Electronics - FF and GPS

[Blue_Runner]

It looks like I'm in the market for new electronics. I've ran the Garmin 172C GPS for a little over 15 years and really liked it. For FF I've been using a Garmin 250 DC. I chose to go with separate units in the event of failure of one or the other I'd still be able to use either or.

Recently both units are acting up and I'm thinking after that many years it is probably time to get something newer and hopefully better. I would like to keep with separate units for GPS and FF but not opposed to a combo unit. Cost is definitely a factor. I'd like to stay below $500 if possible. That alone pretty much limits me to a combo unit. Not opposed to moving away from Garmin either.

So I'd like to hear what people consider the latest and greatest in Garmin units and other brands. I admit i've not followed the technology for many years but still managed to pile up fish on my deck regardless, so there's that. .

Lets hear it, what do you recommend?

[Blue_Runner]

Looking hard at Lowrance Hook2-7x 7" Gps Splitshot Fishfinder W/Track Plotter Transom Mount Splitshot Transducer. $324 shipped. Looks like a nice unit - anybody got one?

[Blue_Runner]

Found out why Hook2-7x is so cheap - the "x" in the model mean no contour mapping. So obviously that is OUT. I feel sorry for anybody that bought one and realized later there's no countour mapping - ouch!

[Pipe_Dream]

My needs (and experience with these) are pretty basic. A few years ago I got a Garmin 54DV and I really like it.

[phatdaddy]

I picked up a garmin 94 sv in December at west marine for $600. It does a lot more that i know how to do. Got a couple of buddies with simrad go 7 s and they really like them.

[spareparts]

Simrad and Lowrance are the same company now, looks like Simrad is the higher end stuff. Hard to go wrong with garmin