Re: Best fishfinder/GPS combo to buy?
Welcome to the insanity and information overload of trying to choose a Fishfinder/GPS Combo unit!
Frankly, I don?t think you can buy a ?bad? unit from any of the Fishfinder/sonar/GPS combo units being made by the major manufacturers. It?s more about features important to you based on how you are going to use it (mostly navigation, mostly fishing, etc.). Past experience plays a big part on a lot of boaters? preferences and how disgruntled they may have become if a new unit becomes defective. That?s how I started to narrow down my most recent buying decision. So here?s my experience I?ll share.
Past:
I started (over 20 years ago) with an Eagle brand (lower end unit made by Lowrance) that I put it on a 22 ft Cuddy and also used it on a 16? square stern canoe. Although a more ?basic? unit, it performed very well in both boats. Well enough to give me confidence to buy a Lowrance LMS-522C iGPS (internal antenna) for a 16 ?? Lund I bought in 2001. I also bought the Navionics Hot Maps and loved the detail and additional info it provided over the standard internal maps. I was very impressed with its reliability and operation, although a number of people in forums criticized the performance of the internal antenna model; I never had an issue with it.
Present:
When I bought my new boat in 2011, I did look at a number of manufacturers and tried to be open minded as I knew the technology continued to improve. Part of my goal was to upgrade to the newer ?structure? technologies and get as large a screen that I could fit/afford. I encountered a dimension issue on what would fit on my ?stylish? dash at the helm. I only had so much room to fit the unit (I actually pieced cardboard together in the overall dimensions of each unit I was interested in to see how they would fit in my limited space and make sure the dash instruments could still be seen clearly). I liked that the one Humminbird model could control the Canon downriggers, had good side scanning reviews and decent reviews overall? but it was too large (wide). I ended up with the Lowrance HDS-7 Gen 1 with StructureScan LSS-1 (I was a bit too early to capitalize on the Gen 2). Using a RAM Mount, I could now fit a 7? screen in the space. Due to past experience, I had good confidence in going with Lowrance and I haven?t been disappointed in its performance. The StructureScan is amazing technology and I?m only on Gen 1. I?m also used to the ?logic? Lowrance uses going through their menu selection to access features which helped me get it up and running pretty quick. While not quite as detailed as the Navionics Hot Maps, the ?Insight? maps are pretty good to the point that I?m still debating on spending the extra money on the Hot Maps (?..I?m pretty sure I?ll end up getting Hot Maps eventually). Understand that these high technology units are loaded with features and adjustments. Although you?ll see reviews as who prefers what, it will take you time ?playing? to get used to any unit to be able to have it perform to your overall satisfaction.
So I?ve had three Lowrance products at various ages and points of technology all with satisfactory results, I guess that makes me a flag waver for Lowrance.
Hope this helps!
