Best Fish Finder

[Sr SQ]

The way to approach Furuno on a budget is to stay just behind the newest technology. They just came out with the Furuno 627 and its big brother, the 587.

People who had the 620 and the 585 now just HAVE to get the latest and greatest so they end up dumping their 620's and 585's (which only a few years ago were the "best" sounders on the market.

It's tough to beat a 620 and a P66 transducer--- you could get that installed on a boat for $ 500 -- $ 600 these days, the 585 + P66 for a few hundred more.

ebay always has 620's and 585's. There's NOTHING wrong with buying pre-owned Furuno marine elctronics---just make sure the screen isn't fogged or scratched. P66's are easy to find for $ 50 - 75

I agree, Furuno makes a great product but like anything quality gear isnt cheap so you would need to find a used unit to stay with in your budget.
A close 2nd would be a used HDS with the same ducer. They are a pretty good unit once you replace the stock ducer.

 

[Sharphooks]

I have a full suite of Furuno--- Ultra High Def radar, fluxgate compass (heading sensor), MFD12 GPS, DFF1 and 587

All of this equipment was purchased pre-owned (with the exception of the 587 which was too new to have any second-hand units out on the market)

I never thought twice about buying pre-owned Furuno--- they are built to LAST. Look at all the commie boats running 15 year old radars, sounders and chartplotters. They just go and go. If they power up and there are no screen issues, you're usually safe. Not necessarily the case with G and R and L and S

 

[sly_karma]

For your budget you're looking at either used gear or new hardware with 5" screen. Suggest you stay away from combo units in that smaller screen size, too small to read split screen display effectively.

 

[gearjammer]

Times 2 re Denise at HC.

If you're going Harb Chan Nan, talk directly to Denise...she knows gps/fishfinders inside out.
I've had some electronic technical issues with advice taken from others there.....

 

[Da Bay Bye]

Thanks for all the input, HC sounds like the place to go. Next time I am in the area I will drop in.

Thanks again

 

[reelfast]

I added the stand alone Ray Dragonfly. its about $700US and comes complete with a chart chip covering US and Canadian waters as well as a matched transducer. it has a GPS and sonar as well as 'down vision' Ray's take on CHIRP. it works very well, is compact and easily installed in relatively small spaces. it does not integrate to anything else, so that is a caution for you. for the price and performance, it is hard to beat this one.

 

[GDW]

Although I'm certain the P66 and other upgraded transducers are better there really is nothing wrong with the stock Lawrence transducer. When I bought my hds7 I went looking for a p66 and kept getting told the stock one is fine so I put it on.

I can keep bottom contact AND see fish while cruising at 20mph +. Makes it easy - almost too easy to look for fish.

No they are not clean arches at 20mph and most people wound look and say the screen is all static you can't see anything. But you can! Pay close attention and when you go over the bait or the fish you'll see your output change.

I can watch my halibut gear or cod jig in over 200ft of water too (assuming slow current).

 

[spring fever]

Although I'm certain the P66 and other upgraded transducers are better there really is nothing wrong with the stock Lawrence transducer. When I bought my hds7 I went looking for a p66 and kept getting told the stock one is fine so I put it on).

I recently bought an hds7 for my back deck. I put on the stock Lawrence transducer-I believe it is an 83/200 kHz one. I also have an old lcx 15 Lawrence up front in which the transducer was fried so I put on an airmar p66. I couldn't believe the difference on the old machine-it was fabulous-I could read it at 25 K-seldom lost bottom. I was sold on Airmar-Talked to harbour chandler and without trying the little stock Lawrence sounder I switched and paid the difference for another P66. Couldn't be happier- this in no way disputes gdw' s findings the hds7 may work great with the Lawrence transducer but the P66 gave an old sounder such an upgrade-and HC gave me such a super deal to trade the stock sounder for a P66 I couldn't refuse. Super machine with a P66 as well!!
s

 

[burnsy22]

I recently bought an hds7 for my back deck. I put on the stock Lawrence transducer-I believe it is an 83/200 kHz one. I also have an old lcx 15 Lawrence up front in which the transducer was fried so I put on an airmar p66. I couldn't believe the difference on the old machine-it was fabulous-I could read it at 25 K-seldom lost bottom. I was sold on Airmar-Talked to harbour chandler and without trying the little stock Lawrence sounder I switched and paid the difference for another P66. Couldn't be happier- this in no way disputes gdw' s findings the hds7 may work great with the Lawrence transducer but the P66 gave an old sounder such an upgrade-and HC gave me such a super deal to trade the stock sounder for a P66 I couldn't refuse. Super machine with a P66 as well!!
s

Spring fever makes a good point...I ran an HDS 7 and HDS10 with the stock 200/83 transducer. When I switched to the P66 this year it definitely was an improvement. That being said the HDS models are so powerful, they do not improve them as much as they improve the LCX 15 or older Lowrance models prior to the HDS.

GDW's findings are interesting because I could not keep bottom while travelling with my stock transducer, but I can be going 35+ knots and keep bottom with the P66 up to 600ft+. I think being able to keep bottom with the less powerful stock transducer has alot to do with the boat design and where the transducer is mounted.