Stand Alone Fish Finder

[fishinblues]

I am looking for some advise on a fish finder. I have a Gamin GPS and love it, but am now looking for some advise on a good fish finder for the Chesapeake Bay, most depths I fish are 15-130 ft. My budget is $500-$800.
Does a color screen make that much difference ?
What type of transducer do you recommend to go with the unit ?

[get the net]

Go with either the Furuno or Raymarine. Transducer selection is going to be dependent on what kind of boat you have and how it is powered. So what do you have?

I am looking for some advise on a fish finder. I have a Gamin GPS and love it, but am now looking for some advise on a good fish finder for the Chesapeake Bay, most depths I fish are 15-130 ft. My budget is $500-$800.
Does a color screen make that much difference ?
What type of transducer do you recommend to go with the unit ?

[fishinblues]

Go with either the Furuno or Raymarine. Transducer selection is going to be dependent on what kind of boat you have and how it is powered. So what do you have?

Thaks for the reply.
I have a 20 foot sea hunt CC, with a F115 yahama..

[pipewrench]

I run a furuno 600L color bottom machine with an Airimar P66 transom mount ducer w/temp and speed wheel. Color makes a difference to me. The only problem I've had is the readings I get in skinny water,not sure when in less than 4 feet. mabe just a tuning issue. this setup has served me well. BOE has good help and prices, good luck!

[Seahunter]

I run a furuno 600L color bottom machine with an Airimar P66 transom mount ducer w/temp and speed wheel. Color makes a difference to me. The only problem I've had is the readings I get in skinny water,not sure when in less than 4 feet. mabe just a tuning issue. this setup has served me well. BOE has good help and prices, good luck!

Take it out of auto and run it in manual mode then turn the gain down.

[Cap't Steve]

Personally, my last boat had a lowrance with a 7 inch screen (color) that I really liked. The new (used) boat came with a greyscale Furuno. While I think the Furuno works well, I really miss the Lowrance's ease of use & color screen. The Furuno is smaller and doesn't seem to differentiate between baitfish & junk in the water nearly as well. I always pull my boats in Sept for bottom maintenance & at that time I think I am going to move the Furuno to the tower & get me another Lowrance for the meat & potatoes station.

With a color unit, once you really lurn how to use it you can usually tell what kind of fish you are over & get a good indication of size. Also my Lowrance would show temperature gradiants & the Furuno doesn't. That is an important ability if you run offshore

[jasaltinmyvn]

Garmin makes some really good fishfinders. I've had all differant kinds and my farorite is a Garmin. (clarity and detail) I currently have a Eagle and it is not half as good as the Garmin I had with my last boat.

[Sandtiger]

Garmin - good quality finder - user friendly - others could only hope to have the customer service Garmin has.............