What is the best under $4500 fish finder ? (wreck

S

SEA3PO

New member
I have tryed several units in the past but always disapointed by the poor graphics or lack of detail...... I think I will probably need a side scan unit, I tried the furuno and the Interphase but was very disappointed in the lack of detail....I one used a Hummingbird 3-D on my Boston Whaler that cost under $500 and it performed well, the most expensive was the INTERPHASE at $2000 and it was no better than the Hummingbird..

Yesterday we were looking for a body and my Furnno unit was almost useless....I followed a Yuba County Sheriffs Rescue boat and he was locating twice as many contacts as I.....I only found one 10' tree..
We didn't find the body and not sure if they are going to ask me back... I need a much better unit on the tug ....anyone ever tried a really good unit.... I can run outriggers and two Sonar buoys if needed....but i am looking for a real first class unit...
 
JW Fisher makes a side scan sonar but it cost roughly $6500 and the better unit with a computer runs $12 to 18 thousand...ouch !

bottom line is I just have to spend the money and get a good sonar if I want to do any real wreck diving at all...when I can't find the target I am just wasting my time...

That Sherifs boat found 3 wrecks I have been searching for years to locate....darn.

Joel
Working Tug "KEA"
and
SEA3PO C-Dory
 
Which Furuno unit do you have, and which transducer are you running.

Furuno makes what most consider to be the best units available, but performamce can be hampered by the transducer or improper set up of the unit.

The new Furuno's with their digital technology are supposed to be very impressive.

Transducers make a huge difference. Imagine having the best stereo system in the world and hooking it up to small 4" speakers- it would be a poor performer. Not because the stereo was bad but because of the limitations of the speakers.

The transducer is the "speaker" of the system, and spending $500 or more on a transducer can be worthwhile for best performance.
 
Joel,

I had the interphase forward looking sonar on my previous boat and was disappointed with it. A lot of money for not much performance. While I don't have any direct experience with them the new Lowrance side scan sonars are performing well for many people. I've seen images of wrecks posted from users of these units that show a lot of detail. They're well under the price point you've mentioned.
 
My boat came with a Lowrance LXC 113.

It is a great unit and I have it dialed in so that I can literally count the fish on rock piles. Side scan would be awesome and I would think about that if I did have to replace the unit.

I purchased this DVD:
http://www.pacificedgetackle.com/produc ... uctID=1452

It was super helpful in a basic understanding about how it works and most importantly images for different types of fish. It is hard to know what a white Sea Bass looks like as represented by dots and squiggles if you have never seen a picture before.

I would be happy to give the DVD to someone in the area.

Tim
C-Pelican
 
I just was looking at the Hummingbird 1186C side scan sonar unit at $2800....it might be the answer.... it looks good....not as good as the JW Fisher unit but probably $20k less expensive.... I really can't afford the JW Fisher...but it sure would be fun...but never ever pay itself off...I would have to make payments that look like car payments...every month...and my working season is only 4 months up here.. never get rich but it sure is fun,...

Joel aboard Working Tug Kea.
 
I would go with the side scan/down scan by lowrance. Looks to be about the best out there. fo to there web site and look at the screen shots. I think if you used one for spotting bodies they would wave back :shock:

I want one for sturgeon and halibut.
 
On my offshore fishing boat I have a Furuno 585 with the 1 KW bronze thru hull transducer set in a high speed faring block.

Not a side scan, but a very effective unit, The transducer was about a grand.
 
SEA3PO":2oq573h0 said:
I have tryed several units in the past but always disapointed by the poor graphics or lack of detail...... I think I will probably need a side scan unit, I tried the furuno and the Interphase but was very disappointed in the lack of detail....I one used a Hummingbird 3-D on my Boston Whaler that cost under $500 and it performed well, the most expensive was the INTERPHASE at $2000 and it was no better than the Hummingbird..

Yesterday we were looking for a body and my Furnno unit was almost useless....I followed a Yuba County Sheriffs Rescue boat and he was locating twice as many contacts as I.....I only found one 10' tree..
We didn't find the body and not sure if they are going to ask me back... I need a much better unit on the tug ....anyone ever tried a really good unit.... I can run outriggers and two Sonar buoys if needed....but i am looking for a real first class unit...
Click to expand...


Here are a couple of picts taken by my 898cSI Humminbird, a favorite rock pile



S00028.sized.png


S00027.sized.png

:thup
 
BrentB":2ciqcy4f said:
What system and setup are the Law Enforcement folks using?
Click to expand...


Three years ago, the Seattle P. D. Marine Patrol brought their side scanning radar unit to Lake Stevens to locate a submerged boat. It was a "torpedo" shaped side scanning radar that was towed behind a patrol vessel.

About a week ago, I read about a couple of civilians (husband and wife) that have volunteered their time, and vessel to search for bodies for several years and they recently purchased and started utilizing a "torpedo" shaped side scanning radar to tow behind their vessel as well.
 
Hummingbird has a new 360 degree sonar which was said to have won best new product at the 2012 tackle show. They are listed for $1995 at Cabela's. Might be worth a look.
D.D.
 
I you want to get into the fish, go with a charter and bring your handheld GPS. If you do this several times, you'll have 10-20 great spots (or so) and you won't even need the fishfinder. I know it is unethical and cheating....and you will go to hell for it, but you'll likely have lots of close pals there to keep you company.

I fish tons - way too much my wife says. The cheap fish finders (under a 500 bucks) are all ok. They work and will get on fish. However, it costs a great deal of bucks to get a really good one with detail and clarity under a number of conditions. Mine is good enough to show me lowering downrigger balls and consistently marks fish just before they hit the bait. I was about 1200 bucks 4-5 years ago and you can't buy it anymore.
 
Consider Simrad CHIRP. With a good transducer, would probably be within your stated budget. Or, wait a year or so for CHIRP to start filtering down to the consumer (rather than commercial) budget.

Also, just curious, why is your working season so short?

I think recovering bodies could be a rewarding "hobby" for my retirement years.
There seems to be no shortage of them where I boat...
 
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