I'd love to just bite the bullet and get a modern chartplotter/depth view (i.e. Garmin 740s) with the possibility of radar connectivity, but I just got the boat (2006) and it came with a Furuno GPS (tiny, black and white with no maps, just tracks?!), and Furuno radar (also black and white), and a *huge* Humminbird depthfinder that blocks a lot of the view out of the middle window. I'll probably eventually upgrade everything, but for now I'm looking to just replace the large fishfinder/depth display with something smaller and simpler. Any suggestions? Or should I just deal with it for now?
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Looking for simple/compact depth finder
- Thread starter ferret30
- Start date
To upgrade to a color chart plotter with radar will cost a bundle of bucks. I would go with one of the small simple units. I have used Hummingbird, Eagle, but the most recent one I have been using on the Caracal 18 is a Lowrance X4 Pro (this model has the dual frequency transducer, and will give a better signal). This should be some where between $80 and $100.
It is grey scale/black and white, and only 4.25" wide and 5.75" high.
If you want to go to an upgrade (and I would start with a unit you can add onto--something like the Garmin 541S for about $600,. The 740S will run you over $1500, plus $1100 for the Radar. Once you split a 7" screen, you will find you are better off with a 5" screen for the chart plotter and a separate radar and depth sounder.
I would stick with the monochrome Furuno Radar, which is a good unit, add the simple fish finder, and when you have the $$ add something like the 541 or 541S or 7" if you can afford it. (Both of these Garmin have all of the US coastal charts built in (or other models have the lake and inland waters--chips will give you the inland waters in the coastal models). I personally like at least a 5" chart plotter. You can buy 3" or 4" for slightly less, but I think that 5" is a minim for seeing the chart clearly when you are running at planing speed. Keep the Furuno GPS--as a back up, but move it down below or to the other side--and use it for way points and cross track error. I often run two GPS plotters.
It is grey scale/black and white, and only 4.25" wide and 5.75" high.
If you want to go to an upgrade (and I would start with a unit you can add onto--something like the Garmin 541S for about $600,. The 740S will run you over $1500, plus $1100 for the Radar. Once you split a 7" screen, you will find you are better off with a 5" screen for the chart plotter and a separate radar and depth sounder.
I would stick with the monochrome Furuno Radar, which is a good unit, add the simple fish finder, and when you have the $$ add something like the 541 or 541S or 7" if you can afford it. (Both of these Garmin have all of the US coastal charts built in (or other models have the lake and inland waters--chips will give you the inland waters in the coastal models). I personally like at least a 5" chart plotter. You can buy 3" or 4" for slightly less, but I think that 5" is a minim for seeing the chart clearly when you are running at planing speed. Keep the Furuno GPS--as a back up, but move it down below or to the other side--and use it for way points and cross track error. I often run two GPS plotters.
Like Bob said - keep the radar, even if you upgrade to a chartplotter/sounder combo. Not only will you save the cost of a new radar unit, but you will have a redundant means of navigating (assuming you are in nearshore areas) - especially important if you will ever operate at night. That and you don't have to split the smaller screen.
I think I'll deal with the big display until we upgrade to a color chartplotter. And I think it makes sense to keep the radar display separate as some of you suggested.
One thing I was noticing when I looked up the mentioned Garmin models was they seem to show satellite images for maps rather than line drawings with soundings/contours/annotations, like you'd see on a paper chart. Is this configurable, or do the Garmins really only show satellite type images with the preloaded maps?
What do you guys prefer? Satellite images or traditional chart graphics?
One thing I was noticing when I looked up the mentioned Garmin models was they seem to show satellite images for maps rather than line drawings with soundings/contours/annotations, like you'd see on a paper chart. Is this configurable, or do the Garmins really only show satellite type images with the preloaded maps?
What do you guys prefer? Satellite images or traditional chart graphics?
starcrafttom
Active member
Most new gps chart plotters will show you one or both. its up to you. You can over lay the sat photos or just use the maps. I really like to over lay the radar on the maps. easier to figure out what that yellow/green blob is.
The Garmin show the maps--a bit different than the paper charts--but that is true of most of chart plotters. The contours and depths are all there. The Satellite images are mostly from the G3 "extra" charts, which I don't think are all that much more helpful.
I have owned several of the new Garmin, and they are very user friendly and have good charts. If I was "home" I would send you some screen shots from a 541.
I have owned several of the new Garmin, and they are very user friendly and have good charts. If I was "home" I would send you some screen shots from a 541.
SENSEI":17tu53o1 said:it tends to lose bottom at about 650 ft but who cares what is down there .....lol.....
Exactly. I don't plan to use it for fishing, just maybe for shrimp and crab someday. My main application for it would be to prevent hitting bottom! Do they usually have configurable depth alarms?
Also, if you don't want to split the screen (chart/depth), can you get the numerical depth to overlay on the chart (i.e. with the 541)? That would seem to be the most useful configuration for me since the screen is fairly low resolution and the charts are "busy".
I can't believe the manufacturers do such a terrible job of presenting the products on their websites. For each model (on Garmin and Lowrance's websites), there is a set of images of each model, but they all have the same thing on the screen! There's no way to know if the model has both satellite and normal charts. And only Garmin had a model comparison feature, but even then it was unclear why there are so many models! The one thing I did notice was the 5X6 series was the screen resolution is a lot higher than the 5X1, but I'd have to see that in person to tell if it's worth it.
Thanks for the input. Any ideas where around seattle to go see a bunch of models (besides SBS)? WestMarine has a pretty lousy display of exactly one color model and people there don't seem to know how to use it.