Fishfinder vs Depth/Speed - Which do YOU use? RECOMMENDATIONS??

Sumner · Apr 2, 2010

Hummingbird-----Eagle for two....

http://www.nightgalaxy.com/Marine_Products_s/1401.htm

....google around for better pricing,

Sum

rpwillia · Apr 3, 2010

Fishfinder

For depth, go with a fishfinder. The amount of additional information and situational awareness you get is worth it over just a depth readout. For speed you probably want a gps. Consider a combo unit; for what you are considering for an ST40 and the Lowrance you can get a combo unit.

sailingdog · Apr 3, 2010

You're not going to find a single unit that does what you're looking for, especially in your price range. The Lowrance does three of the four, but the transducer to get boat speed through water is more than $50 itself, much less having the electronics on the backend to support it.

damoses1 said:
I am currently going back and forth between transom mount fishfinders and depth gauges.

In the order of most to least important, I would like to have a unit that displays:

1. Depth
2. Speed
3. Water temp
4. Fish

I also don't want to spend more than $250.

The fishfinder I am looking at is the Lowrance Mark-5X Pro, ($200) which has depth and water temp, but no speed indication. My problem with this fishfinder is that Lowrance has had mixed reviews and I am questioning the reliability. Also, without speed indication, I will have to rely on my Navionics GPS iphone app, which doesn't track speed until you reach 5mph- which is less than helpful.

The speed/depth gauge I am looking at is the Raymarine ST40 ($240) which is a reliable brand name, but doesn't show fish, contours of the ground, or water temp.

If you know of a unit that has all the features I need at a price that is under $250, please help!

I would also be interested in hearing about your experiences with fishfinders, depth gauges, and the top name brands.

Thank You!

Bill Roosa · Apr 3, 2010

Over thiinking vs having fun

I bet that if you look behind the boat while moving at various speeds you can get to the point where you can estimate your speed to within a 1/2 knot. You don't really need speed through the water unless you are racing.
I bet if you look at the paper chart you can tell the depth just by knowing which nav aid you are near. Finding fish, well the hummingbird I had only showed a fish twice in the two years I used it. Did show bottom profile though. Course the bottom profile behind you is pretty useless. The PO put in a forward looking depth finder and I find the bottom profile ahead of me much more useful.
I have kids so testing the water temp is automatic
For the record I don't fish from the boat

Ross · Apr 3, 2010

Re: Over thiinking vs having fun

I use a fish finder and depend on the trend shown of the bottom contour to have an idea of what is ahead. My fish finder shows the slope of the bottom and in the chesapeake that can be very important.

WTA · Apr 3, 2010

I get everything that you are looking for except water temp with an Eagle Cuda 300 fishfinder ($70) and a Garmin eTrex Legend ($125). That will leave you about $55 to spend on beer, or a shoot thru transducer that can be mounted inside the hull. Tough decision.

An alternative setup would be the Eagle Cuda 350 ($250) which is a fishfinder and GPS in a single unit. I already had the eTrex so the decision was made for me.

Fair Winds,
WTA

hawk232 · Apr 3, 2010

while the screen isnt the largest, the eagle 250 (i THINK that one is discontinued now, the 320 replaced it) does everything you want (except maybe the temp) and costs $250 on the nose (and I caught mine on sale for $200 at academy). I would check into that one if I was you, for the money its hard to beat.

Sumner · Apr 3, 2010

Well here is one (Eagle Cuda 350) for $200 that the two previous posts talked about and they posted while I was reading about it

, but I'll post anyway. As they said it has all you asked for and even has GPS and some built-in maps (can't find out much about the maps though)? Here are a couple links (got good reviews on the first)....

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...070102&cm_ite=0065672020560a&_requestid=31826

Company web site.....

http://www.eaglenav.com/Products/Fishfinders/CUDA-350-SMap/Specifications/

Manual.....

http://www.eaglenav.com/upload/Eagle/Documents/Manuals/Cuda-350-SMAP-0152-32A-120808.pdf

We are possibly looking for a new unit and I'm going to give this one a closer look.

Sum

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Ross · Apr 3, 2010

We have a reef not far from our marina where the depth changes from 65 feet to 9 feet in a couple of hundred feet. All you would see on a depth sounder is the changing numbers but with the fish finder you can watch the slope change from nearly cliff like to a gradual flattening and then to a gradual down slope on the far side. For me it is comforting to know when I have crossed the ridge. To watch the numbers change like a digital clock with no indication that it wasn't going to continue would for me be disconcerting.

Stu Jackson · Apr 3, 2010

If you sail in water with currents, you really should have both SOG and STW.

JoeWhite · Apr 3, 2010

I just installed Raymarine ST60+ Tridata - deph/speed/temp and has timer for racing, shallow depth alarm, shallow depth anchor alarm. I am quite happy with it and if you email me I will tell you where to get it for the best price. It is more than what your max limit is. haro_b@att.net

mavourneen · Apr 4, 2010

I have the Eagle CUDA 350. It cost me 200.00. I believe it was worth every cent. Its a fish finder/depth finder/GPS. Yes GPS.I see there are other post about the CUDA 350 and I agree with them. Reed the blogs. I can't find a negative one.

Sumner · Apr 4, 2010

mavourneen said:
I have the Eagle CUDA 350. It cost me 200.00. I believe it was worth every cent. Its a fish finder/depth finder/GPS. Yes GPS.I see there are other post about the CUDA 350 and I agree with them. Reed the blogs. I can't find a negative one.

Do you know anything about the NEMA 183 input feature with it. Can you download waypoints to it?

Also did you mount the transducer inside?

Thanks,

Sum

caguy · Apr 4, 2010

I bought my Garmin 188 on Ebay for $200 with a map card of New York shoreline. I sold the map card for $75 and bought a California Map Card on Ebay for $25 that goes from Pt Arguello to Puerto Vallarta. If you are patient you can get some good deals there.
The 188 is not not the color one but it does have a fish finder, gps, and speed through water. It also connects with my radio for DSC functions.
http://www.youtube.com/user/xcaguyx1#p/u/2/AlPI1prXFU0

Windward · Apr 5, 2010

fishfinder/depth

The canal I sail out from in SW Florida is very shallow so depth is very important to me for my '89 Catalina 22 WK. I have installed a Humminbird/Piranha in the hull midships going thru the drawer on starboard side. If put on transom it may be too late. It works great and it is CHEAP. Speed I get from GPS. (PiranhaMAX 150 or 160 by Humminbird)

moparv104x4 · Apr 5, 2010

Take your time mounting the speed sensor. Make sure it will stay in the water when the boat heals. Also make sure there is a smooth uninterrupted flow of water past the speed wheel. You will find most sailboats will have eddies at the stern caused from the rudder, prop, or keel that will throw off the speed by as much as 3 knots from true boat speed.

MoonSailer · Apr 5, 2010

Both work well. I have a depth sounder for use when I don't expect sudden depth changes and a fishfinder mounted way forward under the V berth for slow going in shallow water. This saved me recently I ran aground but so softly I could easily back off. GPS works for speed. With a GPS there is little need for dead reckoning. Speed through the water would be useful but not critical.

Sumner · Apr 5, 2010

damoses1 said:
FYI - I think I have found my solution. The Humminbird 570 fishfinder is currently on sale at Cabela's for $185. It has temp and depth. For $35 (shipped) at amazon.com I can add the speed sensor. I am going to buy this combination.

Thanks for all the comments and feedback!

If you are going to get that and shoot thru the hull you will most likely loose the temp (you will know the temp inside the bottom of the boat). Some of those will allow you to buy a second temp gauge.

That has a nice display, but for us we aren't fishing, so that is a minor consideration in the purchase. Just my feelings, but I think the Cuda 350 has that one beat if you aren't that interested in fishing.

The best though,

Sum