GPS/Sonar combo????

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TheGreatEscape

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Apr 10, 2008
5
Hunter 34 Annapolis
I am looking for suggestions on a GPS/Sonar combo that will give me the best bang for the buck. Basically, I am looking to get a unit for my 1983 Hunter 34 that will give me all the basic info I need to get from one point to another without running aground:). Hopefully, without denting my wallet too much. Also, is it worth the extra $ for the WAAS system? I am fairly new to sailing and would appreciate any help you can give. Thanks, Chris.
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
I just went through what you are looking to do. I found, because of the deals I hit it was less expensive to split them up. Thanks to Scott posting a deal on this board I got a Humminbird 785c2i GPS chartplotter with Navionics Gold+ maps preloaded for $235. I kept looking, almost daily and found a Humminbird 525 fishfinder that has several alarms and a hefty 5" by 5" screen for $128 shipping included. Just recieved it yesterday I can have both systems running together and get more visual information without using a split screen.

Hope this helps. Look for those deals daily on Google Shopping.

 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Do a search on "Hummingbird" and

"Humminbird" right here on this site. Recently there was a looooong discussion about just this subject.
 
RAD

RAD

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Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
After having a Garmin chart plotter I went and bought the black box sonar and love it, the original depth gauge was on the bulkhead right where people would sit and the transducer was mounted behind the keel so I would be aground before the system knew it.
Now I have both depth finders and the sonar shows up on the same screen as my gps saving clutter at the helm
 
som1335

som1335

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Mar 2, 2009
49
2 33 Rockland
For what its worth i had a Garmin 440 on my Mac 26X. It was less that $500 on the net and this model comes with all the maps you will ever need for the US including the Great lakes. the only thing you will get out of extra maps is aerial pictures of certain ports. As is it is full color, can view either GPS or sonar or both. I thought both would be ridiculous on such a small screen, but nay nay. Clarity is so good screen size is NOT an issue. Unit shows Tides and services info and can be updated either by the card slot, or from the satelite. I bought mine with 2 years of updates and they were downloaded to the unit with no prompting. Also there is no external antenna needed.

New boat has a Raymarine so I let the old GPS go with the boat but if I was gong to buy another no doubt it would be the G 440.
 
T

TheGreatEscape

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Apr 10, 2008
5
Hunter 34 Annapolis
Thanks for all the info. Along those same lines, there is a depth sounder installed on the boat now. I believe it is the one that came with the boat when manufactured. It is a datamarine system (not sure of the model right now). Last summer it would work some times and others it would display 188.8 (all of the lcd lit up). I didn't know if this was an issue with the display unit or the transducer? Also, if it is the unit, can I connect a new sonar unit to the old transducer, saving the $ to have it hauled out of the water?
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
You may want to think about how many more years you could get out of that system as compared to the deals that are out there right now in this recession and high inventory. Once the inventory levels get where the manufactures need them to be, the prices are going back up.
 
BarryL

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,119
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
Hello,

Lowrance makes some good and inexpensive combo GPS / SONAR units. My first unit was a sub $400 unit with a 3.5" screen. It came with detailed charts and a good SONAR unit. When i sold the boat I let that unit go with it. With my next boat I bought a more expensive unit that cost about $550. It had a 5" screen, NMEA 2000 and 0183, and lots more bells and whistles.

I am very happy with Lowrance.

Barry
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
GPS/Sonar

I have a Garmin 498. It comes with all the charts preloaded, and a built in sonar. You can go with a small digital depth readout when using it as a chart plotter, or go to a full screen fish finder or flasher. Very nice unit. I have no experience with the Hummingbird or Lowrance combo units. I do have a very old Lowrance hand held GPS as a backup, that has been excellent for many years. So they are definately good units.
 
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