Fish Finders

[GregBam]

I'm looking for a inexpensive fishfinder for my boat. While at Boatersworld salesman asked if I was looking for a saltwater or freshwater model. I didn't know there was a difference. What is the difference? I'd like to use it for both salt and fresh water. Thanks, Greg

 

[JB]

Re: Fish Finders

There are dozens here, Greg. Work for either.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/mall/

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Fish Finders

Some have more power and will shoot deeper and more accurately in the Saltwater....

 

[phantoms]

Re: Fish Finders

While at BPS locally here recently, I picked up a FF250C by Garmin for $199. BPS printed a sale flyer advertising the new 160C for $199 on Garmins word that they'd have them ready. Garmin didn't have them out in time, so they gave them the go ahead to sale the 250Cs for that price. That's a $399 Color FF for $199! I got one on 1-2-06. I have no idea if BPS is still doing this, but it's worth checking on.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Fish Finders

In salt water the the transducer pluse does not go as deep as in fresh water. Also saltwater is offten much deeper than freshwater.<br /><br />Depth finder have two standard frequency they use. 200KHZ is better for fresh water and shallow saltwater because it gives back more detail. also 200Khz has a narrower cone angle which also aids in seeing more detail. 50Khz is better for deep saltwater because the signal does not degrade as fast and will pentrate much deeper.<br /><br />Also for deep salt water you need more power. In general I would use 200KHZ in fresh water and it saltwater out to about 250 feet. If the transducer has a narrow cone angle (5 to 10 degree) then you can go a little deeper.<br /><br />Now you can get units that have both a 50 and a 200khz transducer and for deep salt water that is the way to go. Also if you are going to fish Saltwater over 250 feet you need a lot of power. I would suggest 500 watts RMS or 4000 watts peak to peak.<br /><br />So Deep Saltwater unit should have more power and a 50 khz transducer frequency. Fresh water units do not need as much power and most of the time a 200 KHZ transducer works better unless you are fishing very deep.<br /><br />All fishfinders will tell something like works up to 800 feet of fresh water or 600 feet of saltwater.<br />While that statement is true what they do not tell you is they mean you will see bottom if you have a good hard bottom likes rocks. If you want to see fish which is built like a stealth fighter it more like 100 feet. I for my guide I devide what they say by 8 and really expect to see fish that deep but not much deeper. There are thing you can do to see fish deeper. As an example my depthfinder has 3000 watts PeP or 375 watts RMS and in salt water I see lots of fish out to about 200 feet with a 20 degree 200KHZ transducer. Deeper than that usually do not see fish. So I added a 200KHZ 8 degree transducer. This means transducer power is not spreed out as much and I can see fish down to about 450 feet.<br /><br />If you are going to fish deep then you also want a unit that has a high vertical resoultion. 480 pixel or more. also if fishing bottom then want at least a 4 times zoom or bottom track.<br /><br />Good Luck