inexpensive gps/ fishfinder?

[SeanO]

Definately want a fishfinder/ depth gauge but noticed some of the units also offered gps... I'm not planning to head out intot he ocean but thought it might be a neat feature to have...

So the prices are definately all over the place- I'd like a display that can be mounted on my dash (not huge), guess I'd prefer a through-hull tranducer but a transom mount would probably be ok (easy to wire on a 260da?).

I'd like to stay UNDER $500, even less if possible for a decent unit.

Suggestions? Am I not looking for features I should be looking for?

 

[HUMPH]

Under $500? Try used on ebay...

 

[1stSeaRay]

Have a look at the Garmin 421S

Fish Finder + GPS msrp right @ $500, can be had for less

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=150&pID=28746

or the Lowrance compact fish finders...some are GPS combo units

http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/Compact-Sonar-Fishfinders/

some of these should be in your price range as well.

 

[SeanO]

Under $500? Try used on ebay...

There are quite a few models, new, in that price range.

Eagle, Hummingbird, Lowrance & others all make combo models in the $300 range.

Has anyone tried one of these less expensive models and been happy with it?

I'm not in the ocean so really see no need for a chart plotter, and b&w is fine with me also.

 

[mwph]

SeanO - I have held off buying a unit for two reasons.

1.) My first season I didn't need one.

2.) Screen size is where the money comes in. Before you buy anything, sit at the helm & imagine trying to look at a cell phone sized screen mounted on the dash. - I'm waiting until I find the right unit for me, not just the cheapest.

 

[mjrubino]

You may or may not need to factor in the price for a chip with charts on it, depends on what your unit comes with.

My unit came with coastal waters, and only covered the river I boated on up until the first lock. Beyond that, it was just a thin blue line until I added a navionics chip.

I had the same attitude before I bought my chip-- I was boating on an easy to navigate river so I didn't feel I needed all the extra stuff, but the gadget-geek within made me go and buy it all anyway. I realized how much I loved having it after making my first trip in the dark. A previous nighttime trip was really stressful between trying to find the unlit buoys marking the channels and avoiding debris, this time I was able to mainly just focus on watching for debris and otherwise enjoyed the ride.

I have a few-year-old Eagle 640C that i'm happy with. It's not a recommendation for that unit or Eagle products in general since it looks like there's been some dramatic changes in the market at the pricepoint since I've bought mine, but I've played with it's Lowrance counterpart and I believe aside from the power going to the transducer (and maybe memory size?) they're otherwise identical.

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

Humminbird 385ci Combo unit... Best Price I found was at BOEMarine: http://www.boemarine.com/searchresults.aspx?SearchText=385ci+combo for $369.

 

[Creekwood]

I suggest the Lowrance HDS 5. Its a bit over the budget but you can add features later that are useful like fuel flow. The lowrance add-ons are well priced.