fish finder
 

boat: 91 V-20 with 5.01L chevy with volvo 290 outdr.

My hummingbird wide view depth finder dropped dead, I sent it the company to look at and they said it was unrepairable.

I want something I can have use at high speed, my old one had 2 transducers sandwiched between the outdr and the trim tab. I have a feeling anything I put back there will not operate at high speed because of the disturbance. I want to try installing my next one on the centerline in the engine compartment bilge.

2 questions: Has anyone tried a Eagle fish finder and has anyone tried to install in this area.

My buddy has a V-21 with a Yamaha and a eagle depth finder and his works at high speed.

As I said I think my problem is with the disturbance from the trim tab and outdrive.

Let me know guys.
thanks garagenc

fish finder
 

boat: 91 V-20 with 5.01L chevy with volvo 290 outdr.

My hummingbird wide view depth finder dropped dead, I sent it the company to look at and they said it was unrepairable.

I want something I can have use at high speed, my old one had 2 transducers sandwiched between the outdr and the trim tab. I have a feeling anything I put back there will not operate at high speed because of the disturbance. I want to try installing my next one on the centerline in the engine compartment bilge.

2 questions: Has anyone tried a Eagle fish finder and has anyone tried to install in this area.

My buddy has a V-21 with a Yamaha and a eagle depth finder and his works at high speed.

As I said I think my problem is with the disturbance from the trim tab and outdrive.

Let me know guys.
thanks garagenc

Re: fish finder
 

the brand names you listed are not high on my list of manufacturs, you may want to look at higher end units, but any of them are only as good as the transducers you use, are you trying to "shoot thru the hull" or using a thru hull transducer? If you are a serious fisherman, fishing in deep water, use a thru hull transducer, if your fishing in shallower water or in a lake then you can get by with a shoot thru the hull. Take a look at the Garmin, Lowrance( Eagle's higher class), Sitex, or Furono. Go to charlestonfishing.com and do a search for electronics for sale, that subject has been beat to death on there with more opinions than you care for, but there are some really good links to places to purchase( read "cheap"). If you are fishing big water, check out a National Fisherman magazine, there are allways sales on reman true bottom machines in there, these are the ones comercial guys use

Re: fish finder
 

the brand names you listed are not high on my list of manufacturs, you may want to look at higher end units, but any of them are only as good as the transducers you use, are you trying to "shoot thru the hull" or using a thru hull transducer? If you are a serious fisherman, fishing in deep water, use a thru hull transducer, if your fishing in shallower water or in a lake then you can get by with a shoot thru the hull. Take a look at the Garmin, Lowrance( Eagle's higher class), Sitex, or Furono. Go to charlestonfishing.com and do a search for electronics for sale, that subject has been beat to death on there with more opinions than you care for, but there are some really good links to places to purchase( read "cheap"). If you are fishing big water, check out a National Fisherman magazine, there are allways sales on reman true bottom machines in there, these are the ones comercial guys use

Re: fish finder
 

I just installed a Lowrance 337...would like to have gotten a larger screen, but the CLARITY on this unit is AWSOME...my off-shore friend uses Furuno high-end, was w/ me Thur on 1st run w/ this unit and he was quite impressed...can't tell ya about shootin' thru the hull, but I put the dual frequency transducer low in the water when I installed it and it holds the bottom perfectly at speed ...even blipped yellow(highest mass) on suspended bait at speed...


I rate fish-finding capabilities high on this unit, plus it's a combo, so you'll get chart/ GPS functions...

Re: fish finder
 

I just installed a Lowrance 337...would like to have gotten a larger screen, but the CLARITY on this unit is AWSOME...my off-shore friend uses Furuno high-end, was w/ me Thur on 1st run w/ this unit and he was quite impressed...can't tell ya about shootin' thru the hull, but I put the dual frequency transducer low in the water when I installed it and it holds the bottom perfectly at speed ...even blipped yellow(highest mass) on suspended bait at speed...


I rate fish-finding capabilities high on this unit, plus it's a combo, so you'll get chart/ GPS functions...

Re: fish finder
 

I have Garmin 160, a little old now but works great even at speed wuth transom mount.

Evev see the fishing line jigging the bottom! I love garmin!! I have also got a Garmin 162, GPS Map that is also awsome!!

Re: fish finder
 

I have Garmin 160, a little old now but works great even at speed wuth transom mount.

Evev see the fishing line jigging the bottom! I love garmin!! I have also got a Garmin 162, GPS Map that is also awsome!!

Re: fish finder
 

My Garmin shows the bucktail when flukin or diamond jig when jiggin.

I've heard people that have put there transom mount transducer in their bilge and it shoots thru the hull fine....anyone try this? I'd like to get mine off the transom.

Re: fish finder
 

My Garmin shows the bucktail when flukin or diamond jig when jiggin.

I've heard people that have put there transom mount transducer in their bilge and it shoots thru the hull fine....anyone try this? I'd like to get mine off the transom.

Re: fish finder
 

MJ, is that 162 a combo ff/gps?

Re: fish finder
 

MJ, is that 162 a combo ff/gps?

Re: fish finder
 

This here looks like a helluva deal, it's monochrome but has 7" screen....combo ff/gps. I'd like to upgrade from 5" screen someday :-/

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...amp;hasJS=true

Re: fish finder
 

This here looks like a helluva deal, it's monochrome but has 7" screen....combo ff/gps. I'd like to upgrade from 5" screen someday :-/

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...amp;hasJS=true

Re: fish finder
 

Nope its a single unit, I hate the all in ones as when one goes they all go. Been there done that!

Mine is a few years old but there are a few around forn sale, Garmin has discontuined it

http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap162/

Re: fish finder
 

Nope its a single unit, I hate the all in ones as when one goes they all go. Been there done that!

Mine is a few years old but there are a few around forn sale, Garmin has discontuined it

http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap162/

Re: fish finder
 

Ah ok...thought mine was a 162 combo...just checked, I have a 168 combo.

Re: fish finder
 

Ah ok...thought mine was a 162 combo...just checked, I have a 168 combo.

Re: fish finder
 

I did the shoot through the hull method with the Grady that I had a few years ago. Worked out well. Depends on the size of your transducer. What I did was to cut a section of 4" PVC pipe that was cut at an angle to match the deadrise of the bilge but level across the top. I cleaned a spot in the bilge and epoxied the PVC pipe and let harden. Then I laid in a bed of silicone. Very important to try to get out as much or all of the air bubbles as possible. I then set the transducer into the silicone and poured more silicone around it just covering the body of the transducer. You just want to be sure to have the transducer pointing straight downward or you'll get false depth readings.
Easy job and works well. 8)

Re: fish finder
 

I did the shoot through the hull method with the Grady that I had a few years ago. Worked out well. Depends on the size of your transducer. What I did was to cut a section of 4" PVC pipe that was cut at an angle to match the deadrise of the bilge but level across the top. I cleaned a spot in the bilge and epoxied the PVC pipe and let harden. Then I laid in a bed of silicone. Very important to try to get out as much or all of the air bubbles as possible. I then set the transducer into the silicone and poured more silicone around it just covering the body of the transducer. You just want to be sure to have the transducer pointing straight downward or you'll get false depth readings.
Easy job and works well. 8)

Re: fish finder
 

Thanks CB....I may do this. I'd like to clean up my transom of all the possible points of water intrusion...don't want a soggy transom....plus I lose bottom at speed.

Re: fish finder
 

Thanks CB....I may do this. I'd like to clean up my transom of all the possible points of water intrusion...don't want a soggy transom....plus I lose bottom at speed.

Re: fish finder
 

CB...when ya put one in this way, is it important that it's done in the CENTER of the hull just over the keel, or can it go up the deadrise on one side or another(of course keepin' the transduder pointed straight down)...and the silicone you used...just the regular silicone that comes in a tube or anything special there?...

Re: fish finder
 

CB...when ya put one in this way, is it important that it's done in the CENTER of the hull just over the keel, or can it go up the deadrise on one side or another(of course keepin' the transduder pointed straight down)...and the silicone you used...just the regular silicone that comes in a tube or anything special there?...

Re: fish finder
 

Fishfinders are like most all other things in this world you get what you pay for. Depending on your budget I would stay with furuno, lowrance or garmin in that order. I regularlly fish the washington canyon and my furuno unit reads the bottom quite well down to around 1300 foot and I can get a digital readout of bottom depth to below 3000 foot depending on the thermocline. The deepest readout was 3307 feet. The transducer is located on the transom and above 30 kts it can get erratic but at that speed I am just trying to get someplace . Its just common sense that if you shoot ultra sound thru a solid hull you are going to lose detail so mounting inside the hull is a tradeoff. The other disadvantage is that in a shoot thru
application you lose you temp and speed functions. For me temp is almost as important as contour and echos. My suggestion is buy a quality unit and try it on the outside if your not satisfied inside is always an option

Re: fish finder
 

Fishfinders are like most all other things in this world you get what you pay for. Depending on your budget I would stay with furuno, lowrance or garmin in that order. I regularlly fish the washington canyon and my furuno unit reads the bottom quite well down to around 1300 foot and I can get a digital readout of bottom depth to below 3000 foot depending on the thermocline. The deepest readout was 3307 feet. The transducer is located on the transom and above 30 kts it can get erratic but at that speed I am just trying to get someplace . Its just common sense that if you shoot ultra sound thru a solid hull you are going to lose detail so mounting inside the hull is a tradeoff. The other disadvantage is that in a shoot thru
application you lose you temp and speed functions. For me temp is almost as important as contour and echos. My suggestion is buy a quality unit and try it on the outside if your not satisfied inside is always an option

Re: fish finder
 

Doesn't need to be in the center over the keel. Mine was roughly 8-10" offset. Just point straight down. Regular silicone is okay. 8)

Re: fish finder
 

Doesn't need to be in the center over the keel. Mine was roughly 8-10" offset. Just point straight down. Regular silicone is okay. 8)

Re: fish finder
 

8) ...

Re: fish finder
 

8) ...

Re: fish finder
 

I have an Eagle SeaCharter 480DF. *Functionally, it's the equivalent of a Lowrance LMS-337DF. *The 480DF is monochrome. *Most of the Eagle units do not support NMEA 2000, the 480DF does not.

But, for $350 it's a heck of a deal.

Re: fish finder
 

I have an Eagle SeaCharter 480DF. *Functionally, it's the equivalent of a Lowrance LMS-337DF. *The 480DF is monochrome. *Most of the Eagle units do not support NMEA 2000, the 480DF does not.

But, for $350 it's a heck of a deal.

Re: fish finder
 

I've had a bit of experience with depthfinders. I own more than I need right now. My suggestions :

First off, buy the best you can afford. If you are looking at the Eagle line then you may want to take a look at the Lowrance line. THey are both made by Lowrance and look the same except that the Lowrance has much more RMS power than the Eagle line which can give you better accuracy and sensitivity and usually better tracking at high speeds.

Second you have to decide how you want to use it. I like having the DF and GPS in 1 unit. It allows you to do much more. With the higher end units, (LMS332c - LCS111x in the Lowrance line) you can record both the gps and the sonar on a chip and you can mark GPS waypoints from the sonar record so you have greater accuracy for pinpointing spots. THis is only important if you want to record your trips marking spots you caught fish to finetune fishing patterns and being able to see what was below you at that time.

If you dont want to record your trips then seperate units may be better so you won't lose both capabilities if the units goes bad.

Then there are the brands, that is up to you're pocket book and personal preference. I personally like Lowrance because it has a great depthfinder and a good GPS that uses inexpensive software that is great (Nauticpath). The units have the largest screens with the highest definition (pixels) for the money and that is important to me. They are so sensitive that you can watch your jig go to the bottom in 60ft + water. THe drawback is that it is more menu driven then some other manufacturers(who use more buttons) so it requires more of a learning curve.

Right now I have and use the LCX111c, LCX25c and the LMS 332c and 2-X70's Since I only have 2 boats I'll probably sell the 332c and the X70's this winter/spring.

Be careful with the X17 ....... It's a great unit but I believe it's being discontinued and it may only work with the older NauticPath Chips. I had to trade an older Nauticpath chip for a newer chip to a friend for that reason and I believe he had the X17. You may want to check with Lowrance technical support just to be sure before purchasing it. Otherwise it is a great Black and white unit.

Thanks

Rick

Re: fish finder
 

I've had a bit of experience with depthfinders. I own more than I need right now. My suggestions :

First off, buy the best you can afford. If you are looking at the Eagle line then you may want to take a look at the Lowrance line. THey are both made by Lowrance and look the same except that the Lowrance has much more RMS power than the Eagle line which can give you better accuracy and sensitivity and usually better tracking at high speeds.

Second you have to decide how you want to use it. I like having the DF and GPS in 1 unit. It allows you to do much more. With the higher end units, (LMS332c - LCS111x in the Lowrance line) you can record both the gps and the sonar on a chip and you can mark GPS waypoints from the sonar record so you have greater accuracy for pinpointing spots. THis is only important if you want to record your trips marking spots you caught fish to finetune fishing patterns and being able to see what was below you at that time.

If you dont want to record your trips then seperate units may be better so you won't lose both capabilities if the units goes bad.

Then there are the brands, that is up to you're pocket book and personal preference. I personally like Lowrance because it has a great depthfinder and a good GPS that uses inexpensive software that is great (Nauticpath). The units have the largest screens with the highest definition (pixels) for the money and that is important to me. They are so sensitive that you can watch your jig go to the bottom in 60ft + water. THe drawback is that it is more menu driven then some other manufacturers(who use more buttons) so it requires more of a learning curve.

Right now I have and use the LCX111c, LCX25c and the LMS 332c and 2-X70's Since I only have 2 boats I'll probably sell the 332c and the X70's this winter/spring.

Be careful with the X17 ....... It's a great unit but I believe it's being discontinued and it may only work with the older NauticPath Chips. I had to trade an older Nauticpath chip for a newer chip to a friend for that reason and I believe he had the X17. You may want to check with Lowrance technical support just to be sure before purchasing it. Otherwise it is a great Black and white unit.

Thanks

Rick

Re: fish finder
 

Almost forgot, check with Hummingbird. Sometimes manufactures offer substantial discounts to customers with dead units to keep their customer base. I got a $250 credit to purchase my LCX25c and a $400 credit on my LCX111c. The thing is ...... you have to ask for the credit letter ....... they usually don't offer it. I usually approach the subject by saying, "What are you going to do for a loyal customer" ........ oh and you usually have to have proof you have the unit ........ a picture of the unit showing the serial number was enough for Lowrance.

Thanks
Rick

Re: fish finder
 

Almost forgot, check with Hummingbird. Sometimes manufactures offer substantial discounts to customers with dead units to keep their customer base. I got a $250 credit to purchase my LCX25c and a $400 credit on my LCX111c. The thing is ...... you have to ask for the credit letter ....... they usually don't offer it. I usually approach the subject by saying, "What are you going to do for a loyal customer" ........ oh and you usually have to have proof you have the unit ........ a picture of the unit showing the serial number was enough for Lowrance.

Thanks
Rick

Re: fish finder
 

thanks rick

I need to call hummingbird and ask, I only want spend 200 or less, so I guess this really limits me.
lee

Re: fish finder
 

thanks rick

I need to call hummingbird and ask, I only want spend 200 or less, so I guess this really limits me.
lee

Re: fish finder
 

Look around for a used one ...... you'll probably get more for your money .......... I have a Lowrance x 70 that I'm going to put on EBAY that should bring that much if you're interested.

Re: fish finder
 

Look around for a used one ...... you'll probably get more for your money .......... I have a Lowrance x 70 that I'm going to put on EBAY that should bring that much if you're interested.