Fish Finder Help Please???

[Kevin Smith]

Fellow Fishing Folks,

We are seriously thinking about finally putting a fish finder on the Weekend Mistress, but also want a good GPS. (Not too many smart a$$ comments please [grin][grin][grin])

The 198C Garmin is available on-line for about $900 instead of West Marine's $1050. Is this a quality unit or is there another unit I should consider? Any help with the selection, price & competitive information would be greatly appreciated?

Kevin
Weekend Mistress[excited][excited][excited]

[J Lavender]

Kevin,
Just my 2 cents worth... I have a Lowrance 335 DF combo unit (color) and I love it. This year's model is called the 337DF and sells for $699. I have run Lowrance for 10 yrs and have been satified with their performance.
I know you hear alot of good stuff about Garmin on TF but they have their share of problems like all the rest.

Not saying one is better than the other but just something to consider.[smile]

[Mike Avery]

Kevin, I have the Garmin 188c bought last summer. It's a great unit and have had zero problems with it so far. As with any electronic purchase, now I see the 198c is even better, cheaper, and even has all the bluewater chip data stored in main memory. With my unit, I have to buy the bluewater chips separately at $50 a pop. The screen is very readable, draws fast, and has so many features that I'm still learning about them. I went with the external antenna and mounted it starboard next to my VHF antenna. Acquires the satellites really fast.

I think $900 is a very good deal (I won't tell you how much I paid last summer for my 188c).

There are pros and cons to combo units but I like saving space on the dash to hold my empty beer cans. [grin]

[JFletcher]

I now have a Furuno 1650wf (it is for sale) and I am going to buy the Garmin 188 or 198. Had Garmin 162gps and 160 ff on the last boat and they never let me down. BTW, the Furuno is a fine unit, just too complocated for me. Garmin makes it easy for dummys like me.

I have never had a lowrance, and from what I hear, people either love them or hate them.

For a Fisfinder, I hear that you can not beat Furuno. Same for a Garmin GPS. They say (lots of theys out there) that Garmins Fish finders are not as accurate as other brands, but they work fine for me. I have been very inpressed with Garmins technical support also (had to call due to operator error not unit trouble).

I own the Bluechart for the Bay and immediate coastal waters. As mentioned above, the 188 does not come pre loaded. With the maps preloaded, the 198 looks like a great deal and is basically identical to the 188 other than the pre loaded maps.

Buying on the internet can save some money, but I like to support my local shops. They support me 100% and frequently. I believe that Boaters World is the only shop with the 198 in stock right now.

Joe

[lmontagnaj]

Jimmy K. & I both had the Lowrance and the units FAILED.... Had to replace them, Jimmy went with Garmin and it's awesome for the monsy and I went with the Ray Marine, I spent a lot more. I really like the Garmin products and they are RELIABLE...

Happy Hunting...

[timber]

here's my 2 cents too, everybody has their own opinion me included. Who is to say who is right and who is wrong. Only when you see a whole bunch of post saying stay away from this one (wish I had done that with the boat I just bought last year) but any way, it all depends on what you need in a finder also. I just orderd the eagle seachamp 2000 combo after a ton of reasearch that is the one that seemed to fit our needs. Good Luck

[usual suspects]

cant go wrong with a Garmin GPS.FF /combo go with Ray,Furuno or Simrad.You really have have to consider how it will be used as well.Many can, and do get by pretty well with much less.I saw a guy with an 18 or 19' old CC,he had a 2010 blocking his windshield.Thats what I'm talking about[grin]

[NightFisher]

I had a Garmin 240 that worked great in under 200 Feet of water and I imagine the Garmin you are looking at will do as good or better. If you are working the Bay and nearshore the Garmin combo will do great, if you are thinking offshore look at the Furuno.

Your Transducer placement will affect your performance more than anything else. If you have the somach for it I recommend the Thru-Hull. The Transom mounts can be tricky to get right.

[b8 boy]

I had the Furuno GP-1650F on my old boat and I am bringing it over to the new boat. I love it!! Takes a little figuring out but it works real well. In the old boat with the thru hull I could run 30+mph and read bottom in less than 80ft of water. Thats real good. Thru hull placement can make the difference if it works great or not at all. I am still trying to figure out where and how to get to the hull on the new boat to put in the thru hull. You only get one chance with the hole so do it right!! Martin