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Looking at purhasing a new sounder have had a few in my time but have always been in relatively small boats now i have moved in to a 19 footer and will be doing alot more offshore fishing. My concern is buying a sounder which will perform well offshore I always read these articles where blokes find the fish on there sounder i seriously doubt any sounder i ever had could do this accuratly [eagle and hummingbird 250 and 350s] Any thoughts on the subject with some idea of cost would be appreciated. Thanks
Have a look at the Lowrance X88DF. We have that on our 20 footer & it craps on just about every other sounder I've seen. ( Mind you, I've never seen a colour sounder in action) the 320x320 display shows excellent bottom definition & it is simple to use.
Have a look at the Lowrance website for all the specs on the sounders. You can even download the simulators of the sounders. I did it while my X88DF was in transit. Learn't how to use the thing well before it was put in the boat anyway, the simulators will give you a feel for the sounders. I think Humminbird also have simulators. Dunno about Garmin though.
I believe that your sounder is everything,it finds you the fish.Why spend shit loads of money on a boat and scrimp on a sounder? It's a false economy(If catching fish is your goal). My previous sounder was an X-85,while this unit was good at bottom discrimination, it's fish finding ability was not good offshore.I believe the entry level sounder for offshore fishing should be something like a Furuno 600 L but at 2,250 dollars their not cheap.The ideal sounder for your type of fishing would be either a J.R.C. FF50 or a Furuno 582 L.(more money again).I have been using the 582 for some months now and can confidently detirmin wether the fish are Trag,Snapper or bait,Pearlies are still a hit and miss affair at present.There is simply no substitute for colour coupled with power.
Thanks for your advice people haven't been able to find a lowrance x88df to have a look at yet but the specs read ok. I do agree with again banshee on your advice but i think these sounders a a little out of reach for me [cash wise] also i'm not totally convinced on the furunos year they have a nice big clear display but i think they are a little underpowered [300watts RMS] compared to others. Looking at Hummingbird legend 2005 [about $1000] or navman have new release in fish 4500 [about 1500] this navman sounder is colour with a 5" tft screen also has two year full warranty followed by another 5 year fixed cost warranty [not bad]. Anyone got any views on these two?
G'day Scotty,The thing that helped me the most in decideing which sounder to get was trips with guy's who knew how to use their gear.Don't purchase untill you have seen a few different makes/types in real life situations,if you don't know many blokes into offshore, join a club, most welcome new members.I saw the ad for the new Navman and at that price it's almost to good to be true,I have not come across any Navman gear so I can't comment on them.Hope this helps.
I had a humminbird legend 2000 on the boat I just sold and it was a great sounder It will be one of the sounders on my list it was great at finding fish and bait
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anyway, the simulators will give you a feel for the sounders. I think Humminbird also have simulators. Dunno about Garmin though.
