Which GPS/Sonar?

[gasman]

Been looking at GPS/ Sonars. Trying to decide which one is better, reliable and accurate.

Looking in the $500 +/- range.


Opinions please 

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Boating-Electronics/Sonar-and-SonarGPS-Combos%7C/pc/104794380/c/104707080/sc/104588280/Garminreg-echoMap-50s-SonarGPS-Combo/1577767.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fsonar-and-sonar-gps-combos%2Fgarmin%2F_%2FN-1100517%2B1000003497%2FNe-1000003497%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104588280%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104794380%253Bcat104707080%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104794380%3Bcat104707080%3Bcat104588280

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Boating-Electronics/Sonar-and-SonarGPS-Combos%7C/pc/104794380/c/104707080/sc/104588280/Lowrance174-HDS-5-Gen-2-Combo/1298620.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fsonar-and-sonar-gps-combos%2Flowrance%2F_%2FN-1100517%2B1000003916%2FNe-1000003916%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104588280%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104794380%253Bcat104707080%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104794380%3Bcat104707080%3Bcat104588280


 

[bassquatch]

For freshwater, Lowrance or Humminbird would be my top 2 choices! I have run 1 Humminbird, 4 different Lowrance units and 1 Ray Marine, I currently run 2 Lowrance units (a 5" and an 8" HDS) on my bass boat and am happy with them. It's more about getting in tune with the one you buy rather than which one is better than the other. Take the time to understand how it works so you know what you are looking at or they are all useless! Get out on the water and commit a day to going through the entire owner's manual, it's worth it!

Also, before you purchase look at the prices at hodgesmarine.com I have purchased my last 3 units through them and have zero complaints! Saved a few hundred bucks as well 

[mallard79]

Tagging. It's time to upgrade!

[BigD]

I would take a look at the GPSstore.com they have a ton of choices.
I have the garmin 4212 on my boat and it works great for what I do(ocean fishing), I plan to upgrade the old koden radar with a garmin to tie into the 4212 this year, also have the fuel flow modules for the outboards going in. The garmin is very easy to use.
I also hear good reviews on the lowrance.
Can't go wrong with either.
Spend that 1100 dollars you saved by getting the bigger boat on good electronics.

[Cap.Silver]

I have Garmin 4212 on network (you can add all kinds of stuff  )  just because I hate the little 5" (diagonal) screens mounted at the helm and you're trying to look at them from the stern of 19' boat  ...however if I were you I'd go with Lowrance ...  last year I talked to Garmin customer service people and Garmin is cooking something like the Lowrance side view feature ,but is not done yet. Sometimes "Get feet wet " might have some refurbished units for less (I bought mine there and never had a problem with it ) Make sure you order the right sounder with your sonar and mount it right.

[FC]

I got this one last year.
 http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/Fishfinder-Chartplotter/Elite7-HDI-en-us.aspx

I really like it, hdi is really only good good on calm water though, any waves will show up as ripples on the bottom. It has enough detail though that I have spotted crabs on the bottom, wrecked boats nearly or completely submerged in the mud etc.

I typically just use its standard sonar. The gps has been solid as well and seems very accurate which makes it very easy to mark a school of fish and troll right back through it. If you get it or one similar I can help you out with some setup tips to get it working as it should. Default settings were awful, seems to be the norm for most fishfinders for some reason.

[jeepster]

Go with a lowrance HDS platform

I picked up a hds5 naughtic insight for around 500, it was a reman, but it has the nmea2000 interface, plug n play capability, and a whole list of goodies you can buy later, like 4g satellite weather, radar, radar/weather/chart plotter overlay, side scan sonar, underwater imaging, plus you can flip between screens whether it's engine data, charts, split screen, and an amazing sonar. Just make sure to get the right transducer. You can also get multiple units. For example, get the gps/sonar/plotter combo unit, then get the cheaper sonar only model, and use it as a monitor, and run multiple units so you can have one doing full screen sonar, and then the other, run your engine gauges and bottom contour charts. Plus, they are AMAZING on power consumption

I forgot to say even the best unit will run like crap if you don't have the right transducer, I can't stress that enough. Do your research

[gasman]

This is what I went with 
After doing more research, it was my best option and Sportco has them on sale for $499 right now 

Played with it all ready. Hooked it up to a battery and had fun with it. Can't wait to get the boat and, install it, and get out on the water.

Go with a lowrance HDS platform

I picked up a hds5 naughtic insight for around 500, it was a reman, but it has the nmea2000 interface, plug n play capability, and a whole list of goodies you can buy later, like 4g satellite weather, radar, radar/weather/chart plotter overlay, side scan sonar, underwater imaging, plus you can flip between screens whether it's engine data, charts, split screen, and an amazing sonar. Just make sure to get the right transducer. You can also get multiple units. For example, get the gps/sonar/plotter combo unit, then get the cheaper sonar only model, and use it as a monitor, and run multiple units so you can have one doing full screen sonar, and then the other, run your engine gauges and bottom contour charts. Plus, they are AMAZING on power consumption

I forgot to say even the best unit will run like crap if you don't have the right transducer, I can't stress that enough. Do your research