Spring fishing

[wakina]

I haven't purchased a fish finder yet was looking to spend around 800 to 1000 dollars and a user friendly any suggestions

I don't know what you are looking for but as far as user friendly goes I would look at the RayMarine Dragonfly7. It is a set it and forget it, no frills but all business type of unit with very few user controls and very simple to operate! It is a combo unit with GPS and Chirp Sonar and Down vision Sonar.


It will also accept certain Navonics map cards, I am running the Navonics Hot Maps East card in mine and love it. The screen can be set to show each individual program Chirp sonar, down vision or GPS on the whole screen. It can also be set to show any combination of 2 of the three programs at the same time, such as Chirp Sonar/GPS. Chirp Sonar/down vision. or Down vision/GPS. It is a standalone unit and will not network with any other electronics.

The only negative that I have found is the Transom mount transducer has a weak link built into it and does not want to remain in the locked down position but instead wants to kick up like you hit something with it, it is supposed to be a safety feature but is a PIA instead.. Easy to fix but is annoying to have to do it on a new unit. You can get the units without transducer and purchase a thru the hull transducer and eliminate the transom mounted one and the problem of the weak link. Transducer extention cables are available if needed also.

There is one other plus, I run mine beside my 2 Lowrance HDS units and there is no comparison in the 2 screens as far as brightness and clarity even in the bright sun. The Dragonfly7 beats them hands down!