Looking for a new GPS / Sonar, any suggestions?

[fishbones]

I just picked up an 18 footer and she needs a GPS. Things I am looking for.
- 600-700 dollar range
- GPS and Fishfinder
- Quality
- Lake contours would be nice (depths, breaks etc).

Unit is going to be the main unit at the console. I have a hummingbird side shot that I plan to move up front.
I was looking at the new Lowrance HD, nice display and love the insight but this sight raises some concerns about Lowrance. Never owned a hummingbird but they sound good. Display however does not seam to be the quality of the HD?? My first impression anyway.
What are the important things to consider when buying a GPS?
Oh, I plan on mostly fishing lake erie, saginaw bay and rivers and inland lakes.
Thanks
Fishbones.

[hondo]

In the price range you gave you're looking at 5-inch displays.

The Lowrance HDS-5 is an option for you. Sounds like you've already been researching them on this site, there's a lot of posts about them. I have an HDS on my boat this year and haven't had a hint of an issue with it, but I use it mostly as a depthfinder and use other units as GPS - sounds like a lot of the issues have to do with the map pages in the HDS.

The Humminbird 788c is an option for you. You don't hear a lot about them but they are good units. IMO the reason you don't hear a lot about them is because most (or a lot) of the guys going with HBs are going with Side Imaging units and the 788c does not do side imaging (you'd need to step up to the 798c SI to get side imaging and then you're over $900) ----- the other reason you don't hear a lot about the 788c is because the guys with them don't seem to be having any problems with them.

Another option is the Humminbird 797c SI, we have a close-out on them so they are priced at $650 (originally $1,000). They are Side Imaging units, if you're interested in the 788c or the 798c SI then the 797c SI for $650 is probably a better way to go. We are supposed to have more of these closeouts in stock this week (although HB has been slow in getting them to us).

One advantage to going with Lowrance is the ability to use LakeMaster cards, but given the waters you fish I don't think there's LakeMaster maps for them, so this probably doesn't matter to you. Lowrance and Humminbird both use Navionics map cards, which will give you the lake contours and breaks you're looking for.

Hope that helps. If you want to see these units or have other questions you can find us in the Business Directory at the link below.

[VaGuy]

Read this gentlements review of his HDS. He has just been out in
the Atlantic and has provided many screen shots of his trip.

http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/boat-electronics-general-electronics/263871-lowrance-bb-sonar-deep.html

Me, I would not buy anything based on others opinion or
experience, or what is posted on this board. There are just
to many of us that don't know what we are doing, when it
comes to expensive marine electronics.

Good luck!!

[VaGuy]

- sounds like a lot of the issues have to do with the map pages in the HDS.

Map issues? There are still a few on the Navionics side. Lowrance maps
and performance have been excellent for me.

Want to see some chart issues? Check out Garmin. They produce their
own line of chart data.

http://garmin.blogs.com/pr/2009/06/product-safety-recall-garmin-bluechart-g2-and-g2-vision-v2009.html?activeBranchId=newsroom

[fishbones]

In the price range you gave you're looking at 5-inch displays.

The Lowrance HDS-5 is an option for you. Sounds like you've already been researching them on this site, there's a lot of posts about them. I have an HDS on my boat this year and haven't had a hint of an issue with it, but I use it mostly as a depthfinder and use other units as GPS - sounds like a lot of the issues have to do with the map pages in the HDS.

The Humminbird 788c is an option for you. You don't hear a lot about them but they are good units. IMO the reason you don't hear a lot about them is because most (or a lot) of the guys going with HBs are going with Side Imaging units and the 788c does not do side imaging (you'd need to step up to the 798c SI to get side imaging and then you're over $900) ----- the other reason you don't hear a lot about the 788c is because the guys with them don't seem to be having any problems with them.

Another option is the Humminbird 797c SI, we have a close-out on them so they are priced at $650 (originally $1,000). They are Side Imaging units, if you're interested in the 788c or the 798c SI then the 797c SI for $650 is probably a better way to go. We are supposed to have more of these closeouts in stock this week (although HB has been slow in getting them to us).

One advantage to going with Lowrance is the ability to use LakeMaster cards, but given the waters you fish I don't think there's LakeMaster maps for them, so this probably doesn't matter to you. Lowrance and Humminbird both use Navionics map cards, which will give you the lake contours and breaks you're looking for.

Hope that helps. If you want to see these units or have other questions you can find us in the Business Directory at the link below.

Hey, thanks for the reply Hondo.
I have been looking at the 798c si nvb units, I might have to step up in price becuase these look reallly good. I thought I would get the NVB because where I live I would have to buy both the Navionics gold and inland lakes (250 bucks) so its cheaper to get all the maps with the NVB model.
Is the 797 you have last years model? Does it have the NVB option? Thanks again.

[hondo]

The 797c SI is last year's model, it was replaced by the 798c SI this year.

The 797c SIs we're getting do not have the NVB maps in them, base maps only.

[Red Rock]

Since my LCX 19 fried, focusing on whats used on the Great Lakes, Gulf coast regions, seems like alot of Raymarine Furuno, and Northstar.

I'm very close to going with a Raymarine A70, just got off the phone with there customer support tech, very helpful.

Good Luck

[whofan]

http://www.thehulltruth.com/index.php

The guys on this forum seem to like Furuno, Raymarine, and Garmin.

I`d give Humminbird a try.

If I were to rig a new boat right now myself, I would get a Garmin GPS and Vexilar Edge3.

Lowrance needs to get their house in order before I`d go back to them.

[fishbones]

I appreciate the info / links.
I really like the hummingbird side sonar option and needing the NVB I am leaning towards the 798c si nvb unit. I found one for 1000.00 delivered. Is this too much money? Maybe a better unit for the buck?

[Rapscallion]

My Garmin 530 works very well and is pretty user friendly. The 530S is the sonar version.