Looking for $200-500 Chart Plotter Fish Finder Thoughts

[MotorMan101]

Looking for a fish finder with the ability to create maps. The rivers by my are uncharted so I want to chart them with my Jon boat/kayak before taking a ski boat on them any thoughts on good options or things I should be looking for... note fishing function comes in second to mapping ability for me. Maybe Garmin 5sv or 7sv?

 

[dingbat]

Looking for a fish finder with the ability to create maps. The rivers by my are uncharted so I want to chart them with my Jon boat/kayak before taking a ski boat on them any thoughts on good options or things I should be looking for...

How deep is the water?

Depending on the transducer cone angle, you’re only “mapping” an area roughly (depth / 7) to (depth /3) with each pass.

In 3 feet of water, you’re looking at 6” to 12” wide per pass. Combined a with GPS position accuracy of 3 meters, it’s going to take sometime to collect a safe path for the ski boat

 

[airshot]

Not sure where you are located, but I bought a boat with a Lowrance unit that uses a small card that shows all around the area I live ( great lakes region). I have been up many small rivers and over size creeks with my 16' tinnie and the Lowrance has shown me everything from depth, to drop offs, on the chart screen. This is my first unit like this, so still learning..

 

[dwco5051]

Don't forget that gravel bar you measured at 5' last year might be 2' after a Spring high water event. One of the joys of river boating.

 

[Scott Danforth]

We used to just cruise the river for floaters and deadheads before going skiing. The only instruments in the boat was a speedo

 

[airshot]

We used to just cruise the river for floaters and deadheads before going skiing. The only instruments in the boat was a speedo

How true...but in those days we didnt sue everybody because nothing that happened was ever our fault like todays society !!

 

[dwco5051]

How true...but in those days we didnt sue everybody because nothing that happened was ever our fault like todays society !!

I think that 99% of kids today make it to 21 without ever breaking a bone or having stitches. What a boring childhood.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I think that 99% of kids today make it to 21 without ever breaking a bone or having stitches. What a boring childhood.

You can't progress as you get old and wise without finding your limits when you are young and foolish. And because the chicks dig scars

 

[MotorMan101]

So just look for floaters, dead heads, and chicks that dig scars is the moral of this thread hahaha

The information on the cone of mapping size is good though...My river is allegedly 3-10ft deep but no one has any good maps...so the channel is supposedly good for a long way if you know where it is...

 

[briangcc]

My Eagle FishElite (previous boat) supposedly allowed for custom mapping. Never really delved into that as didn't have the need.

Might check some of the higher up Garmin or Lowrance offerings to see what they have. I know the Garmin Striker 4Plus is miserable in the mapping department - avoid that. I own it (came with the Chap) and it leaves a lot to be desired. It'll leave a trail as to where you were but that's it.

 

[JASinIL2006]

So just look for floaters, dead heads, and chicks that dig scars is the moral of this thread hahaha

The information on the cone of mapping size is good though...My river is allegedly 3-10ft deep but no one has any good maps...so the channel is supposedly good for a long way if you know where it is...

We boat and ski in the Mississippi and Illinois rivers regularly. I do have the card with the detailed maps that @airshot mentioned, but even with those charts we still have to survey the section of river before putting anyone behind the boat. Too may obstacles - floaters, entire trees lodged in the river bottom, etc. - to trust that the water is safe. We just cruise the section of river once or twice to be sure everything is clear.

One feature that you might find helpful in a GPS/fishfinder unit is a 'breadcrumb' feature that shows the path where you previously have boated. Our GPS has information on our last several outings, so if you often boat in a particular area, you'll have a record of where you were. That can help you identify safe parts of the channel, places to beach, etc.

 

[MotorMan101]

We boat and ski in the Mississippi and Illinois rivers regularly. I do have the card with the detailed maps that @airshot mentioned, but even with those charts we still have to survey the section of river before putting anyone behind the boat. Too may obstacles - floaters, entire trees lodged in the river bottom, etc. - to trust that the water is safe. We just cruise the section of river once or twice to be sure everything is clear.

One feature that you might find helpful in a GPS/fishfinder unit is a 'breadcrumb' feature that shows the path where you previously have boated. Our GPS has information on our last several outings, so if you often boat in a particular area, you'll have a record of where you were. That can help you identify safe parts of the channel, places to beach, etc.

The bread crumb feature is kinda what got me into chart plotter Idea. I am on a river that's between a 1/4 mile and half mile wide so I do have to watch the edges and stay to wider areas. However some areas look wide but is actually only 1ft deep. I want to go further up river to explore and am thinking chart it in my kayak floating down before taking a motor boat up..

 

[JASinIL2006]

just keep in mind that river levels can change, so if the water level is down 6 inches, all your measurements will be off by half a foot.

 

[dingbat]

Bear in mind that the maps on these units are simply digitized versions of the NOAA maps.

As such, some maps can be years out of date. You can check for the latest updates here

NOAA Weekly Updates

map

distribution.charts.noaa.gov

 

[MotorMan101]

Bear in mind that the maps on these units are simply digitized versions of the NOAA maps.

As such, some maps can be years out of date. You can check for the latest updates here

NOAA Weekly Updates

map

distribution.charts.noaa.gov

I know the stock maps can but my rivers stock maps show 40ft and I know that's way wrong. I am looking more at mapping it myself with like Garmin quick draw.