Best Locator for the money?

[Jeff]

I am shopping for a new locator because I'm not happy with my current setup (Hummingbird). Is it possible to buy a locator that will give you the sensitivity to "see" the bottom without spending Lowrance 350a money? I have a good handheld GPS, so I'm not interested in that option. Any recommendations?

[Jeremy]

You would probably be happy with a Garmin 160 or 240, a friend just bought a 160 and loves it, he was disappointed with his humminbird also. the 160 is about $200 and the 240 is $300 with temp sensor

[vern]

the garmin 240 gets my vote.very easy to use and great detail.lots of bang for the buck. good luck.

[Walleye&bass wi]

I would say a X-75 or X-85. Both are great units. I have a garmin 240 and don't like it one bit. It gives bad readings in weeds and I think it is just a bad unit all together. I would go with anything lowrance.

[jeff reed]

Lowrance X-75 or X-85. Only way to Fly!!! There support is unsurpassed just dont call on Monday.

[FishOn]

Don't believe it ! The Garmin 240 is the best for the money . Will do everything the Lowrances will.

[Jeff reed]

C'mon.... Garmin is well respected in GPS but has only been in the sonar business for 5- 6 years maybe shorter. Lowrance has been in the sonar business since the introduction of the "green box", thats about 35 years. Would you buy a car from a start-up company???? Buy Lowrance and Go with an established pioneering company that has been it the marine sonar business from day 1.

[Scott in KC]

Had the Garmin 240, sent it back and got an x65. Less money, speed & temp. The Garmin chart speed is painfully slow, maybe good for the bow, but if you're using on the console you will be disappointed. Check the prices at Reeds, free freight too! No locator is going to show you the last 6-10 inches of bottom anyway, so those true bottom huggers will go unseen with any unit. But,the better the unit the closer it will go to the bottom. **** of a lot of difference between 6 & 10". My x65 seems to be right in that 8" range when fishing jigs right under the transducer. Once fish are suspended above that range, it all boils down to target separation.

[time 2 move]

got the Raytheon L-265 (they make em for submarines) and luv it but if i did it again and money was no object i would look at the Zercom 2000.

[rad]

raytheon gets my vote. I was in the same boat as you, what to bye. I shopped around and found the raytheon L470 for $350.00. It has a three year warrenty on the electronics. No other fish finder has a warrenty.It has speed and water temp. and its gps compatible. Best bye on the market(my opinion)

[Bart SD]

I agree, Raytheon's are an incredible deal! Sheel's has the 265 on sale for $139. It gives you the exact information as the 470 except no speed and temp and the screen is narower but it still has 240 vertical pixels. Name another locator with 240 pixels and dual frequency for under $150

[Brian]

I can see I'm in the minority in this discussion but IMHO a flasher is the only way to go. I am currently using two Zercom flashers in my boat. Love them. I had a good LCG unit but always ended up using my flasher when fishing so I sold it and bought another flasher. Zercom makes a quality unit. Learn how to read it and you won't be sorry.
Good luck!
Brian

[Rick]

HEy, I love my zercom, too. I would never go back to those old lcds!

[Mike B. (OK)]

Lowrance and Eagle are hard to beat. I have had both, and liked all of em'. The Eagle Optima is probably the best buy from this company ($299 at Cabela's). Their service is also very good.

[AlexB]

Bart:
Do you have the website address for Sheel's? Have tried to search for it but have been unsuccessful.
Thanks AlexB

[Jeremy]

You won't get my LPG 2000 away from me, Zercom can make more than just a flasher unit

[eyez (SD)]

I agree with you to a point. I love flashers on the bow. Even the fastest chart speed still has a slight delay while it comes on the screen, and for following contours it's hard to beat a flasher. but as far as most bang for you buck goes. I got an x75 with speed and temp with the SAM from reed's for 350. Just had to talk a little, and I had it in less than a week.

Eyez (SD)