Lowrance X75 vs Raytheon L470 vs Raytheon L265.

[Hunts Brook]

I am shopping for a fish finder. I fish in both fresh and salt water for bottom dwelling fish(walleyes) from a 16 ft aluminum boat. I am interested in locating both game fish and small forage fish(alewives). I have narrowed my search to 3 units and would appreciate recommendations: Lowrance X75, Raytheon L470, Raytheon L265. I am interested in sonar, water temp and boat speed are not important to me.

My questions:

Is there a significant difference in the ability of the X75 and L470 to detect and display small fish close to the bottom and details in bottom structure such boulders and weedlines?

Is there a significant difference in the ability of the L470 and L265 to detect and display small fish close to the bottom and details in bottom structure such boulders and weedlines?

Is the L265 easilly readable at night?

Is the dual frequency display of the raytheon units a tremendous advantage?

Is there a difference in the way the (Raytheon vs Lowrance and low power vs higher power?) transponders operate when the boat is travelling at a moderate to high speed, assuming they are mounted the same way?

Are there features on the Eagle Optima or the Lowrance LCG 2400 that make them better in any way than the Lowrance X75?

[Bullet]

I own a L470 and think it is a fantastic unit.
It puts out 4000 watts peak to peak and 500
watts RMS.The L265 only puts out 2400watts
peak to peak and 300watts RMS. So the difference
is substantial in detecting fish on bottom &
seperating fish in and close to structure.
I think the dual beam is an advantage, especially in deep water. It has a split screen showing both 16 & 65 degree beams seperately, so you can compare which is better at the same time.
My L470 operates at high speed as good as sitting still. This has alot to do with transducer
placement and not how much power it has.
This unit is more comparable to the X85 than the X75 & still has more power than the X85.
Not trying to knock the X75 or X85 they are both good units, just know what I have used and what works for me. Good Luck. Bullet

[Tommy Mac]

Hi Hunts,
I'll take a stab at some of your questions. You are looking for a sonar that will detect small baitfish and large one's alike, even close to the bottom. I hope money is not a great concern. In order to get such a machine you will not want to buy a manufacture's second best machine. The Lowrance X-85, not the 75 will do this for you. The X-75 just does not have enough power Scotty. I know of three of my guiding clients that have upgraded their X-75, Eagle Optima's to X-85's. I have not used the Raytheon products but have heard good things about them. I have also heard good and bad things about the Pinpoint systems. I know that they had a lot of problems with the 7500. The 7520 seems to be more reliable and a better machine. I have seen these work at slow or fishing speed and they do show very good detail. I do know that they have a super fast update rate. (The speed thing) You can also achieve a real time display by using the fast track feature on a X-85.
The dual frequency thing is important if you want to run two sonars at the same time. Lowrance offers a narrow 8 degree transducer that, i believe, operates at the same frequency as the regular 20 degree cone.
I am sure that you will get more info from the folks that are more acustom to the other products you mention. One thing that is very important to me is reliability. You want it to work when it's time to fish! I have used Lowrance products for 30 some years and you know, not once have they let me down. Hope that helped. - Tom
Catch A Big One!