combo or separates? $600 budget.

[phishinphan]

looking to get some electronics for the boat. i've budgeted $600 and want a gps and FF or combo.

i almost exclusively fish for stripers/cats/crappie in lake murray sc.

i like the humminbird 785c2 combo unit:
Brilliant color, 640V x 480H high resolution 5" TFT display
Precision 16 Channel GPS Receiver with WAAS/EGNOS
DualBeam PLUS sonar delivers wide coverage and better bottom definition
Selectable 20° or 60° beams, or simultaneous operation
Maximum 4000 Watts peak-to-peak (500 Watts RMS) Power Output
compatible with Navionics Gold

space is somewhat limited on the console unless i use ram type mounts.

any thoughts on this unit or comparable units? experience with combo units? opinions on going with a combo versus separate units?

thanks for the input!

phishinphan

[ky-slabseeker]

I just purchased a 787 c2i and i like it alot... You should look at jandh products before you buy.They were the cheapest I found on the 787c2i

[phishinphan]

I just purchased a 787 c2i and i like it alot... You should look at jandh products before you buy.They were the cheapest I found on the 787c2i

that is a good price.

what's your thoughts on the unit itself? does the split screen split 50/50? or is it only like the pix with approx 70% to gps?

[PanMan_VA]

that is a good price.

what's your thoughts on the unit itself? does the split screen split 50/50? or is it only like the pix with approx 70% to gps?

I'm not sure about that particular unit, but the split can be adjusted on all of the ones I'm familiar with.

[SteveJ]

I like a handheld GPS unit over a combo for a couple of reasons, (1) you can take your GPS spots on another boat and (2) when the water is in a deep drawdown you can walk the normally underwater spots and mark for use after the water is back up. Just MHO.

[Don G]

I like a handheld GPS unit over a combo for a couple of reasons, (1) you can take your GPS spots on another boat and (2) when the water is in a deep drawdown you can walk the normally underwater spots and mark for use after the water is back up. Just MHO.

I agree...Garmin GPSMAP 76S and Lowrance FF

[todobien]

I like seperate b/c you can have larger views typically and b/c if it goes you lose and have to replace both where in seperate you only have to replace one....same goes for upgrading/updating devices.

[crappielimits]

787 is a great unit.

[Jet Boy]

That is a great unit but I bought the 777c2 and Lowrance H2O handheld and loaded it with MapSource 7.

I like the ablility of taking the handheld with me in the car.

Whatever you buy get as many pixels as you can.

[Cane Pole]

787 gps sucks. Icons too big. also a hassle handling waypoints and tracks. Editing on screen sucks. Fish finder works good.

I got separate gps even though I got a 797. Same prob with 797 gps. Sucks, Icons too big. I want even use waypoint marking with unit.

Humminbird needs to take lessons from Garmin.

Other folks know this about the gps. They just not as opinionated as I am. Or, maybe they think they gonna get on Humminbird Pro Staff.

Your money and your choice.

My expert opinion about this matter.