Coastal maps, though. http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=1856&PRODUCT=4214

Garmin GPSMAP 541s. Around $600. Has coastal maps. Accepts BlueChart g2 Vision cards.

Lowrance HDS-5m With U.S. Expanded Basemap and Nautic Insight (Great Lakes and U.S. Coastal Waters).
Around $600-700. Compatible with Navionics Platinum Plus maps. 2 year warranty.

Final option. Rope, tied to a rock. $1. Depth feature only. Infinite accurate analog depth measurements. No GPS feature; relies on trueVision™ Line-o’sight technology to find your way back.
(trueVision™ Line-o’sight has known bugs for working in heavy fog or dark-o’night.

Any thoughts?

[1987-cobb]

HDS 7. You can't do any better.

Screenshot on the southern Potomac

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss35/LateSummer/airmar50.png

Navionics chart
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss35/LateSummer/sunkboat.png

And you can always add StructureScan
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss35/LateSummer/shot1-5.png

[wen]

I'm with Cobb!!
BTW- best way to keep from running aground is to pay attention to your plotter and compare that to what you are seeing on the Sounder.

[1987-cobb]

Lowrance HDS-5m With U.S. Expanded Basemap and Nautic Insight (Great Lakes and U.S. Coastal Waters).
Around $600-700. Compatible with Navionics Platinum Plus maps. 2 year warranty.

Final option. Rope, tied to a rock. $1. Depth feature only. Infinite accurate analog depth measurements. No GPS feature; relies on trueVision™ Line-o’sight technology to find your way back.
(trueVision™ Line-o’sight has known bugs for working in heavy fog or dark-o’night.

Any thoughts?

There are some rebates on the HDS/Elite series starting Oct 28. You can get $200 back from an HDS7.
Still not as good as your final option.

http://www.bbcboards.net/zerothread?id=735828

[jdlough]

I went with the Humminbird 798ci HD SI. They sucked me in with the included side scan/down scan. (The Lowrance Structure Scan module is about $600 extra)

I got it from my local West Marine. They price matched Cabelas $799 add.

I'll probably be second guessing myself all winter, especially because of the new Lowrance rebate.

Thanks to all.

[wen]

The HB gets it's downscan info from an interpolated signal from the side scan.Lowrance uses seperate crystal in the Sidescan transducer that is dedicated to downscan.
You'll do ok with the HB,you would have done great with the HDS!
Enjoy.
Wen

[1987-cobb]

West Marine has become very competitive with price matching. Bass Pro and Cabelas need to do the same. I certainly would buy from West Marine now. Already do anyway for most everything except electronics. And I'm only five minutes from a West Marine store. Saw you posts on "The Hull Truth". I no longer participate as a poster on that sight, but I do read it. Sense you are a Humminbird user now you might want to check out this sight. These guys really love their "Bird" and can be very helpful. Of course they bash Lowrance at every chance.

http://www.bbcboards.net/zeroforum?id=279


Good luck.