So I recently picked up a smaller 16' bay boat for fishing the PNW. Depth 0 to 400 feet. I need help outfitting it with electronics. The boat is a center console w/o a cabin so the electronics will get wet. I need the best fishfinder/transducer/gps for the money. Budget is $1000 to $1200. Used is okay.

I really like furuno fishfinder/gps, but feel they are out of my price range. I was leaning towards the HDS 7 gen 2 with a tm260 transducer, but would like a larger screen. Everyone says, bigger the better. This led me to look at older combo units such as the lowrance lcx113c HD. 10.4 in screen with a 800x600 pixel display. Add a nice transducer and you have yourself a great unit. Right? I don't know. I do not need structure scan for bay fishing.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

The Garmin 531s color.$700.00 @ cabelas right now.Good luck,
SZ

I just picked up a Garmin 740s from getfeetwet.com.

I am very pleased with it so far.

Haven't considered Garmin. Will read up! Thanks guys

For that price range, look at the Raymarine A50D or A75D. They don't come tougher than those units. They don't seem to have to cool HD screens though.

Will do. I do not need 3d, but do want MAXIMUM detail/sensitivity for the $$$.

Whatever "Brand" you finally opt for, make sure it is "Networkable", i.e., NMEA 0183/2000. That way you can tie the GPS side into a VHF via an MMSI Number (you can get that FREE).

I have had good luck haunting FleaBay for electronics and have not been stung yet. I'll second the large screen size and COLOR.

Tm260 is huge for a 16' boat.

Sounds like my instincts are right on. I'll be pulling the trigger hopefully in the next week or two.



Is it? You know what they say, bigger is better!! TM260 gives you a better picture in deeper water. Makes sense with the narrower beem angle. I spoke with the electronics expert at Auburn Sports who agreed. 50/200 for the ocean and 83/200 for freshwater.

Have you seen the size of it? I would think a p66 would work just fine for your application.

I put a Lowrance HDS-5 on my 16' Arima last year and love it. Even without a card, it shows bait, 3 d bottom and priced around $600. It does all and outshines the $2000 unit on my bigger boat that's now 8 years old. Electronics have improved so much. This unit is definitely worth considering.

Keep looking online and find an HDS 8 Gen 1, should be close to your price range. I have a P66 on mine and still have fine tuning to do, but the picture is awesome and I have added the Structure Scan and used it in the bay for Ling and found fish and structure I never would have seen without it.

I'll keep looking!!! and saving!

Here's a pretty cool tip for those of you jiggers out there. I went out with a long time friend to this past sunday. He literally SLAYS the salmon at marine area 11. Limits almost daily when he's there.

How? He uses an HDS 7 and watches for fish on the depthfinder. When he sees them, he reels his jig right up past the fish (you can see the jig on the depthfinder). When he sees the fish follow the jig, he lets line out. If the fish doesn't take it on the fall, but follows it down, he reels up again, then repeats all while watching the depthfinder. I had the opportunity to see him do this Sunday and it was unfrickenbelievable.

Try it, You may be pleasantly surprised.

Thats what I am talkin about! If you have a brain you put the bait, no matter what form it takes, jig, herring etc at that depth. Downriggers....driving around looking for a fish.