What Fish Finder?

[JohnK]

As part of my ongoing project of equiping my little boat with so much electronics it sinks I want to fit a fish finder (or do I?)

Can anyone help with the following:

If I'm not going to do a lot of fishing, is a fish finder worth the extra dosh over a depth sounder?

Lowrance seem to be very highly thought of but Garmin are a lot cheaper for what appears to be similar spec, is there a catch?

 

[Guest]

of course you need a fish finder! Get the expensive one, and perhaps the cheap one as backup. The reason that you haven't been doing much fishing is that you haven't found any fish - for which you absolutely need a fishfinder. Same as not doing much boating unless you have a boat. But you'll also need lots of other kit, so the chandlery is over there next to that woman MrsB who is trying to batter some sense into her other half using three different brands of boat hook, which he has recently purchased.

 

[JohnK]

That's a very logical argument, I look forward to using it. Thank you

On that basis I guess I need a radar & satellite phone too

 

[KevL]

Well a hummingbird fish finder/depth sounder came fitted with my tub and I went out and bought a rod and some line and some lures and some weights and a reel and dangled it over the side (Oooh errrr misses) and ... ... .... haven't cought a damn thing, nada, zip. Mind you I suppose if I found out how the fish finder side of it worked it might help.

Kev

 

[duncan]

IN general you get what you pay for but........there are some newer bits of kit that are better and cheaper (electronics for you)....
I have an old X55 (Lowrance) - sort of midrange 6 years ago.
For UK I would recomend the Garmin range (all up to date and you pay for the screen size) 100 will do - 240 is nice.
The Lowrance X-15 MT is a stunner, fantastic resolution screen and might even find fish - note the rest in salt water are better at finding features than fish.
Good luck!

 

[Dipper]

Try launching the boat first! ) NM

*

 

[colinwcolclough]

Definately buy a fishfinder. If you're on a budget buy a cheaper version with 'greyscale' or 'whiteline' (same thing). This will give you an indication of the texture of the seabed wich is ideal for anchoring and will help you identify fish holding features. Even if you don't fish, you get a better idea of whats below you and most of them you can switch off the bottom contour and just get BIG numbers for the depth (and or speed). Don't spend a fortune. £150 - £200 will get you a decent enough unit if you shop around. Avoid Navman as they're crap. Hummingbird are good value. Garmins look good too. Extra bucks buy you bigger screens with more pixels, ie better resolution but how important is that? Most importantly - follow the instructions carefully with regards to mounting the transducer. If you need any info about fitting the transducer, send me an email.
Good luck. Colin colinwcolclough@madasafish.com

 

[byron]

All I know is that anything Garmin is synonymous with quality. A guy on the Met Police was telling me that the only stuff that has survived the rigors on their new boats so far is their Garmin stuff. Not only that the instruction books are written in English unlike most who seem to translate from Nipponese to Swahili and then to an obscure for of English.

©2001
www.education-jobs.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[ccscott49]

Of course!

 

[brianrunyard]

I can recommend the Garmin 240. I've got one it's brilliant!
Take a look at their web site, http://www.garmin.com
Updated the software in both the Garmin 240 and the Garmin 128GPS, last night (free downloads from their site).
Don't forget, just because it's called a Fishfinder, it won't necessarily find fish, unless they're below you.
Brian

 

[Scubadoo]

I suggest the Garmin range, I have the Garmin 240 which I use to locate wreck for diving. All I can say is I am very pleased with it.

My transducer loses track of the sea bed at speed - Not a problem as my Raytheon doesn't. Low speed no problem though. Therefore make sure you place the transducer in the right place.

RM.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks all.

You've convinced me, a Garmin Fishfinder 240 Blue it is (when they're released)

So where's the cheapest place to buy them?

John

 

[jfm]

Re: where to buy

www.mesltd.co.uk

 

[Guest]

www.westmarine.com

 

[Guest]

MES Ltd..

are brilliant, really good service. Same goes for West Marine, but do check import duty as you WILL be clobbered by customs and excise. Duty goes on first, and the you pay VAT on the lot....tax on tax Yippee... Garmin have by far the best service and are really helpful. Humminbird finders are cheap, and have good reviews but don't know about the after sales.