Depth Sounders- any ideas?

**newhue** · 28th September 2013, 12:19 PM

I have an opportunity to upgrade the potential quality of depth sounder I can purchase.
I know very little about them but have grasped the suggestion from a few mates regarding being removable, and GPS capable.

The young bloke down the boat shop says B&W are no good, but I'd expect that from a 22 year old. My thinking is though colour would be nice, size of screen bobbing around on the water would be more important. Screens bigger than 3.5" or maybe 4" in colour start to add up, where as a 5" B&W are at sub $300 mostly.

My budget is $650, no desire to spend it all but if they are far better than a $300 so be it. It's going on a 3.5m dinghy.

I've been looking at Hummingbird because that is all I'm familiar with. Have read some good reviews on Garman but non with GPS.

Whats your thoughts on brands and capabilities.

**Aussie** · 28th September 2013, 12:52 PM

I bought a Garmin 300c color sounder for my boat it cost $220 and is fantastic. Gives me water temp, voltage output from motor, has 2 freq settings, 200Mhz and 77Mhz. for the price its a ripper. Bought it from BCF

Garmin Echo 300c Fish Finder - BCF

**LandyAndy** · 28th September 2013, 01:30 PM

Its Boat Show season.There normally is good offers on this sort of gear.
Beware EBay,some US imported stuff is geo-fenced and it will cost you to get the GPS unlocked.
Goodluck
Andrew

**Barra1** · 28th September 2013, 02:07 PM

Just finished installing a new Lowrance Elite 5 DSI combo - down-imaging and chart-plotter.

Purchased from the local BCF at $550 - reduced from $699. Apparently a new model is coming out therefore the reduced price.

I have yet to use it but was using my brothers off Mandurah a week or so ago and that was good enough for me to make the purchase when I returned home to Albury.

Easy to use too

**LandyAndy** · 28th September 2013, 03:16 PM

The new one has just been released,Elite-5 HDI.(Hybrid dual imaging).Broadband sounder and Downscan imaging.
http://www.lowrance.com/en-au/Produc...HDI-en-au.aspx
Andrew

**Ranga** · 28th September 2013, 05:43 PM

IIRC, colour actually is more than just pretty to look at - it indicates the type of bottom, which can be important when chasing particular species.

That Elite-5 HDI looks fantastic for the money - they've sure come a long way since my grandfather's old paper jobby!

**newhue** · 28th September 2013, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by Barra1

Just finished installing a new Lowrance Elite 5 DSI combo - down-imaging and chart-plotter.

Purchased from the local BCF at $550 - reduced from $699. Apparently a new model is coming out therefore the reduced price.

I have yet to use it but was using my brothers off Mandurah a week or so ago and that was good enough for me to make the purchase when I returned home to Albury.

Easy to use too

Nice, I see you get an option of CMAP or Navionics charts. 5" screen as well. Now that's coming along

**Barra1** · 28th September 2013, 07:48 PM

Yeah Jason it does sound good but the new model at $659 from some marine places sounds even better.

**newhue** · 28th September 2013, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by Barra1

Yeah Jason it does sound good but the new model at $659 from some marine places sounds even better.

you may have caught yourself a bargain there. Just spent half an hour trying to find your model. Seems they have moved on. It seems the Lawrance are better priced than Humminbird. Just need a little break from it, starting to get dizzy.

**ozscott** · 29th September 2013, 06:28 AM

Mate the first question is where are you going to use it and for what?

You might be better with a good second hand combo unit.

Cheers

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