Fish finder /gps unit opinions

[NELLIE]

Whats your opinion on the gps/fishfinder units.I was wondering what people have to say about these units.I'm looking at garmin right know but not sold on it.I was told to get two sperate units becuase if one part goes down the whole unit goes down. Is this true? Was also told garmin is more user freindly.Mostly fish in chesapeake bay with an few offshore to 30 fathoms.Nellie

[Miles Offshore]

ive heard some not so sparkling reviews on the garmin fishfinders but their GPS is very good in my opinion. I have all seperate units, gps, radar, fishfinder, etc. I prefer furuno bottom machines and I have a JRC radar but would probably buy furuno next time. If a combination unit goes out/breaks, you lose everything- if independant units break, you lose only that piece of electronics. Thats the reason I prefer independant.

[FINRAZOR RODS]

I thoroughly love my Raymarine c120 setup, 1KW trans, 4KW radar.

[AquaholicFishing]

My personal choice is to use seperate units for each item. The new garmin units in my opinion seriously lack in the fishfinder department. If you are set on a combo unit look at Lowrance for a comparable cost to the garmins.

[dolphinfrenzi]

Everyone has their own choice. I work in the computer industry and run a large IT Department, so the last thing I want to work with when I get home is a computer so my big interest in Marine electronics. I too heard the rumors stay away from combo units. Well to each his own. I have now changed just about every year for the last 4 years and just recently went from the Garmin 3210 to the new 5212 and WOW. UNBELIEVABLE. I have had the entire network with the DIGITAL SOUNDER for 2 seasons now and just changed head units in addition I added a 3206 to the network to mark bait and other info that I may not want to clutter up my main unit with. Once again everyone has their own preference. I have seen and installed others but the new Garmin series is UNBELIEVEABLE. I have also been running XM Weather for 2 seasons and that is GREAT also. I love the XM Weather and recently have been working with XM Weather to help better their Fishbytes technology by helping provide information on water temps, and other info they use for this technology. It is not perfect but getting better EVERY day. They have done Excellent on the billfish now they are just working on some other species to make them better. Hope this helps and make your own decision everyone is different

[Capt. Michael Mata]

I like the Hummingbird unit it shows a cartoon pic of a fish it even shows 2 sizes big fish and small fish! Seriously I had both a Garmin and a Furuno and liked them both. Easy to use is the key of getting the most out of the unit.

[effinay]

First time here and first post as well, bear with me I'm kinda nervous. We just upgraded the electronics on our 26 Bonito 2 yrs ago and bought into the Furuno Navnet combination unit....the BIG one! 10" screen, Radar, GPS, Sounder, the whole enchilada in one unit. Installed it with help from the Gasman, and it has been one of the best investments I ever made. I'm no techno-wiz when it comes to this stuff but have found this system to be the simplest and most user friendly thing ever. I have faith in the one screen system as this is the same unit used by the Coast Gaurd on many of their smaller boats as well as harbormasters in most of the surrounding areas. One other comment to make is that you should not rely solely on electronics for navigation. Tells you that when you fire most of these things up, don't forget to know how to use charts and a compass.