Fish finder

[RyGuy525]

I'm getting a new fish finder for my boat this spring and think i've narrowed it down to 2 choices. BottomLine Tournament 480 max or the Tournament 5100. First off are these good units? And second wich one should i get? Either way I'm getting the model with temp and speed.

[RyGuy525]

Im waiting for some responses from SFW, Esox, or Gonefishing-John. I know you guys really know your stuff!:help: :gaga:

[chamookman]

Ryan - I've used Bottomline units for years. The Tournament Master HR to be specific. Great unit. For a monocrome (grey) the 5100 will work very well. BL's have always been known for great resolution. The price on the 5100, makes it very attractive for the unit You will get. C-man

[Czarthree]

Ryan, I have the Bottomline Tournament Master HR/ GPS on the console and the 480 max on the bow. Both are great units. Bass Pro has the 480Max for $99. Hard to beat that price. The speed transducer will be extra though and you`ll probably have to order that seperate. The resolution on the 480 is outstanding. The 5100 is a great unit as well but will cost ya more. The resolution is the same with screen size being the major difference. Really it`s a matter of preference to your needs.

[Czarthree]

You probably already have it but here is the link to Bottomline to compare stats of the units you`re interested in. Good luck with your purchase http://www.cannondownriggers.com/site/html/htmlsite/bl/products.htm

[shametamer]

Ryan, I have the Bottomline Tournament Master HR/ GPS on the console and the 480 max on the bow. Both are great units. Bass Pro has the 480Max for $99. Hard to beat that price. The speed transducer will be extra though and you`ll probably have to order that seperate. The resolution on the 480 is outstanding. The 5100 is a great unit as well but will cost ya more. The resolution is the same with screen size being the major difference. Really it`s a matter of preference to your needs.
hey Czar! always meant to ask.....is the pic of the Czarbarge ,taken from her at rest ,on the southern end of south manistique lake?.....newburgh? ice? on a sunny weds morn? find me a walleye!;)

[Gone Fishing]

Sorry Ryguy, I don't have any experience with the Bottom Line units. From looking at their specs, they seem quite impressive for the money. I have a Furuno and a Simrad and although they are top of the line, I really can't say that they are worth the money. I'm pretty sure ESOX has a bottom Line. If he doesn't respond, send him a PM to get his input. Good luck with your purchase! Also, I'm going to move this to the boat rigging forum and hopefully that will get you a few more responses.

[Czarthree]

hey Czar! always meant to ask.....is the pic of the Czarbarge ,taken from her at rest ,on the southern end of south manistique lake?.....newburgh? ice? on a sunny weds morn? find me a walleye!;)
Yes indeed, Shametamer. S,Manistique to be sure. Only it was resting on the north side outside Portage Creek. Off the resort we stay at, The North Shore Resort. Love it there. :coolgleam

[RyGuy525]

Thanks guys and thank you john for moving it here. I'm using my tax return to pay for this so I still have atleast a month to think about it. Keep any and all responses coming please!

[sfw1960]

Thanks for the kind words Ryan!
;)
TBL units are chinese imports - supported by Johnson Ind. (Humminbird , MinnKota) and for the jack - are d@mn hard to beat. The displays are not really great for contrast & viewing angle - but that's GF's units cost so dang much... you DO get what you pay for. I saw the 5100 on clearance @ Cabela's & though what a great deal for not a ton of money -- BIG screen too.
Hell if the C-Man likes his - what's NOT to like??
:lol: :lol:
DO send Paul a PM - ESOX does own one & he'll give you pros AND cons , pretty unbiased at that!
:evilsmile
G'Luck!!

Robert

[baydog2]

Tournament Master HR on his boat is a nice and clear. I like the wide screen and big numbers that are visable from the back of the boat no problem. Only problem is that the flat screens on a lot of these units, is the glare you get off of it and you have to adjust them accordingly by tipping up or down. Real nice unit for the dollar thou.

[Jason Adam]

With what it costs now, you'd be silly not to buy color. The difference is night and day. Lance Valantine is doing some seminars at some local gander mountians. See if you can catch his Sonar seminar before you buy. Best seminar on anything that I have ever sat through...

[RyGuy525]

I dont have all that much money....I'm a college kid color is out of my budget.

[sfw1960]

Ryan ,
You'll have to excuse Jason - he thinks everybody gets a doctor's income & we all should have a $3000 Garmin or Furuno "LaZerPhoniC 9000" , cuz ya can't catch 'em without it.....
:lol: :lol:
Actually the Eagle 320c is about $219 - but it's not a big unit like that TBL5100 - but then you're getting into a preference thing.....
:cool:
http://image.basspro.com/images/images2/92500/92516.jpg

Eagle® FishEasy® 320C Color Compact Fishfinder (http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=58287&hvarDept=200&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=1&hvarSubCode=1&hvarTarget=browse)

~ OR ~

http://image.basspro.com/images/images2/92500/92854-t.jpg
Humminbird® 141C Fishfinder (http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=73393&hvarDept=200&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=1&hvarSubCode=1&hvarTarget=browsev)

^^ $229 ^^

Jason's right BTW - color is a BIGTIME difference. I'll NEVER fish in B&W again.
:evilsmile
pERcHsCouT's H0n0R.
:fish2:

R

[RyGuy525]

The bottomline has a so much higher pixel count so wouldn't that have better resolution even though it is black and white?

[FishTales]

I don't know what price you got, but Cabelas has them on sale right now.
Click on the link below. Rich
Bottomline 5100 (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602025-cat602011&rid=&indexId=cat602011&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat602011&id=0017741)

[RyGuy525]

What will the bigger screen do for me? that seems to be the only real diffrence between the 2 units.

[Gone Fishing]

What will the bigger screen do for me? that seems to be the only real diffrence between the 2 units.
When you get to my age and wearing bi-focals, you'll figure out that answer real quick. :lol:

[RyGuy525]

Well im just a youngster and dont wear glasses even so will the bigger screen really do anything more for me than the smaller one?

[sfw1960]

The bottomline has a so much higher pixel count so wouldn't that have better resolution even though it is black and white?

Color will show your the variations in echo strengths - I've had 82 , 128, 200 , 240 ,320 ,480 & 640 (v) pixels screens and YES the screen resolution is "better" but the machines' receiver can only discern so much. Case in point ; My 787c2 Humminbird has 640 V. pixels and my LMS332c has 480 but I use the LMS for SONAR charting and I like the way it marks fish better than the higher resolution screen on the Hummiinbird. Waterfoul (among quite a few others here on the board) has an X67c and I've used Mike's before in his boat - it marks fish just fine - remember when you split screen - zoom a machine (that has that capability) you can double or quadruple your effective pixel count for the bottom half or quarter of the screen. [320X2=640 or 320X4=1280 pixels]
:SHOCKED:
If you can afford $239 (for an X67c) - I'd say get the color - even if the screen is physically 1/4 to 1/6 the size of a B&W model , it really is that good.
;)

[RyGuy525]

It sounds like i have a little more thinking to do! Thank you for the info SFW! That explanation is exactly what i was looking for.

[just ducky]

I don't know what price you got, but Cabelas has them on sale right now.
Click on the link below. Rich
Bottomline 5100 (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602025-cat602011&rid=&indexId=cat602011&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat602011&id=0017741)

HOLY CRAP! I'm looking for something to give me depth more than actually find fish for me. I just used that link to go browse a Cabela's, and I see this bare-bones bottom line unit on sale for $39 :yikes: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0039706015715a&navCount=1&podId=0039706&parentId=cat602011&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat602025-cat602011-cat602011&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat602011&hasJS=true

Depth sounders I've looked at are all around $100 and up. Anyone know anything about this unit? I know it's probably poor as far as fish finder capabilities, but if the unit is decent for my depth finding needs, I may just have to try it...can't hardly go wrong for $39.

[sfw1960]

It sounds like i have a little more thinking to do! Thank you for the info SFW! That explanation is exactly what i was looking for.
Ryan ,
Live , Learn & Share - that's why many of us come here !
Now I REALLY probably got ya thinkin' about the options out there - and that's what my mission was!
;)

@ just ducky :
That TBL 1101 is an EL chEEp0 - but it will show depth fine , and for $40 how could you go wrong???
:)

If it works long 'nuff for the 1 yr. warranty to expire - I'd say you'd gotten your moneys worth!!
$40 + $8 S&H = $48 divided by 365 days (one year) = about 13¢ a day , cost of ownership.
:lol:
That's a deal!!
R

[wally-eye]

If it works long 'nuff for the 1 yr. warranty to expire - I'd say you'd gotten your moneys worth!!
$40 + $8 S&H = $48 divided by 365 days (one year) = about 13¢ a day , cost of ownership.
:lol:
That's a deal!!
R[/quote]


1 gizinta, 2 gizinta. Did you have to take your shoes and socks off to figure that out?????????????????? Damn, you're good.....................

[sfw1960]

If it works long 'nuff for the 1 yr. warranty to expire - I'd say you'd gotten your moneys worth!!
$40 + $8 S&H = $48 divided by 365 days (one year) = about 13¢ a day , cost of ownership.
:lol:
That's a deal!!
R

1 gizinta, 2 gizinta. Did you have to take your shoes and socks off to figure that out?????????????????? Damn, you're good.....................

WutDaf000000.....wu wu wutz a gizinta???
:dizzy:

I see you're bored out of your mind , 0' fair WX fEEsHeRMaN!!
:lol: :lol:
Wanna go out tonite??

I'm good??
Good for what???
:evilsmile

[wally-eye]

Remember your trip to Alpena....been like that since Thursday night.........bad, lost over 8 pounds since Thursday night..........can't even hardly walk across the room so weak..............badddddddddddddd.

[sfw1960]

Remember your trip to Alpena....been like that since Thursday night.........bad, lost over 8 pounds since Thursday night..........can't even hardly walk across the room so weak..............badddddddddddddd.

ALPENA???

What are you sm0kin'??

Ain't been to Alpena......................

:fish2:

I guess ya don't wanna go!
:coolgleam

[bigrackmack]

Ryguy....here ya go....http://www.fish-finder-review.com

[BUGBOAT]

HOLY CRAP! I'm looking for something to give me depth more than actually find fish for me. I just used that link to go browse a Cabela's, and I see this bare-bones bottom line unit on sale for $39 :yikes: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...011&hasJS=true (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0039706015715a&navCount=1&podId=0039706&parentId=cat602011&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat602025-cat602011-cat602011&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat602011&hasJS=true)

Depth sounders I've looked at are all around $100 and up. Anyone know anything about this unit? I know it's probably poor as far as fish finder capabilities, but if the unit is decent for my depth finding needs, I may just have to try it...can't hardly go wrong for $39.

I have this unit that I bought for my river boat. I've used this so far this season with no problems at all. I just need it basically to mark bottom. Cant beat it for the price.

[DANIEL MARK ZAPOLSKI]

as stated before do yourself the biggest favor you can***go to lance valentines seminars**** he is by far the most knowledgeable person in the area on *****any and all***** units on the market***** and the seminars are free. p.s. make sure to take pencil and paper way to much info to remember!

[FishTales]

You could go to his website and do some research/reading. Click the link below. Rich

Lance Valentine/sonar/gps (http://www.walleye101.com/sonar_and_gps_contents.htm)

[sfw1960]

You could go to his website and do some research/reading. Click the link below. Rich

Lance Valentine/sonar/gps (http://www.walleye101.com/sonar_and_gps_contents.htm)

How come I didn't see any Vexilars there???
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Robert
:evilsmile

[FishTales]

All I can say is ask the man himself, his address is below. Rich
Contact Lance (http://www.walleye101.com/contact_lance.htm)

[just ducky]

I have this unit that I bought for my river boat. I've used this so far this season with no problems at all. I just need it basically to mark bottom. Cant beat it for the price.

Exactly! I'm looking to mark bottom too. Honestly, it's for when I'm out in the fall duck hunting, and we wanna know how deep water we're setting up in without having to do the old "paddle over the side" bottom finding trick. All of the traditional depth sounders that I've found searching the net start at $100 and go up from there. So I'm thinking like you...for that price, if it lasts one fall and craps out I'll be happy :lol:

[RyGuy525]

I talked to Esox and he said that the BottomLine 5100 is a very good unit and he likes his a lot. The unit is right in my price range and is about as good as you can get for $250. But there is still time so I will keep looking at my other options.