Stand alone fishfinder suggestions?

[Matt1121]

Hi all-

I am updating the electronics on my Mako 231, and have just bought the following: a Garmin 188c color/dual frequency GPS/Plotter/Sounder ($1250) and I just picked up a gray scale Lowrance X-58 dual frequency fishfinder ($200) from Consumer Marine Electronics at the NY boat show.

I am really pleased with the Garmin GPS purchase, but I am having buyers remorse about the Lowrance X-58 dual frequency fishfinder. It seems to be cheaply made.....but to be honest I have no idea how good it works.

Consumers Marine Electronics said I can exchange it for something else. Any suggestions for a high-quality dual frequency stand alone fishfinder in the $500 range? I would prefer something with those new color TFT screens.

I fish for stripers and blues off the coast of Massachusetts and hope to get into fishing for thr schools of bluefin tuna that show up during the late summer and early fall. The sounding feature on the Garmin combo unit will stay on 50khz and I plan on keeping the fishfinder on 200khz so as to avoid any interference.

Thanks-

Ed

[Scott]

Ed

I'm sure you've looked here.... but I think the two at the top of the page are as close as your going to get.…..Me personally ..... I like Furuno (from personal experience)

CME is great for buying this kind of stuff (especially if you can get to the showroom ) as you can see all of these units ( they carry just about every manufacturer out there)....and more often than not… IN OPERATION .....
However ….This can be a bad thing as it makes deciding real difficult [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I'll take one of these ... and one of those .....Dangerous store to visit [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Matt1121]

Thanks, Scott. Appreciate the feedback.

I might have to bit the bullet and cough up the extra grand for the Furuno 582-L video sounder in the spring.Since I am not an expert when it comes to electronics, I always look to others for their feedback and opinion.

Thanks again. Ed.

[jw]

Ed,
you cannot , I repeat cannot, go wrong with FURUNO, Anything. Look for unit closeouts At say hamiltions marine or the yellow sheet( baots and harbors).
Cheers,
JW [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Scott]

Ed
I was going to suggest that machine but did because of the price .... That is a very nice unit ... More power ... bigger screen. This is the one that I'll put on the boat.

Question for you .... How do you like the Garmin?? Right now I'm thinking its between the Garmin 2006 and the Furuno 1850....I wanted to keep it all Furuno (radar,fish finder, GPS/plotter) But the Garmin unit has really caught my eye ....But the 1850DFNT's are going for around $1,700 or without Fishfinder for $1,400 both of them are close in display size but the Garmin has WAAS (and I dont know if I would add the "Black Box" to it or not .... I guess it would be nice to be able to add it down the road though…)

[BJGreen]

Go with the si-tex cvs106 (the new one i think its the cvs106l has a slim tft scrn). That has always been a good sounder, just as good as the furuno has same features, but buy the dual frequency- incredible customer service.

[Matt1121]

Hey Scott-

Haven't used it yet...I got the Garmin 188c right before Christmas and am waiting until the spring thaw to hook it up. My boat is surrrounded by snow and ice right now [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

The Garmin 188c did come highly recommended from several dealers (that color TFT screen is unbelievable) and I wound up buying it from Voyager Marine Electronics in Essex, MA because no one could match his price.

I'll give you some feedback on how it works later this spring.

-Ed-

[Matt1121]

BJGreen-

I'll look into that Scitex CVS unit too. Thanks for the recommendation.

Ed

[FELLOW-SHIP]

I GOT THE FURUNO 600 AND LOVE IT, SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT IN MY BOX AND YET BIG AND POWER FULL ENOUGH TO DO THE JOB. I SOMETIMES GO SWORD FISHING AND READ BOTTOM AT 1,200 TO 1,500 FT. COST ABOUT $750 OR SO.
FELLOWSHIP [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[hammer slammer]

The 582 IS WORTH ALL THE MONEY. I have one and love it.I also had a 667 which was good, but is not even in the ball park.