Looking for help with buying new fishfinder

[Bailipanga]

Look to put a new finder in my 14 foot boat, i use it for all types of fishing, and some small bass tourneys. So i'm looking at staying in that $200 or below range. I was looking at the humminbird 500 series and the piranha series, or Lowrance X86. Any input would be helpful. Thanks

[inthenet]

These are all good choices for the money.I would lean more towards the lowrance if the money is the same on similar models.

[waterfoul]

Lowrance. Hands down.

[sfw1960]

The Humminbird 500 series are good machines , better than the Piranhas...
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21276-cat602011&id=0023393016380a&navCount=38&podId=0023393&parentId=cat602011&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=7IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat602011
Right now Cabela's has the X96 in a portable setup for $199!
That includes a 12V rechargeable battery I believe.


Click image for details!

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Item/01/82/90/i018290sn02.jpg (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=midwinter_sale-email&id=0038967018290a&navCount=30&podId=0038967&parentId=cat21448&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=OG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat21448&hasJS=true)

I think all Lowrance products are supposed to ship free too.
Inquire with them.
:D

It says so on the non-portable page.....

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Item/01/82/90/i018290sn01.jpg (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21276-cat602011&id=0023365018290a&navCount=35&podId=0023365&parentId=cat602011&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat602011&hasJS=true)

[Willie Tippit]

:yeahthat:LOWRANCE

[Bassmad2]

Look to put a new finder in my 14 foot boat, i use it for all types of fishing, and some small bass tourneys. So i'm looking at staying in that $200 or below range. I was looking at the humminbird 500 series and the piranha series, or Lowrance X86. Any input would be helpful. Thanks


Here is a Lowrance X85 used on Walleye Central for $100 plus shipping.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=11&topic_id=13589&mode=full

[sfw1960]

Here is a Lowrance X85 used on Walleye Central for $100 plus shipping.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=11&topic_id=13589&mode=full

:tsk::nono::tsk::nono::tsk:
WHY would you spend $100 on a ten year old machine with NO warranty and NO parts availability??
(Besides 240 px VS 320 px)
I'd rather spend $100 on something NEW with a warranty... besides an X96 is a helluva value plus it's covered for a year.
:)

[waterfoul]

I was just into my West Marine store. I'll tell you what. I have a x86 on display I'd LOVE to get rid of. I can cut you a pretty good deal on it if you are willling to come in and get it. It's listed for $149 but I can do better than that on the display (it's the only one I have in stock). Full Warantee... taken down and put in the original box with all the "stuff" it comes with.

PM me if you are interested.

Mike

[thedude]

Scott -
take a look at the Eagle Fishmark series finders. They use the same software as the Lowrance units and lack the price tag. I have a fishmark 320 in my dash and it is very accurate. I used to have it rigged for ice fishing and you can watch your BB sized split shot move up and down in 50 FOW.

I also had an issue where i got water behind the screen and eagle replaced it with a new unit, even though the current unit was 2 months out of warranty.
I think the 320s are like 125$ now.

Good Luck
-Justin

[sfw1960]

The X86 is only 240 X 240 W/800 watts out - and the Lowrance X96 is 320 X 320 @ 1500 watts...

Can you sell that one for $99 Mike??
:evil:
I also had an issue where i got water behind the screen and eagle replaced it with a new unit, even though the current unit was 2 months out of warranty.
I think the 320s are like 125$ now.

For all the b!tch!n' I hear about how poor Lowrance C/S is , seems they took damn good care of you Justin!!
NICE.
:)

The software is usually just slightly different , less feature laden than the Lowrance equivalent model Justin , and for the $199 I'd probably go with the Lowrance model myself - as I've had them outlast the Eagles I've owned in the past.
;)

You can compare the menu options if you want to:

http://www.lowrance.com/upload/Lowrance/Documents/Manuals/X96TX_0151-401_100705.pdf

http://www.eaglesonar.com/Downloads/Manuals/Files/seafinder320df_0143-661_101602.pdf

(FishMark & SeaFinder are in same manual !)

IF you can find a Eagle Fishmark 320 for $125 ~ JUMP ON IT , as I've only seen them around $150 or so....
$169 @ Walmart (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2221467)

$159 @ BPS (http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_45172?cm_mmc=froogle-_-200-1-1-_--1-_-38-510-638-00&hvarAID=46KY&mr:trackingCode=1F970627-08B7-DC11-BE2A-001422107090&mr:referralID=NA)

$149 @ Cabelas (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0017744016155a&type=product&cmCat=perf&rid=0180101070502&xpid=k17401&cm_ven=Performics&cm_cat=Affiliate%2Dclick&cm_pla=Nextag&cm_ite=DDI%20Link&afsrc=1)

:chillin:

The FishMark 480 (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=netcon&id=0017744016707a&navCount=2&podId=0017744&parentId=cat602011&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat602011&hasJS=true)is another option @ $199 with 480 pixels / 1500watts too.

Out of the past half dozen Eagles I've owned , about half of them are still running - and the Lowrances I've had seemed to last longer....

:evilsmile

[Bailipanga]

Justin, I remember the one in your boat i liked the looks of that when we were fishing. Mike i would take you up on that offer but, I have to buy from cabelas, because i have $100 gift card, thanks for the offer. i'm down to a couple...still trying to decide between...the eagle 320, humminbird 535, lowrance 86, but thinking of apaying the extra 50 for the 96 and free shipping from cabelas on lowrance. The one I was wondering about id the piranha 240 tri beam, i see it's only 240 by 160...that might be a problem but i do like the tri-beam. Not really sure if I need more then 20 degree though. Justin I read on the 320 that it has 60 degree at high speeds, but then says comes with 20 degree....is yours 20 or 60 and did you have to buy a different transducer for 60? thanks all for you input.

[waterfoul]

I would recommend you stay away from the Pirahna units... these are very basic units with a smaller screen than the others you mentioned.

[sfw1960]

The 20/60 degree thing is actually like a flashlight beam , it fades over time & distance....
They are actually 20 degrees BUT when the computer inside peaks out the receiver sensitivity it sort of "sniffs out" to about 60 degrees. Make sense to you??
IF you bought the X96 portable pack you could always sell the battery and/or portable case & recoup a few bucks... Shipping is $14 BTW.
:)
The Humminbird 565 (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=froogle-cat602011&id=0023393016380a&navCount=2&podId=0023393&parentId=cat602011&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=7IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat602011) actually does have two separate beams...
"The Fishfinder 565 uses a dual-beam sonar system with a wide 60° area of coverage. Optimized to show the greatest bottom and structure definition using a narrow 20° beam, and show fish and structure from a wide 60° beam. Sonar from both beams is combined into one image on the display."
It's $169 bucks and it's got 640 vertical pixels like my 797c2 SI does.....
The X96 would mark pretty much identical to Justin's FM320 , but FWIW - I think the screen contrast is just a fuzz better in view ability that the Eagle units... Back lighting is generally better also ~ and I have owned a 'few' of each. LOL

[waterfoul]

I can make the offer on the X86 to anyone on MS.com willing to come in and buy it. But I don't work that often so you need to PM me and we'll work something out.

[Bailipanga]

Ok....If I go twith the x96 thats $99 out of pocket no shipping, 565 would be $83.94 out of pocket including the shipping, and the 320 would be 62.94 out of pocket. When compared the 320 and the 96 have are exact in specs expect they have different screen colors....so it comes down to the 565 and the 320.
565 specs:
640 vertical x 320 horizontal pixels
20°/60° dual-beam transducer
2,000-watt peak-to-peak power
Accelerated real-time sonar
2-1/2" target separation


320 specs:
1,500 watts peak-to-peak power
Depths to 800 Ft.
200 kHz high-speed Skimmer® transon-mount transducer
Up to 60° of fish detection coverage
Advanced Fish I.D.™
FishReveal™ exposes fish hidden in cover
320 x 320

I have a portable humminbird and dad has a 141 color on the bass boat so I know humminbird and like them....I'm replacing a eagle z6000 on my boat so I know eagle. Man I feel like a woman in a shoe store can't make up my mind. So I guess is the extra $21 dollars worth the extra watts and pixels

[sfw1960]

Ok....If I go twith the x96 thats $99 out of pocket no shipping, 565 would be $83.94 out of pocket including the shipping, and the 320 would be 62.94 out of pocket. When compared the 320 and the 96 have are exact in specs expect they have different screen colors....so it comes down to the 565 and the 320.
565 specs:
640 vertical x 320 horizontal pixels
20°/60° dual-beam transducer
2,000-watt peak-to-peak power
Accelerated real-time sonar
2-1/2" target separation


320 specs:
1,500 watts peak-to-peak power
Depths to 800 Ft.
200 kHz high-speed Skimmer® transon-mount transducer
Up to 60° of fish detection coverage
Advanced Fish I.D.™
FishReveal™ exposes fish hidden in cover
320 x 320

I have a portable humminbird and dad has a 141 color on the bass boat so I know humminbird and like them....I'm replacing a eagle z6000 on my boat so I know eagle. Man I feel like a woman in a shoe store can't make up my mind. So I guess is the extra $21 dollars worth the extra watts and pixels

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

"Move the lamp over in that corner & see how it looks honey...."

LMAO!!!!!
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:





I was hoping that Justin would have chimed in by now.....
:evilsmile

[thedude]

chime in on what?? lol.

i have a hummingbird on the front of my boat so i'm not too impartial.
I don't really think you can go wrong with any of the ones mentioned... the Hummnbird does have higher pixel resolution (640x320) instead of the 320x320. For the prices you're talking you won't be disappointed with any of them ;)


The dual beam is kind of cool on the humminbird. My matrix lets me view both beams side by side and you can use that to tell if structure/fish/bait is under the boat in the 20* cone or off to the side in the wider 60* cone.

As for the 125$ 320s... i was looking at buying a 2nd one since i liked it so much for ice fishing and it was about the same time the 480 came out - it appeared that eagle was dropping the 320 and moving to the 480 for that price level of graph and the 320s were being offloaded on ebay in the 125-140 range :)

Also - don't buy anything based on fish ID. You want to shut that off asap!

[sfw1960]

chime in on what?? lol.

i have a hummingbird on the front of my boat so i'm not too impartial.
I don't really think you can go wrong with any of the ones mentioned... the Hummnbird does have higher pixel resolution (640x320) instead of the 320x320. For the prices you're talking you won't be disappointed with any of them ;)


The dual beam is kind of cool on the humminbird. My matrix lets me view both beams side by side and you can use that to tell if structure/fish/bait is under the boat in the 20* cone or off to the side in the wider 60* cone.

As for the 125$ 320s... i was looking at buying a 2nd one since i liked it so much for ice fishing and it was about the same time the 480 came out - it appeared that eagle was dropping the 320 and moving to the 480 for that price level of graph and the 320s were being offloaded on ebay in the 125-140 range :)

Also - don't buy anything based on fish ID. You want to shut that off asap!

Uh... that's a big ten-four there J-dude!!!
:lol: :lol: :lol:

I don't recommend buying off eBay for electronics as MOST manufacturers will not honor the warranty due to this.
:dizzy:
It's like buying USED then - you're on your own!
So I guess is the extra $21 dollars worth the extra watts and pixels

BTW~ $21 ain't a lot of money......

[waterfoul]

Fish ID is a joke. Always turn this off!!

[Bailipanga]

Ok I pulled the trigger and went with the 565 on sale for $169. If it sucks and i hate it then mike you can tell me I told you so...should have bought a lowrance. i think it will do me just fine though. Thankyou all for all your input. Scott

[waterfoul]

Hey, you'll get no "I told you so" from me. I'm sure you'll be happy with that unit. Now you need to enter a few tournies and use that new fishfinder to take my money!!

Sounds like you got a really good deal on it too. Most places seem to have them at $200 +/- $10.

[Bailipanga]

I'm going to try and fish again with u guys on mondays, I'll prob fish most of kellogsville, a few hawg, and some of the guys I work with and I started a small club up here in Isabella county, so i should be pretty busy. i'm switching off of nights and will get of off work at 4pm so if the wife can get home in time I might be able to hit those mondays depending on how far down you have them. i have to travel over to newaygo for all the weekend ones since thats were the big boat is at my folks house. So get those bucks ready...since you already have some of mine I'll try and get a few back.:lol: