Sounder Combo advice needed.
Submitted by Hank on Sat, 2009-06-27 11:16
Am looking at buying a sounder gps combo, would like to keep it to about $1000 if possible. The boat is only 4.5m so don't venture out too far. Any sugestions would be a great help.
Cheers.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Not really sure what you
Not really sure what you will get for that, charts (navionics gold) are $360 on their own! Some sounders do have built-in silver, but I don't think they really have any detail in them.
greasemonkey
Posts: 112
Date Joined: 08/05/09
lowrance lms525cdf
I just picked up a lowrance lms525cdf combo for $850 2 week ago from bcf reduced from $1299 . its not as flash as their new range but its a pretty decent unit and its a s#@t load cheaper
fishfinger
Posts: 64
Date Joined: 08/09/07
sounder
hey hank i am trying to sell my navman 4500 colour sounder price is $450 would do you well 3 years old has manual good bottom 5inch screen leave you 550 to get gps nothing wrong with it just up grading i have a 5.7 and am going deeper and like the new lowrance broad band pm me
kaneo
Posts: 340
Date Joined: 09/01/08
garmin 450s
garmin 450s
wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
my advice
My advice..is dont get a combo! Get seperate units
carnarvonite
Posts: 8707
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Agree
I agree with Wade,go for the separate units,If one packs up you can still fish while getting it fixed.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
I never really get that
I never really get that advice.
How do I get to my points when my gps is knackered and I only have my sounder?
How do I know there are any fish at the points I put in previous?
You might as well just fish craypots when your combo unit is bust! Speaking from personal experience, I have a combo unit, and when it did break - the reputable dealer I got it from loaned me their demo unit anyway.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8707
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Points
If your points are spot on you don't need the sounder.If the GPS is kaput you can still go back to the old methods before GPS became available,eg-landmarks,using a marker buoy when you get fish,
Any thing else you want to know?
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Well, if thats all thats on
Well, if thats all thats on offer, I'd rather;
1) buy something reliable so downtime isn't an issue
2) buy something well supported so, in the event I do suffer for equipment failure, I can get a loan unit.
3) buy the biggest screen I can afford on a combo and either flick between the two functions, or split screen as necessary.
Beats staring at a couple of matchbox-sized screens running low res which is all you get if you split the money!
MackO
Posts: 6
Date Joined: 23/03/09
Seperate Units
I think what Wade was getting at was on a limited budget get the best sounder you can afford and spend the rest on a GPS
A good sounder comes first IMO
wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
exactly mate
Exactly Macko...sounder comes first..any old gps can take you to a weightpoint!
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
I use a Raymarine A65 and
I use a Raymarine A65 and its a good sounder, runs navioncs charts and works as a gps fine.
My mobile is my fairly lousy backup GPS, the waypoints are usually a bit off but it does work =0
Hank
Posts: 31
Date Joined: 08/01/08
Sounder Combo advice needed
Thanks for the feedback guys, got some food for thought.
Cheers.
big steve
Posts: 1
Date Joined: 28/06/09
sounder advice
Good day
i am new to this so bare with me,lowrance do a combo unit it is the new HDS sounder combo, our store (BCF) do these for $1299 which includes a chart (not naionics gold )on sd card and the unit has a built in map with basic depths and contour lines.
These represent excellent value for money in my opinion for more info go to the lowrance website or pop in to a BCF store near you .
I know this sounds like an add but our prices are generally cheaper than any where else and if not we will price match if you have proof of cheaper priced unit.
if it is to be it is up to me