Depth finder advise

**white eyes** · 08-04-2013, 06:04 AM

i have a hds 7 and hds5 great units. i would not get the insight on eny unit save the money and buy a good map chip they have better detail.

**ReelTime** · 08-04-2013, 06:19 AM

IMO the Furuno is above and beyond the Lorance products. I have had both. I run the Furuno fish finder with an Airmar p66 transducer along side a Lorance HDS7 chartplotter. I can mark fish while running on plane. I think a lot of people overlook the transducer and that is the key element. Most units come with cheap ducers that don't measure up to the potential of the unit.

**Hoss928** · 08-04-2013, 07:25 AM

Well said, Wes. I'm not familiar with the Furuno fish finder. I've only ever used Lowrance products. I could see where it wouldn't take much to beat the fish finder. I do like the chart plotter/GPS part of the unit though.
I do need to learn more about transducers myself to see if I can get more out if the unit I have though.

**walleye2go** · 08-04-2013, 01:23 PM

I'm with Wes on the Airmar. I mounted a through the hull Airmar B60 and can mark fish on plane. I haven't used a Furuno but have heard good things from quite a few people. Sorry I can't ever remember all the cone angle jazz with 55 and 200 but I'm sure somebody on here can tell you.

Greg

**Hoss928** · 08-04-2013, 02:42 PM

Are most of these transducers interchangeable ? I'd love to upgrade to be able to see better above 15mph.

**riverrat** · 08-04-2013, 08:46 PM

Thanks to all with the feed back as I am looking to up grade I am not completely sold on lowrance so I will definetly check out the other brands

**walleye2go** · 08-04-2013, 08:50 PM

I think Airmar makes a transducer for just about any make of fish finder. From what I understand it's more about placement. You can take an 800 dollar transducer and put it in an area that has disturbed water running over it at high speed and you' re still not going to get the picture you're after.

**Hoss928** · 08-04-2013, 10:17 PM

The more I read on this stuff the more confused I get.
I just wish I had ReelTime money so I could buy one of each and return the ones I didn't like. lol

**Brian425** · 08-05-2013, 02:57 PM

I have a Humminbird 598CI HDSI COMBO that I bought just this spring that I am selling. Includes a RAM mount with rail attachment. I am selling because I am buying a boat that is fully rigged out, and there won't be enough room for this unit also.

Paid $700, open to offers.

**penalty box** · 08-05-2013, 03:35 PM

I purchased a new furuno combo this spring the 1870w with a thru the hull transducer It works great. 8 inch screen about 1600 for everything including a nav chip. I bought it through Gill Travis.