Bottom line or Lowrance

[erie addict]

First of all, please don't start a slam fest.
Was at the Cleveland show and talked to both companies at their booths. I have always used a lowrance product and I am outfitting a new boat. Was looking at getting a the x-15 or 16. Talked with the bottom line rep and he showed me the Tournament 5300, very impresive unit. One thing that he said stuck in my mind. Bottomline models don't change, you just download new soft ware or send it in for updates. I am sick of purchasing a "newer, better" lowrance only to have it become extinct in 2-3 years. Any one want to buy a z-9500, lms-350, lms-160 or x-65? LOL.
Can any one who uses bottomline tell me about durability, customer service, likes or dislikes? Thanks in advance.

[bountyhunter]

I"VE had both ,both worked well [did have problem with x15 they sent me a new one ] bottomline always worked great ,if I was to go for a new unit today I'd try BT nice units . by the way that z9500 was the best ,mine had loran also . jim

[erie addict]

Mine has the loran as well as the dual freq transducer. You are correct great unit. Best arches on a sonar i have yet to see.

[CarpetBagger]

If your goin to bite the bullet of an X16CI then you might want to look into an 600L by Furuno. nicer color unit by far!

CB

[LakeRat]

And Bottomline has a short turnaround on repairs that they might be asked by you to do, and the repair costs are reasonable. I am sending in my Bottomline Tournament 310 bought in 1987.

I am getting $120.00 off the price of a new Tournament HR from them! I paid $500.00 back then for the 310, now i am getting back $120.00 of it toward the HR. Good Company

How many companies will give you back some of that value from your old unit.

On the other hand, they too come out with new models, I don't recall any upgrades to the 310 or other units over the years, just new units being produced.

That part might need some good clarification by Bottomline. It seems a bit misleading. I would take it to mean that they are constantly working on their product to improve on it, then give you the upgrade. The new models come out instead. If I understand, you need to purchase a new model, as it is not considered an upgrade on your model. That however, might be where they decide to give you a trade in discount on a new model.....?

But I will go again with it. Good detail and locates fish!

[BGunn]

I have a Bottom Line "Tournament Champion 5" depth finder
with the GPS. It is 6 years old, and I started having problems getting a reading to the bottom (It would cut out once in a while), and the GPS would chose to cut out at the most inopportune time, like when your trying to find your way thru a break wall on Lake Erie on a foggy morning.
The replacement for the unit costs close to $1000.00 (and you can't get the "5" anymore, I could only find one that looked in 3 directions), and I really liked it when it worked, so I contacted Bottom Line Co. and asked them if it could be repaired.
They informed me that the life expectancy of a transducer was 3 to 5 years, and that the older GPS was an 8 channel, and the newer ones were 12, and I could send it in, and have the entire unit repaired, and upgraded.
I shipped the unit to them, along with a check for $149.95. They replaced all 5 transducers, speed and temp sensors, new GPS module, and the entire unit itself is new also. They even check all your cables, and splitters, to be sure they work well. You end up with a brand new unit for $149.00,GPS and all !!
The best part was their turn-around time. I mailed it "return receipt requested". Two days after I got the "Return Receipt", the depth finder was sitting on my front porch!
I give Bottom Line Co. 5 Stars in customer Service, and look forward to 5 more years out of this unit!

[fishy1]

I read some were that color units are basicly for cabins because of bright sun is this true or not

[LakeRat]

I don't have a color unit, but according to those posting on this board, yes, the sun makes the color very hard to read an then even worse with sun galsses on.

[RANGER]

I really liked my BottomLine and their customer service. The finder went with the boat when I sold it and I wished I had kept it. BottomLine is great to deal with and they have a great product!

[Hookmaster]

When I bought my first LCG in 1990 I was deciding between a Bottom Line and Eagle Z9000. I went with the Z9000 because it had the super twist screen. If the Bottom Line would have had one, I would have bought it. I am still using the Z9000. You guys should be still using your Z9500s. They are a great unit. When my Z9000 dies, I'll consider Bottom Line but probably not Lowrance.

[erie addict]

Thanks for the input guys. Looks like Bottomline it will be.

[Mike]

there is a used BT 6500 for sale on upnorthoutdoors.com for 550.00