Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by arthureld on 05/01/07 - 5:42 AM

What's a good GPS, fish finder & depth sounder?
Is it possible to get all in one?
It's for my 13' so I want something removable, small and not too expensive.
I have a Garmin Nuvi 350 that I use on my motorcycle and luv it. But I need something for marine use.

Posted by MWH on 05/01/07 - 7:03 AM

It really depends on your budget. The units available these days are awesome and have many functions. I recently installed a Lowrance LCX-28HD (GPS/MAP, FF, 7" color screen) it came with pre-loaded maps, antenna and transducer. I've had good luck with Lowrance, no problems....For a 13' I suggest you look for something with at least a 5" screen.

Check these sonar chartplotter combos, (Lowrance LMS-527C DF IGPS appox. 699.00)...(Hummingbird 787c2i combo I-GPS approx. $649.00)...(Hummingbird 383c combo approx. $399.00)...(Garmin GPSMAP 4981 combo approx. $779.99)...Good luck in your search.

Posted by wywhaler on 05/01/07 - 10:43 PM

You might check out Sitex for their Profish II refurbished units. They come with the Sitex 2 yr warranty. You get the fishfinder, a new 18 channel GPS and a new transom mount transducer with speed and temp. Cost; $299 unless you want the model with the chartplotter maps then $499.

Customer service told me that the only thing replaced was the case because they were boat show displays. Never in the water.

When I'm on the water I can't get over how great it works and only costs $299. Maybe you could go to their website and check it out. They are an old company with good products.

Ron

Posted by RGT on 05/02/07 - 5:22 AM

If it helps any, I have a Lowrance LMS 320 (sonar-GPS) on my 130 Whaler. The unit is going on 4 years old and I can report no problem. Fact is I have the same unit on my 160 Dauntless. My reasoning was that if one unit went out I could use the other until I bought a replacement. Knock on wood, I haven't had the need to do so (yet). ;)

Good luck.

Posted by jschmidt63 on 05/02/07 - 6:46 AM

many nice combo units available and the prices seem to be coming down. I have heard of folks in big water keeping them separate for safety. Say your ff goes down you still have chartplotter, but thats a chunk more money for seperate units and more console space.

I fish the Chesapeake Bay some and could use a chartplotter but getting by with a hand held gps (with basic us map) mounted on console, with paper charts and a Humminbird Matrix 17.

Posted by arthureld on 05/02/07 - 9:14 PM

I really want 1 simple unit. And I am probably going with a Garmin.
I've seen somone talking about the 178c that they liked here in another thread. That seems about what I want, but there are so many choices. :o
Do I need a external antenna? Dual freq. transducer?
I Can get a Garmin 178c at GPS Store for $539.

Edited by arthureld on 05/02/07 - 9:30 PM

Posted by alfred ching on 05/13/07 - 10:48 AM

your frequency depends on what depth you will be using and how much you want to see. If you are in shallow water most units on the market are ok. Garmin has some nice units and the information can be transferred to you home computer, a chart plotter would be nice. I have saved all my fishing trips on my pc with notes for future reference. I generall fish in water between 400 to 900 feet deep and I fish the bottom, so my need are different. Good Luck, buy what you need, but do not over buy for your needs.