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Could y'all help me out with choosing a fish finder. I have a budget of around $200. I mostly fish in water 10' or less. I would appreciate any help y'all could offer. I have already looked at several units, but I really don't know much about them to begin with. Thanks
Find one in your price range preferably color. Just 2d is all you really need. Humminbird,Lowrance and Garmin all have good units in that range that would do you a good job.
Thanks. I was thinking about going with a lowrance unit this time. I've had two hummingbirds over the last few years and I was never thoroughly impressed with them. Is there a specific model that anyone has had good luck with.
If I was always fishing in water 10 feet deep, or less, I'm not sure I'd even bother with a fish finder.
2d broadband sonar is only going to show a bottom circle about 3ft wide.
Down Image would do better, but still limited to a small path of water ... and it's not going to give good images at speed less than 0.5mph
Side Image would be best, but $200 ain't gonna get it. (and it would still have to be moving to produce good images)
If you're just looking for a "depth" finder under $200 ... look at :
Lowrance X4 b/w 2d sonar
Lowrance Elite 4 DSI color down image
Lowrance Mark 5x DSI b/w down image
Lowrance Mark 4 chartplotter/depth finder combo
HB PiranhaMAX b/w
HB 500 series units b/w
But, I couldn't even begin to tell you which one would be the best for your purposes; just giving you some options to look over.
... cp :kewl
The HB 346c DI will give you 2d and DI.....in a color screen...for just a little over your budget...
The other units in that price range are 2d or DI...
http://store.humminbird.com/products/600667/346c_DI
Our board sponsors can beat that MSRP...
Rickie
Getting Di AND 2d is the way to go. The HB above looks like a great deal. That screen is really small though.
Check these out:http://www.crappie.com/crappie/showt...-Depth-Finders
This is why I ask for y'all's opinions. Y'all really know your stuff. Thanks for the help. I checked out the hb with 2d and di, and I believe that's my ticket. Very much appreciated fellas. I got myself a brand new boat for the first time and I want to set it up right without going overboard. Again, thanks to everyone!
Choose something with the largest degree of cone angle for shallow water.
Here are the 2d cone angles and DI fan angles for the 346ci DI...
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...B/45c336a5.jpg
Rickie
I used a humminbird 718 and did the free transducer exchange for a quadrabeam transducer. I then bought an external magellan gps for 30 bucks off of ebay and cabled it to the unit and I was set up. Great unit with a little wider coverage and gps with a 5 inch screen for right at 200 bucks.
Gander Mtn. has a purdy good sale goin on now on HB & Lowrance marine electronics. Check it out...
http://www.gandermountain.com/modper...ched_cat=506G4
I have an Eagle 320c that works pretty well for me.
If you have time and patients, watch Ebay .. Just bought a brand new 346 HD DI for $180 shipped to the door.
Thanks for all the help folks.
Don't know if you purchased yet but check the bargain bin at a few stores. I have been want DI since it came out but have been too cheap to get it. Hit cabelas a few days ago and got a lowrance elite 5x DSI for 183.00
Academy has a sale on the lowrance elite 4xdsi for $149. I use it on the front with a trolling motor mount. I am impressed with this little unit. In a few months it I moving to the console and si di combo is going up front.