Combo GPS/FF or separate units???

alarie · #1 03-12-2004, 07:16 PM

On my last boat I had separate GPS and FF instruments, good quality on both for a 20'SC. I had a Garmin 16s GPS mono and a Lowrance X77 mono FF. What are your experiences with the combo units available? I was thinking about a color FF and mono GPS for the new boat, but what about a good combo unit for the same money??

Thoughts,
Peter

RS · #2 03-12-2004, 07:27 PM

Peter,
I often fish smallish structure submerged in the middle of bigger water, so I need to have both units easily visible to monitor my progress. I also fish alone often so between navigating and fly fishing, I prefer to be able to quickly see pertinent information. That led me to get 2 units, both color. I opted for the Gamin 320C and 182C due to their reliability and excellent full sun readable displays.

Mark · #3 03-12-2004, 07:50 PM

Glad to hear you like those Roger, I have the same two machines but they aren't hooked up just yet.

Capt Chuck · #4 03-12-2004, 09:15 PM

I just installed the Furuno FCV-582L. It has a split screen that you can interface your GPS Plotter info too, even thou I have a separate GPS/Chart unit [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Remember that if you have an "all-in-one" unit and it needs to go into the shop for one reason or another, you'll be without all your functions [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

When that happens, I guess you'll be doing more beer consumption right [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Scott · #5 03-13-2004, 12:31 AM

I too like separate units .....

Don’t know what your space issue is....which, if not that much, would make the argument for the combo unit .......

Side note ... I've never been a big fan of Raymarine ....nothing against them .... just been with Furuno since day one and plan on a 582L in the future.... But this new stuff they have out is rather intriguing ... C70 or C80 ....

I have recently played with the new digital FF L770D (or something like that ) WOW what a display .... like watching HDTV on a plasma screen vs. an old tube with a rabbit ears !!!...Their simulated sun (search light) washed out a few manufactures ...did little to nothing to the new Ray stuff.....I'm very curious to hear what the “real time” users field reports say about these units .... Plus I'm wondering how much that picture is digitally enhanced ... to make it look THAT good.....I have to stay out of CONSUMERS !!!!! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Miles Offshore · #6 03-13-2004, 07:48 AM

I like Chuck also just bought the 582L [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]. I wreck fish a lot and trying to get on structure with a split screen is somewhat more difficult to me than having two seperate machines. JMO-

alarie · #7 03-13-2004, 08:28 AM

I guess I should have also said that I am limited by budget somewhat...The Furuno units look awesome, but are really out of my budget unless I skip the chartplotter altogether. I was thinking that I might be able to afford a cheaper color FF and stick with a mono GPS.

Any thoughts on what to get with a $700-800 budget for both units? Perhaps this is not realistic and I should save my money and get the good stuff???

ScottM · #8 03-13-2004, 08:34 AM

Peter,
I too prefer separate units. Just like Chuck said, the combo unit goes down and you're out both functions. Also, it seems to me that GPS/plotter technology advances quicker than sonar, so upgrading the plotter is easier and in most instances cheaper than upgrading the combo unit. I went with a Furuno LS6100 mono FF and Garmin GPSMAP 162 mono (total $600). If I had the extra $ at the time, I would have gone color on both, but I feel I have the best of mono right now, so that should work for the time being. The nice thing about these 2 untis is the ability to interface them both - I can overlay lat/long onto the FF and save them as waypoints.

RS · #9 03-13-2004, 11:27 AM

For how I find fish, I would forgo the better depth finder for now. We both fish these boats in relatively shallow (< 70 ft) water. Besides, the cheap Humminbird that came with my boat had more features than my 15 year old King 920 that cost over $400 back then, so a $120 unit will be fine.

If you plan on fishing Narr. bay at night, the chartplotter with Blue Chart is sweet, especially when the fog rolls in.

Dave Hirshberg · #10 03-14-2004, 09:39 AM

I agree that separate units is the optimal way to go, but on your budget you'll get better quality and more features in a combo that cost less than separate units of the same quality. Lowrance has really steppped it up in marine electronics lately and has a new LMS 335C dual frequency Color fishfinder/chartplotter/chart recorder with color high resolution 5" diagonal screen for $699. I've used the garmin stuff as well and like it but you'll spend $880 for their combo and won't have chart-recording capability. They have also introduced a small all in one color unit called an M68 S/Map with Daylight readable color screen that I've played with at shows for $349.00. You can't add to the base map but its a great size for a small boat and the antenna is internal. If you want I'll give you the number of a supplier that sends me a mailer on all of the lorance stuff. he's usually at leasst $50 cheaper than the retail stores on the same units.