Fish Finders Dilemma!

[azizianuar]

I'm looking to buy a new Fishfinder for Saltwater use (both billfish trolling & scuba diving). I'm between the following models: Furuno FCV 600L, Garming 240 Blue, Raymarine L470, and Furuno FCV-667. I intend to interface the fishfinder with my Garmin GPS180 through a NMEA cable. Please let me know for the price and features, which do you recommend best.

 

[Sambria]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

Garmin all the way. Exceptional quality at a great price. I have the 240 and it works better than advertised.

 

[LoganAdamRodgers]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

I agree. My uncle has the same one on his boat. It works great. Go for the Garming

 

[azizianuar]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

Thanks for your response. But the only thing that does worry me regarding the Garming Fishfinder, and that has me still thinking about going with the Furuno, is that I would need for it to be able to work with depths of at least between 1,500 and 2,000 feet, which I'm not sure Garmin's Blue 240 would be able to do. If anyone out there can correct my assumptions about the Garmin, please let me know, or if I should just go out and buy the Furuno.

 

[striper]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

I have a 160 Blue I just put it on my boat for cod fishing in deep water off the coast of Maine a couple weeks ago. Mines the next size smaller and it works great. It's supposed to be good up to 1500 feet, Ive had it up to 400 feet with no problem, we don't have that deep water out this way.<br />I researched all brands except of course hummingbird and for the $ with what you get as far as pixels etc. Garmin was it. Furuno is a great choice but pricey.<br /> Good luck.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

Spend the money and get the Furuno unit. I switched over to a color CRT a few years back and will never buy a monochrome unit again.

 

[RJS]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

I've owned Hummingbird (nice features, poor performer), Lowrance (unreliable), Zercom Liquid Paper (Now Hummingbird Legend, very good performer), and now a Furuno 582L. The Furuno is an excellent fishfinder. Color and Furuno is the way to go. One downside of Furuno's is that they are not as intuitive to use as other brands.

 

[azizianuar]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

What about the Raytheon L470? Even though is not in color as the Furuno, I've heard good things about it.

 

[azizianuar]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

Anyone out there with an opinion based on their experience with the Raytheon L470?

 

[RJS]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

I would strongly suggest going with color (Furuno, SciTex,...). The screens are now affordable and viewable in sunlight. Your eye inherently has trouble contrasting different levels of grey. This is why color is so good, even if you have to use lower resolution with the color.

 

[azizianuar]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

Thanks-RJS. Now let me ask you this, between the FCV-667 (CRT) Model of Furuno and the $100.00 more expensive FCV-600L (LCD) Model of Furuno, what would you go with. Do you think is really worth it to spend the extra $100.00 for the LCD Model.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

If you have the room I'd get the CRT display. If not then the LCD is the way to go. I've got a CRT display and it has a higher resolution and a lot better picture quality than a LCD unit IMHO.

 

[JJEnner]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

I have the l470 and I have to say, it's pretty **** good. I use it on a 24' robalo on Longisland,NY through the inlet and the canyon, which has some pretty deep depths. Never has a problem with it. Good Luck.<br /><br />JJ

 

[RJS]

Re: Fish Finders Dilemma!

A. Azizi,<br />I personally would go for the LCD. The technology has advanced to the stage where you can view them very well in direct sunlight. I don't believe this is true for the cathode ray. They are also bulkier and use more power. On the other hand, chances are you can get a pretty good deal on cathode ray's since they are phasing them out. Regardless, go color.