Furuno 1870

[Fish Assassin]

Any thoughts?
Thought I'd get this away from the Lowrance thread.

Full 7in screen, 1kw transducer, and a chart card covering Pudget Sound to the Charlottes packaged together for about $1400-$1500US. Online reviews are great. Going to go play with one this week.

 

[Sculpin]

I've been reading about them quite a bit lately and I think it's one hell of a package for that price. You would be really happy with that unit IMHO.

 

[albernifisher]

I read on another site that lowrance is going to be coming out with a chirp option for the hds for under $1000.00
Not sure if there is any truth to it?

 

[Fish Assassin]

But when you start adding up all the costs you get more from Furuno for the money. If I was to go with the cheaper transducer I'd be into it for under $1000. The transducer alone that I'd be getting is $1000 for the Lowrance. And is inclued in the package I be getting from the US.

I can't find complaints for the Furuno like I can Lowrance on the net. That kind of says something.

Look at commercial boats most have Furuno or Raymarine. Don't have to think about why to long when your see the positive reviews online.

 

[scotth]

Where did you find that package? It seems like a pretty good deal

 

[profisher]

I run a Furuno 1kw sounder and used to run a Furuno paper sounder back when they were still popular. They are the best in my opinion.

 

[Libbs]

I'm looking for a descent sounder now too...

FA, did you ever get out to play with one of these? Are you willing to share a link to where you found the package deal?

 

[Fish Assassin]

Seacom in CR has one on display and can be played with. He recommending staying with the 600w trandcuser and was just a couple hundred more then buying down south. GLG actually played with it more then me, even the store owner was not yet familiar with it. Told him I'd give him a couple weeks to play with it and then I'd come back.

Black Friday coming quick might order from US just not sure.

 

[Sr SQ]

Staying with the 600w ducer is the same as buying slightly more than half the machine.
A ducer is a sounders eyes, the better the eyes the more it sees.....period!

 

[Fish Assassin]

You saying you are not in favor of a 600w Airmar Transducer?

I think the guy said if we were in water less then 500 feet the 600w was all we would need

 

[Sr SQ]

Yes that all you will need.............. however a 1kw ducer is 25-50 times more sensitive than the 600w one depending on the model.
Sensitivity is the name of the game in ducer performance, its the sounders ears so the more it hears the more you see regardless of depth.
Only you can decide if the price difference is worth the extra performance.

 

[profisher]

Generally speaking a plastic housing transducer will not have the performance of a bronze unit. The power and pulses of a better sonar will prematurely weaken or crack a plastic housing. Bronze allows more power and stronger pulses without damaging the housing itself. I would question the true continuous power output of any Sounder if it comes standard with a transducer element encased in plastic.

 

[Fish Assassin]

I was looking at a bronze transducer and mounting it to a 90 degree bracket on my transom.

 

[ziggy]

Yes that all you will need.............. however a 1kw ducer is 25-50 times more sensitive than the 600w one depending on the model.
Sensitivity is the name of the game in ducer performance, its the sounders ears so the more it hears the more you see regardless of depth.
Only you can decide if the price difference is worth the extra performance.

I think you may be confusing the transducer's transmitter side with the receiver side.

 

[Sculpin]

I was looking at a bronze transducer and mounting it to a 90 degree bracket on my transom.

I would look at plastic or stainless. Bronze is as bad as a penny in the bilge. Airmar makes plastic and stainless models for aluminum boats. You can isolate the stainless good enough that electrolysis won't be much of an issue. I would never put anything bronze on my boat .

 

[Fish Assassin]

Maybe it was stainless. There was a couple the guy showed us I thought they were just chromed. He said one of the local builder used them on their boats by installing a 90 degree bracket. It was silver with a black eye in the middle. What worried me was damaging the eye on the beach.

 

[ziggy]

Yes that all you will need.............. however a 1kw ducer is 25-50 times more sensitive than the 600w one depending on the model.
Sensitivity is the name of the game in ducer performance, its the sounders ears so the more it hears the more you see regardless of depth.
Only you can decide if the price difference is worth the extra performance.

I think you may be confusing the transducer's transmitter side with the receiver side. While increasing power is a factor it is not the only factor. The sensitivity of the receiver as well as thge directivity index can also make a huge difference.

 

[Sculpin]

Maybe it was stainless. There was a couple the guy showed us I thought they were just chromed. He said one of the local builder used them on their boats by installing a 90 degree bracket. It was silver with a black eye in the middle. What worried me was damaging the eye on the beach.

That sounds like the stainless model. That bracket your talking about off the transom is the way to go. It sounds like a sweet set up man.

 

[profisher]

I made up a transom mount for my large bronze transducer ...it allows you to pull the transducer up behind the transom when running and lower it below the transom when fishing.

 

[Fish Assassin]

I had also looked at one of these Airmars in 1kw