Combo GPS/FF vs Individual Systems

[Hampo]

I am currently looking at purchasing a GPS and Fish Finder for my upgraded boat. I am interested in the thoughts of other member as to the pro's and cons of having a combo unit or 2 individual systems. Combo units seem to work out slightly cheaper but are there more advantages having the 2 screens to look at.

What does everyone have and do they see pros and cons in the different setups?

Your comments would be greatly appreciated.

Ben

[fishingjew]

My thought would be if one breaks down you lose both?



Russell 8-)

[Chromedome]

The new rigs got a Eagle sea charter 500CDF Gps/sonar Combo. Hopefully I'll Know this weekend if it was the right decision.

Greg

[Glenn_Woods]

For me, it's the screen size. I can have a full gps chart plotter screen and a split screen sounder. Saves squinting at a small screen.

Cheers, Woodsy.

[marlinqld]

My thoughts also.....lose one lost both..................... i am going for seperate units when i buy them.........or rather when the minister for finances lets me LOL

Mike

[ovakil]

I just bought 2 seperate units,didn't like looking at a split screen too small.

[finga64]

Two screens for me. I'm blind as a bat and bouncing over the water doesn't help any.
I also like the idea of if one dies the other is still going.
:)

[2iar]

I've got a combo.

Uses less voltage than 2 separate units, and less dash space, wiring etc.

I hear what the others are saying about single point of failure, but I always carry a Garmin etrex as backup and my deckies normally bring their hand-helds too. That takes care of the GPS side of things - besides, if you've enough local knowlwdge (which I don't profess to have) and the appropriate charts (which I do), you shouldn't be using the GPS primarily for navigation, only for your marks.

I've never been on a boat with multiple sounders ie backup. Before I put the combo in, if the sounder had packed it in, I'd have had no backup, so there's no difference there.

I also acknowledge that in an ideal world, two big screens are better than one. However, in practical terms, I find that I rarely run on a split screen in any case. The normal sequence would be:

1. Launch and get out to a safe depth on sounder view.
2. Travel to destination on GPS view.
3. Perhaps briefly split-screen when approaching mark (though not normally).
4. Sounder view when around mark.

You can also overlay the depth reading onto the GPS screen to keep an eye on it in stage 2, and set alarms accordingly.

I'm really happy with my choice, and would definitely say otherwise if I wasn't.

Good luck,
Mike

[Hampo]

What sort of combo unit do you have 2Iar/Mike?

[2iar]

What sort of combo unit do you have 2Iar/Mike?


Lowrance 337 CDF

Good luck,
Mike

[Grand_Marlin]

I have fitted a number of each for my clients ... the split screens in a combo unit are a pain in the ar$e, as you loose so much detail as you are only operating on a 2.5" wide screen.

Even when you split the screens on a 12" Raymarine E120 you get the same effect, and you are essentially not much better off than having 2 Lowrance 6" screens.

For my money, I really like the value and viewing ease of fitting two units - Lowrance X107 Sounder and the Globalmap 3500 GPS.

A lot of class here for under 2 grand

Cheers

Pete

[Getout]

I've got a Raymarine A65 combo mounted on the dash in front of the wheel. I find it very convenient to have both functions close at hand. Not many dashboards have enough space for both units.

[Barney_Rubble]

If you have the space, go for two seperate units.I have just bought the garmin 172c chart plotter [ very inpressed so far] heaps better to be looking at two full size screens than half screens on my old hummingbird matrix 25.
Just using the combo in sounder only function at present ,but hope to upgrade to a furuno 620 soon.
cheers Kev.