what are you running for electronics?

Looking to by a basic set up vhf,gps,and depth/fishfinder just wondering what everones using and where are you mounting them. I was thinking about a combo gps/ff but I have yet to hear anyone say anything positive about them. I think a garmin gps and the raymarine L 365 seems good. As for vhf ? I don't need the top end one any thoughts? Money is more than tight now so it's radio 1st and then the fishy stuff. :P

I've got a Garmin 160 blue FF that works well. Never any problem. Handheld Garmin GPS works fine as well.
Icom 402S VHF.
I'd go with a decent VHF if I were you and pick up a inexpensive Handheld GPS. I'm not a fan of mapping databases in handhelds, screen is just too small. I rarely use my map. I use it for waypoints, speed, etc. The basic functions of any handheld. Garmin makes a "Gecko" model. The cheapest model is $100.00 and it does all the basic stuff. For a tight wallet, I like it. I haven't used it but I've looked at it in stores.

Going with down speed this year but only after a lot of catching fish without it.

Bottom line....... spend you recourses on the safety of a good VHF and Antenna.

Mike

If you hurry you can pick up standardhorizon's intrepid + vhf, $139.99 at west with a $40 horizon rebate. This is a DSC radio. Get a good antenna to go with it.

I am about to order the Lowrance X126DF sonar - an incredible unit at less than $350.00. You could get a similar unit from Eagle (a Lowrance company) for about $100 less.

You can't go wrong with the garmin map 76 handheld gps. Later when you upgrade to a fixed mount charter, you will still have an excellent backup gps.

For well under $1000 with any sales tax, that is a package that will give you years of top notch service.

[chumbucket]

I have a Standard Horizon Intrepid+ VHF radio, Garmin 160 Blue FF and a Garmin 162 GPS with Bluechart cartography software loaded onto it. I'm really happy with all of the components and think they are all a good value for the money (about $750-$800 for everything). Go with the essential VHF at first. In a couple of months, I think you'll see the price on current technology GPS's dropping tomake way for newer digital and faster processers. You'd have nothing to loose by waiting a little bit to see what happens.
I know real estate comes at a premium on the cuddy cabin model consoles so the combo unit attracts many. I had no problem with the center console though and feel that if you can come up with a mounting solution, the separate units are a better way to go. If, for any reason, one or the other needed to be serviced, you wouldn't be without both for that period of time.

CB so you have been happy with the garmin ff, I have been looking at that model as well. What type of transducer are you running, transem or thru-hull?

[chumbucket]

Yes, it's worked out well for me. I like the Garmin units because of the features at a decent price. *These 160 and 240 Blue models are being phased out though and being replaced with the newer 250 and 250C (color). They have a higher screen pixel resolution. If you shop around the 160's and 240's can still be had at a real decent price.
I have a transom mounted Arimar P66. If you're opposed to drilling and mounting a transducer to the transom, these units also work well epoxied to the inside bilge of your hull and read right through the glass with little degradation.
There are lots of good units on the market. The only ones I can say from experience (past, maybe better now.??????) that I never had good luck with are the Humminbirds.
Next time around, I'd probably pry the extra cash out of my wallet for the Furuno FCV600L Color LCD. ;)

How much $ are they?

The lowrance x126df has 480 x 480 resolution.
Dual frequency with speed and temp.

IMHO, I would rather have a grayscale with better resolution than a color with lower resolution. Sure the learning curve will be quicker with the color, but the high resolution grayscale will provide the experienced user with more information.

The x126df is gonna do for me, until the high quality color units become realistically priced.

I ordered the x126df today from cabelas. Since I ordered some other stuff and told them they weren't the lowest price and I had their credit card with about a 100 dollar cabelas points deal, they waived all the shipping. :)

PS - I don't work for cabelas or lowrance.

[chumbucket]

That Lowrance unit is very nice. I've looked at that one also. I'm not sure what the resolution is on the Furuno. My buddy has one and the nice thing about them is that with their "A-Scope" feature, and the intensity of the color of return, one can tell what type of fish you are looking at. Different types of fish have different body temperatures and therefore show varying degrees of thermal imaging.
They usually run in the neighborhood of $700 - $800.

huh?? ... thermal imaging?? ... different body temperatures??

FCV600L does sound like a nice machine, but I won't pay 700 - 800 bucks for it.

I was intrigued with some of lowrances combo units that have trip recording features. Since I am waiting for the gps market to shake out anyway, I think I might eventually wind up with one for my fixed charter. Even tho I don't like combos, if you are recording - combo is the way to go. I would use it as a gps screen view, alongside my x126df. If it craps out, I'll still have my x126df and handheld map gps for backup.

The other thought is that if I ever got radar, I would want it to display on my gps. We'll see -- no hurry.

Oh yeah, and any gps has to be able to "talk" to my DSC VHF.