Depth sounder combo units ... suggestions?
 

OK guys ... I'm sure there are some posts on here about decent combo units and some info on that Iboats webpage... but I wanted to see what you guys suggest.

I was at the Toronto boat show yesterday and I was focused on looking at fishfinders, gps, depth sounder combo units for a relatively cheap price. My compass unit that normal sits on my dash sprung and leak and the compass oil was dripping over my dash. So either I replace the compass AND get another unit for depth/gps etc ... .OR scrap the whole compass and rely solely on the unit for compass/gps/depth etc.

FYI- Even when I had the compass in there.... I never looked at it anyways. Fishfinding ability is useless to me. I'm not a fisher"person". Depth is mainly all that im looking for, water temp, GPS, compass etc etc ... are all bonuses.

I know I can buy a depth sounder only from Humminbird for $150. But for the price im better off to buy a combo unit which would give me more features.

Some of the models recommended to me:

Eagle Cuda 250

Eagle FishEasy 320c

There was some models from Humminbird that were recommended to me. But I dont remember exact model names. I think the 700 series and colour and some 500 series which are black and white etc.

I'am looking for small sized unit, small enough to fit SOMEWHERE at the helm. See below photo. If I could fit it between the windshield and the dash in that little area, that would be best. Then it will be behind the gauges. Unknown of how much room is in there tho.

http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/40...600x600Q85.jpg


Fire away .. suggestions .. recommendations ... take your time. Its going to be about 5 months before I see the boat anyways ...:rolling_laugh:

How 'bout a ball of string with a weight on the end of it? You could mark the string in 5' depth intervals and have the gf operate it while you toodle along. :rolling_laugh:

I'll make a suggestion, but remember, it's just my opinion!

I can't stand it when people put these big obnoxious GPS chartplotter fishfinder units on the dash of a great looking boat. It just doesn't look good at all, plus it usually ends up blocking some important gauge. Just about every other member on BABC and TBF have these huge Navman units mounted on their dashes and they look like total a$$. If you're just looking for a depth finder, just get something simple like This, the Hawkeye unit pictured at the top Left. I'm helping my friend install this unit in his sailboat this winter. It has the option for either a thru hull or a transom mount transducer, it's only $99, Plus, it would keep a nice uniform look for your dash. You could mount it directly where your compass is now!

But, if you want all the nifty stuff, I'd think about the Cuda 250. It seems to be fairly equipped for a low price! You'll just have to think about a good mounting location. Is there enough room next to your throttle lever to mount it there? Get the swivel mount (extra $15), and mount it out of the way but close to your dash. Or maybe mount it on that flat panel next to your battery gauge?

ROFL ! That sounds like an idea.

I know my gf said to me ... " why do you need a temperature gauge on a fishfinder ... couldnt you just drop a thermometer overboard and tell the temp that way...? "

Gawd i love her .. hehe

I agree whole heartedly about having an oversized nav unit on the dash and making it look "cluttered". Which is probably what mine would turn out to be no matter how small it is. Unless of course I had one that was removable (hand-held). Install the depth sounder and then buy a separate hand held gps unit. No clutter and I get GPS .. hehe.

http://flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/

There is me "chill-ax'in" as I cruise up the river on the north end, you can see where the compass used to be on the dash area and how much room I really don't have above it.

Hmmmmm, maybe I would be better to go handheld GPS and separate depth sounder and not waste the cash on a combo unit... :)

hand held
 

Oh I should now ask ...

Suggestions on hand held GPS units? Garmin? lowrance? Magellan?
Model numbers etc, why its decent ... etc etc.

At least w/ the GPS unit I could purchase that and play with it before I get on the boat ...:wink_thumbup:

OK. Here's an idea. Do what I did. I had an old GPS I used to use for my Jeep when we'd go trailriding in the hills of Tennessee. It's a Garmin GPS III. It's a portable unit that's very small and can be used either horizontal or vertical. Mine is is very primitive as far as modern GPS goes, however there is a newer model, the GPS V that uses WAAS for accuracy up to around 9ft. And it does many of the nice things the new GPS's do, like "trackback", which is like a digital breadcrumb trail so you can find your way back! It also allows you to download area maps into the GPS via a PC and an interface cable. It doesn't have fancy features like color displays, but would almost fit your purpose perfect. Plus if somebody decided to jack it from your boat, you'd be out less than $100, vs the new units costing much more! But all us Mariah owners know better than to leave stuff on our boats, right?!?

See the attached picture of me "chill-ax-in" from about 16 months and about 50lbs heavier, when I first dunked the boat in the Ohio River. You can see the GPS mounted on the dash.

There's a few on ebay. Here's One

And if you decide to go that route, I'll hook ya up with a mount, as I have an extra one brand new, in the package just sitting around collecting dust!

Depth sounder and GPS
 

I have the Uniden model on the west marine page mounted below the stereo in my Shabah. It works well. It's only good to 200' so where I boat it can routinely read "---" :yes_grin: It has an adjustable shallow water alarm.

I bought a handheld GPS at the boatshow. A Garmin GPSMap 76Cx. My wife thought I should go for one of those big screen jobs, but I wasn't going for it. (I'm also a big fan of the uncluttered look...) Now all I have to do is find a decent mount. I also wanted one that I can take with me hiking, in the Jeep, or on the boat. I've got the BlueChart software on order, so I'll have accurate Marine data by the time boating season rolls around. In the mean time it's a great toy. Used it to track my route back from T.0. last night...

I've got the Uniden depth sounder in mine also and i'm going to buy a separate GPS. The Uniden gauge blends right in with my other gauges and it seems to work just fine.

I had an Eagle Matrix 15 fish finder/depth sounder/water temp/speed reader in my last boat & i still have it sitting here. I was going to install it in the Mariah but once i stuck it on the dash to see what it looked like i dropped the idea. As Ryan said, most of those combo units are too big and cover up other gauges when conveniently mounted. The other side of it was that i never believed the amount of 'fish' that unit kept finding. I never caught a one of them.... :shakehead:

My 2 cents.
 

180diablo/All,

I originally had a Lowrance unit in my dash. It went bad and when I replaced it I was right where you were, staring at all the options. Some of it depends what transducer config you have now and what you are prepared to install. I liked the idea of getting temp at first, then I realized that I had to poke a hole in my hull or run a external cord down the back of the transom - or I would only be getting the temp of the water in my bilge. Since the only bilge I get is cooler runnoff and drippy bathing suits, that temp would not matter much ;O)

So I scaled it all back to the same small round one that replaced the 2" hole in my dash. At the end of the day, I don't fish from my Shabah and all I really needed is depth an the depth alarm. One thing. I purchased based on price and ended up with the Uniden. While I liked the mineral oil mounting system of the "see thru hull", I am not sure it is the most accurate. My readings can be very bouncy. It could be time to check the mineral oil in the chamber. I cannot find the original reference but I was tempted to buy one from Boaters World that was for high speed applications. It was aimed to be forward looking and the system would anticipate the bottom coming up on you at high speeds. I did not buy it and now I cannot find it online so perhaps that's a good thing.

One last thought. I would jot down the type of compass you need and replace it when you stumble on a good deal. GPS are nice, however you never know when you have to go old school if you are in strange water. We rent from time to time when we go to the FL Keys as I don't like to pull my camper and my boat, the boat we had last June had a simple compass and with that and a chart you can get home in a pinch.

Thanks

Bill DeWeese

Excellent points Bill.

The one time I really needed my depth sounder to work was when I was travelling at speed, and the bottom came up so fast my skeg was already dragging on the rocks by the time the alarm on my depth sounder came on. :mad:

I'm hoping the GPS (once loaded with the necesary charts) gives me more of that kind of info, so the obstacle can be avoided before it's encountered...

X2 on an inexpensive replacement compass as well. You may not think you need it, but the one time you do... For me it's like all the other safety equipment on your boat. You may never need it, but if you do, you rather you have it than not.

Thanks for all the help with this guys.

Sounds like the Uniden depth sounder is the way to go. I will wait for spring time and stop by my local marine supplier and purchase it from them. It's good to know this stuff ahead of time so I don't have to pull the boat out of the water after it was just put in.

I googled some install webpages, so I will take a lookie at them and see what is involved to get it installed.

Im sure the mechanic where my boat is stored can do it.

garmin
 

I was at the Toronto boat show as well and replaced my old Garmin 180 with a brand new Garmin 420S. The transducer I'll use will be a thru-hull (no holes). Garmin also had a few excellent portables (with mounting bracket) The only drawback is the screen size and it has to be recharged. I also purchased the Ontario blue chart for the unit ($100.00 boat show rebate from Garmin) Great detail of the trent system. I don't like being in unfamiliar waters without one. The manufacturers are at the show, I talked to them all and decided to stay with a Garmin unit.

Funny you would mention the depth sounder- I have a 1991 20Ft sx/br and when you turn on the ignition this panel emerges from the top of the dash and gives you the speedo,depth and temp- For my boating( Lake Simcoe) most of the info is useless and parts of the screen ( I think it is a very early LCD Screen ) are just blanked out and there is no data to be seen. It is definately something I want to get rid of . I was thinking of replacing it with the old fashion guages ,ie Speed,engine hours .It would eliminate all the little push buttons that just make it look junky.
If anyone has some ideas or has already dealt with this one please let me know!!
Thanks
MArk Anderson

ok guys ... this is going to sound TOTAL newbie here ........


If I was to purchase a handheld GPS unit from Ebay from the states,.. is the GPS unit localized to american maps OR would it auto update to where ever the unit is located and work perfectly?

:wink_thumbup:

Without knowing the model I couldn't be 100% sure, but most handhelds will have a North American basemap installed. Typically you can then buy more detailed location specific maps that you upload to the device.

That's how mine works.

Ebay? :shakehead: Have a look at radioworld.ca they've got some amazing deals on right now.

Actually I have been looking at the same one as you, the Garmin 76cx...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=220192523726

I believe you said you had to order in the marine disc? I have checked out RadioWorld and so far they are the best price for it @ $299. But if I could get it off Ebay for say $100 less .... I might.

Otherwise, I would rather just order from a Canadian Source for warranty concerns etc :)

Reserve still isn't met. You'll have to watch it closely. Depending on final price and the shipping + brokerage fees, you probably won't save $100...

You will want to buy the Blue Chart software. The basemap only shows bodies of water, not the detailed stuff you really want (navaids, depths ports etc...). Radioworld also sells the software at a discount if you buy a GPS, so you may want to factor that in as well...

Hmmm good points on both comments. You don't pay brokerage fee's on stuff that is shipped up here via USPS. Fedex, UPS, Purolator will not be nice on your wallet if you use them.

How much is the Blue Chart software? After thinking it over I was considering just ordering it in from Radio World and be done with it.

:D

Bluechart is around $129-159 depending on where you get it. :)

I paid $109 (Boat show special). I think $129 is the Radioworld price with a GPS purchase.

Wow that was a deal.

Just found it on Canadian Tires webpage for $180 ...ROFL !


I think I know what route i'll be goin :)

Well the GPS is ordered,.. along with the Blue Chart cd. I just placed the order online on Radio World's webpage.

I ordered in the Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx (the one w/ the compass). I figured it was worth it to pay the extra cash for the compass, since the compass is being elminated anyways from my boat. The depth sounder will be installed in its place.

They have the CD for $109 with a Garmin GPS purchase. So it's the same price as the boat show.

As I was typing this up, I was wondering how updated the CD was. So I just logged onto Garmin's webpage and when I get the serial number it will give me access to check for updates ...

:wink_thumbup:



EDIT: See what happens when I get bored at work.... LOL!. I go and spend $500 (taxes) .... lol

Nice. I was going to get the "S" model when I first dropped by their booth at the boat show, but I waited a bit to think it over and they had sold out of them by the time I went back, so I bought the last Cx they had in stock there. Anyhow the compass in my boat works fine, so I figured it was an extra that I didn't really need.

Actually, I didn't actually get the Blue Chart software yet. Apparently Garmin releases a new version every January, and Radioworld was going to wait until they received the update before they shipped. Likely the same for you. You'll have the most up to date version when it arrives. They told me to expect it about mid Feb...

Agreed, if my compass was still functioning as well, then I wouldn't have opted for it. Right now its in a ziplock baggie in my desk at home.

Oh yeah you had said it was on order. Yeah I hope they do the same with my order and ship it with the new disc vs an older one.

Did you opt for the 1year extended warranty ... or do you think its just like Best Buy warranties and it's just a freebie cash grab.

Here is an update from Radio World:

Hello Sir
Updates are on a CD which is released around the same time that the new charting comes out ( March ) The CD is free but Garmin charges for the unlock code. Any free unlocks are at the discretion of Garmin. We do not have stock on the current Blue Chart CD as we are waiting for the released of the new charts in March.

... So what I will be doing is waiting until March for the disc and then ship the GPS now. :)

Guess what just arrived ........ MY GPS! :wink_thumbup:

Holy crap is this thing a lot bigger then what I thought. I havent read any directions, but I already set a waypoint to my cottage... lol.

This thing is easier then my cell phone.

I want to go on a Geocache marine hunt ! weeee

Set a waypoint for Spring & see if you can get us there any faster... :yes_grin:

Yeah, it's a pretty sweet unit. The precision is amazing. I get estimates to within 6m when I'm inside my house!

The track feature is pretty cool. Fire it up and take it for run to a Timmy's for a coffee. When you get back have a look. You'll probably be able to resolve your passage through the drive through... :wink_thumbup:

:wink_thumbup: for that comment !

As we dig out from under about 30-40cms of snow.. hah.

I would probably crash into something from looking at it... lol.

I will have to get that a try tho.

BWWAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAA
sorry for that ^^ i just had to LOL huge

OK .. so as you all might know .. I bought myself a GPS....

The flipping manual ... IS DEFECTIVE! I have 2 sections of page 29 to 56, then blank page and then page 29 to 56 again ! ... ROFL!

I know its online and I can download it and print it, but why the heck should I??? I paid enough for this unit and I should have proper documentation to go with it.

Radioworld is getting an email from me. $5 says im not the only one and all of them are defective.

Well I recently received my Radioworld package in the mail which contained the Bluechart software and the CityNav software ... and a handy-dandy carrying case.

Just uploading the charts now ... and so far the "updated" blue charts are outdated. I took a lookie along Sparrow Lake and I saw markers that I know aren't there. Oh well.

That is ok tho. I picked up a most recent paper chart at the boat show and over the course of the next month I can update the markers to match what paper says.

I would assume that you have received your bluechart dvd as well Z202 ?