Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

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Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Repairs, Maintenance, Information :: Electronics and Electrical

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Fish finder / GPS
CES	#1 Posted on 03/14/09 - 11:41 AM
Member Personal Page Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 2681 Comments: 7 Joined: 04/27/07	I am in the market for a good fish finder for our 13'. Is there a a fish finder / GPS combination type setup available? If not, what is a pretty good fish finder set-up that would work well on a 13'? Cliff 1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker


gigem	#2 Posted on 03/14/09 - 12:56 PM
Member Posts: 136 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/16/08	Garmin 545S


Troy	#3 Posted on 03/14/09 - 3:51 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 96 Comments: 3 Joined: 06/23/08	I just bought the Humminbird 788ci. Integrated gps with a nice big screen. I have not yet installed it, so I can't offer you a review just yet. It seemed like a fairly obvious decision. We'll see.... Troy 1985 Outrage 18


ioptfm	#4 Posted on 03/14/09 - 4:07 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1533 Comments: 3 Joined: 10/28/06	I have the garmin 188c which is a combo unit and have been very pleased. Make sure you get one that has a build in antenna. Much easier to install and less clutter Tom 1979 Sport 15'


mrengles	#5 Posted on 03/14/09 - 8:48 PM
Member Posts: 19 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/09/09	Raymarine A-series. I have the A65 but they no longer make this unit. If you can find one I would jump all over it! A nice article can be found here: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/A60.html 2005 Montauk 170 - 90 HP Mercury Saltwater Series


Guts	#6 Posted on 03/15/09 - 9:21 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 612 Comments: 8 Joined: 11/21/08	mrengles I googled that one, nice looking machine. The one I looked at was about 650 bucks. It has 500 watts rms. Not bad for everything you get for that price.


CES	#7 Posted on 03/15/09 - 3:10 PM
Member Personal Page Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 2681 Comments: 7 Joined: 04/27/07	Those Raymarines are nice looking pieces of equipment but priced a little too high for my blood, especially going on a 13'. The Hummingbird 788ci looks enticing though. Cliff 1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker


Guts	#8 Posted on 03/15/09 - 4:45 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 612 Comments: 8 Joined: 11/21/08	CES I did a very and I stress very quick such on the 788ci I didn't see much of a price difference. I think I would look at the charts or do they use the same. I do not know much about these machines. I do get a bit Leary(sp) when they say "peak to peak" when talking about the sounder output. Any machine putting out 600 or 500 watts "RMS" method, would be good enough for finding fish even very deep water. I see some machines have satellite whether on them now. I think the hardest thing when to learn is; How to know, what you are looking at when sounding bottom. Setting the gain at different depths with 50/200 KHZ... One word "Practice"


burtim	#9 Posted on 03/16/09 - 8:47 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 178 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/10/08	I have a 13' also. I intend to fit it with a unit soon. In all of my looking around I have settled on the Humminbird 798 which has the wide coverage sonar capability. Side imaging has been around on the bigger units and honestly, I can't see the point in getting something without it. I don't want to decipher code, I just want to find fish and catch them. I think the way the side imaging units help you visualize what's down there can help me get to the fish faster. If you fish in shallow to mid depths, it seems to be the bomb.


mrengles	#10 Posted on 03/16/09 - 8:59 AM
Member Posts: 19 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/09/09	burtim wrote:...seems to be the bomb. Interesting 2005 Montauk 170 - 90 HP Mercury Saltwater Series


jquigley	#11 Posted on 03/16/09 - 9:20 AM
Member Posts: 269 Comments: 1 Joined: 07/17/07	burtim wrote: I have a 13' also. I intend to fit it with a unit soon. In all of my looking around I have settled on the Humminbird 798 which has the wide coverage sonar capability. Side imaging has been around on the bigger units and honestly, I can't see the point in getting something without it. I don't want to decipher code, I just want to find fish and catch them. I think the way the side imaging units help you visualize what's down there can help me get to the fish faster. If you fish in shallow to mid depths, it seems to be the bomb. A similar unit will be in my boat as well, I eluded to it in the "What projects do you have planned?" post some time ago. I think Side Imaging is the ticket.


CES	#12 Posted on 03/16/09 - 11:19 AM
Member Personal Page Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 2681 Comments: 7 Joined: 04/27/07	Ya know, I just don't know a whole lot about fish finders/plotters. I certainly would like the option of looking at the bottom and knowing where I am all in the same unit. I see the Humingbird 798 offers that. Not really wanting to drop a whole lot of coin for my 13'....just want the best bang for my buck. Cliff 1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker


jquigley	#13 Posted on 03/16/09 - 11:38 AM
Member Posts: 269 Comments: 1 Joined: 07/17/07	CES wrote: I certainly would like the option of looking at the bottom and knowing where I am ...just want the best bang for my buck. Simple, just like Mastercard says... Pair of goggles...$10 Snorkel.............$10 Swim fins...........$10 50 ft rope..........$10 Good knot.........$0 Having your kid tie off to the boat, going for a swim and telling you whats down there... Priceless Edited by jquigley on 03/16/09 - 11:39 AM


CES	#14 Posted on 03/16/09 - 12:02 PM
Member Personal Page Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 2681 Comments: 7 Joined: 04/27/07	jquigley....I laughed so hard, the guys in the next office over heard me...thanks for the chuckle. Thing is, my 7 y/o son would do just that.... I am the one holding up from doing so...the water temp is still in the 50's around here. But you're right, that is an inexpensive way to do what I need to get done. Lol...thanks. Cliff 1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker


jquigley	#15 Posted on 03/16/09 - 1:24 PM
Member Posts: 269 Comments: 1 Joined: 07/17/07	Amend my last post to inlude a wet suit. A little pricey but still less than that Humminbird.


burtim	#16 Posted on 03/16/09 - 6:48 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 178 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/10/08	Yeah, but when your kid doesn't come back up after he sees his first mermaid, you can find him with the Humminbird!


jquigley	#17 Posted on 03/16/09 - 6:51 PM
Member Posts: 269 Comments: 1 Joined: 07/17/07	Burtim, you are right. Cliff, you will have to get the swim gear and the Humminbird!


Barryg	#18 Posted on 03/17/09 - 5:41 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 242 Comments: 1 Joined: 04/01/08	Lowrance 522c on sale at Bass Pro for $399.00. It has what you needed. I have two. BG


CES	#19 Posted on 03/18/09 - 7:06 PM
Member Personal Page Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 2681 Comments: 7 Joined: 04/27/07	Thanks Barry for the input. I tried to look up the Lowrance 522c on the Bass pro website and didn't see that model at all. Are you sure that is the correct model? Cliff 1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker


jquigley	#20 Posted on 03/18/09 - 7:11 PM
Member Posts: 269 Comments: 1 Joined: 07/17/07	I didn't see it either, I went here... http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/sto...lectronics Definitely some other good deals though.