Boat guys, which is the best Depth Finder/GPS combo?

[Capt.Bryan]

I'm going to use it for saltwater and really want to be able to punch in GPS coordinates to get to spots and know water depth. Nice to have would be speed, imaging, whatever else they do nowadays. Would Hate to spend over 300. Is there anything like that? Basic functions and reasonable?

Lowrance hds5

[rockyraider]

Lowrance = Saltwater Hummingbird = Bass Fisherman

[Chase This!]

Looking at GPS/Fish finder combos and would appreciate any experiences with them. Also, does anyone have experience with the iPhone GPS apps like Trimble?

Agree for off shore equipment, not necessary for lakes and bays in my opinion.

Prolly over kill for finding a brush pile to jig some crappie from

I'm going to use it for saltwater and really want to be able to punch in GPS coordinates to get to spots and know water depth. Nice to have would be speed, imaging, whatever else they do nowadays. Would Hate to spend over 300. Is there anything like that? Basic functions and reasonable?

[jooger17]

Sometimes I read these threads and think people just say the name of the last thing they saw an advertisement for. How serious are you about the equipment? Humminbird makes a decent product but to do you much good you need the BIG 10-12" units. They're starting to get a little gimmicky too with the 360 sonar and 3D charting blah blah blah.

My opinion, go get you a Lowrance HDS 10 with structure scan and side imaging. Then get a Navionics chip and get after it. You need to do your due diligence and learn up on the electronics though. Once you get them figured out you'll be ready to search for the lost city of Atlantis

[jooger17]

Just saw your post about $300... Scratch what I said

[Chase This!]

I don't think it is possible to find a decent multifunction display for $300.

[Jketchum]

I have a hummingbird at my console, and a lowrance at the bow and also on my kayak.

I prefere lowrance of HB. It's what I'm used to.

Lowrance has built in gps my HB requires a puck...

[randal]

Hummingbird 1199

[Slew]

Hds 5 in the $300 range. Hds 12 touch in the $3000 range!

[STex]

Thanks Guys! Going to check out the HDS5. Good feedback all around and appreciate it.

[AtTheWall]

I'm using an Lowrance Elite-5HDI on my flats skiff. I do not need broad view side scan sonar, so this unit is perfect for my needs. I can tell if I'm over mud\sand and or rocky bottoms, adjustable between salt and fresh for scan performance variables as well as a ton of whistles and bells and multi-function views.

Added a few fishing hot spot chips that cover lakes and inshore coastal scenes.

Mounted my 50/200 kHz Skimmer transducer to my transom using the STERNMATE mounting system. No holes in the hull with a highly tune-able bracket system to fine tune the transducers performance.


This display screen is the sonar view. Water temp and speed with depth as well as fish painted are view able via the scanner. I can add 2 more screen views, where there is a total of 3 all view able at the same time (GPS data, detailed sonar view -structure outlines for example) added to the single display view I have below. The little dark & red humps on my Lowrance unit below.........



..........Are these guys on the display above - suspended in a freshwater column

[muzzlebrake]

Birds or Lowrance for fresh water lakes. I just bought a Bird 688ci hd di kvd nav combo. Overall a bird will save you a few $$ if you are going for the side imaging models. Down imaging its apples to apples.
FWIW my other 2 are Lowrances. Each has their strong points but I prefer the Bird for overall performance and it has the 3 favorites buttons that I can flip from down imaging to sonar to map instantly without having to scroll thru a menu screen while trying to drive my boat. I like the Lowrance setup menu.
The only thing I would do different is get one with a larger screen. Bigger is better.

[STex]

Well I went with a Garmin. The HDS5 looked great, but my boat is small 16ft and the Garmin looks small and has a quick release. Free shipping $335 with 2 yr extended warranty. I'll find out more soon!