Raymarine DS500x HD digital fishfinder

[mrfishy]

Has anyone had any experience with these units, I was reading the reviews on West Marine and some of the reviews didn't look to promising. Any opinions? or reccomendations for another unit under $550. (Transom mount transducer)


http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...&storeId=10001

[flatbottom]

The one I bought in 2004 & it did not have a locking power connector. This posed a problem for me. I flushed mounted it and used a contact cement on the connector. Now I find out a locking connector is either sent with the FF or is already attached to the power cord.

Outside of the power connector I have had no issues. You can split screen, set depth ranges, water temp is close enough. By using the auto adjustment the unit work perfectly. Not a bad FF in the low cost range. It has auto sensing 50/200 or manual adjustment. With the transom mount you can read bottom or I can read bottom where I mounted it at WOT/40 mph. Stay away from mounting directly behind a strake. I split between two strakes and it has a smooth flow of water going past the transducer. I would had thought the price a little cheaper for a 3 year old technology. I paid 800.00 in 2004 and you are quoted 500.00 today. The transducer has a flip up connection for hard landings. Wonder how I found that out If that happens to you power off, push the ducer to lock again and power on That only happened a few times damn waves !!!

[BYRD]

I have one and the power is a twist lock but the transducer is just a plug. It has never failed but it just seems weak. I would think they would make both be twist lock plugs.

I love the machine. I cannot say enough good about it. The color is sharp, it is user friendly and it opened a world on the bottom that I never knew existed. I have even marked flounder in shallow water!! (less than 15')


It is a great machine other than the connection from the transducer being a little chincy.

[Finatic]

I had one on my Grady White that I recently sold. I installed the unit in early summer and was really impressed with the ease of use and clarity of the screen. I would definately buy another of these units.