FEATURES FEATURES FEATURES! :laugh:
I just replaced my depthfinder this summer, and went with the Humminbird 596c. Amazing little unit - while it does not have GPS (I have a dedicated GPS unit), other models in the line do. And the screen is amazing nice - clear, bright and easy readable in any bring sunny light - even direct. Something like 640x640px resolution. Reads depths down to 1500ft (yes, I've seen it read that deep, accurate as told my my paper charts) and works great at cruise speed (28mph for my little boat). Hell, I even get to see my anchor splash down on the bottom as well as my jig in action - pretty cool to know that my jig hook is at the depth I need it.
And ... best of all... it finds FISH!
I personally do not buy into spend less to save a few bucks... even for a simple depthfinder. I view electronics on my boat as a safety item, and I want the best, newest technology. Of course I'm running offshore in Alaska, to the tune of 30-40 miles out. Sometimes the weather gets crappy and I want to know I have top stuff showing me what I need to know, and not worry about Chinese knockoff brand XYZ conking out on me. The depthfinder I replaced was only 5 years old, and the difference between that one (Garmin 240) and my new one is simply amazing. Using it in the same area I always fish, I now see stuff that I never did on the bottom, and some old mysterys are now solved. And with the area I run, with all the quick changing depths, rocks and so on... I was more than happy to spend a little more. But, I didn't go the $2000 route either. I do plan on adding a higher end, aftermarket transducer to my unit once I make a few more 'additions' to my boat.
Just make sure you figure out what you need it to do, and what you want it to do. Any of the brand names mentioned here will accomplish what you want. You just need to compare the features you want with the price you need, and go from them. If you can, actually see the unit before you buy - something as basic as the screen may make you buy something other than what you were originally looking at. I was going to replace my Garmin with another one until I saw the screen on the Humminbird I bought. Feature were veryclose, price was very close, but the screen was not. They have one comparable NOW, but that did me no good when I had to replace mine.
