A good fishfinder?

[damien_zumbrennen]

I have Garmin's 240 blue fishfinder and it is driving me crazy. Even after doing software upgrades the thing still will not give you a reading for half of its published 1500 foot max depth. Actually 500-600 is about the real max. Does anyone have a GOOD fisfinder to suggest?

[noone]

is usually function of transducer installation.

[fishfiender]

Frankly, none of them give consistent readings past 600ft in saltwater if you're using a transom mount. I've never used an in-hull but I'm sure it would improve things. Just bought a Humminbird Matrix 37 and it maxed at about 1000ft. I've had Garmins, Eagles, Raytheon's and none performed as advertized. I like the Matrix though, the quadbeam is very usefull.

[Capt_Rob_Hammer]

Spend the money and get a Furuno. Remember the unit is only as good as the ducer you install. Don't go cheap on the Depthfinder- save money on your GPS, NOT your depthfinder-

[nick]

"save money on the gps not the fishfinder" wow... youll get out 30 miles to your spot spend 15 min lookin for the fish on your new fishfinder u spot them turn everything off fish a couple of hours and start to pack up u start up your engin and go to boot up the gps to get home... nothing the gps has crapped out... your 30 miles out in the gulf a great fishfinder so you can se every nook and cranny and fish in them but you cant get home.

[tyler]

All gps units now a days are very reliable, even the cheap hand helds are usually accurate at worst 50 ft. For the complex tasks they perform, they actually are very fundamental in how your location is calculated.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, can't help. I have a Matrix 97, which is a GPS fishfinder combo, and had nothing but trouble, and I've just sent it back to manufacturer for the third time. To humminbird's credit, they have been honestly trying to fix the problem, but they just can't.

[CAPT_BUTCH_FOSTER]

I read the reply about the GPS going out and not being able to get back. If you do not know how to get back with a compass and a navagational chart, you have no business being out there in the first place. Plot your coarse, keep up with your headings, and you can get back if you loose your electronics. If nothing else, you should know the compass heading to take to take you back to the area you left from/ from where you are going. If you fish offshore, you should consider taking a plotting coarse, then you won't need a GPS.

[Anonymous]

One day I was drifting about 30 miles offshore in the Sea of Cortez. I glanced down at my Lowrance X-15a and it was reading about 1250 feet...which I knew to be right for the area. The Garmin Bluewater has always been a good unit, too. Maybe you should have tried a dual transducer..a 50hz to 200hz.

[bluesjunior]

You got that right Capt Butch!!!!.

[D@lton]

Raymarine also has a great fishfinder (digital), the display is awsome. Look for wattage when you select your transducer. Be careful if you transom mount, the motor vibration and turbulence can affect its performance. Thru-hull
1000w transducer is probably your best bet if your going past 600ft depths often. Also, play with your settings (auto-manual on your gain) as well as your zoom if you have it. In auto mode it can bounce between 200 and 50 and really give you distortion on your display. 600w is a good choice if you choose to stick with a transom mount. I believe thats the highest watt you can get on a transom mount. I may be wrong.

Rob has it in the short and sweet version.

[putput]

Lowrance are good but I think you have to check your transducer angle.
Make sure to factor-in the resting angle your boat has to the waterline and adjust accordingly. If the angle is not correct your bounce-back will never make it!