Your Favorite Boating Electronics

I would like to get your opinions on some electronics such as the fish finder and GPS.
What is your favorite and why?
If you could get a new one today, what would be your top choice?

Thanks

I have a Hummingbird Matrix 17 fishing system.
I really like the simplicity of this unit along with all the goodies. I did not buy this, as this was a gift from a friend.
What I really like about this unit is the large 320 vertical pixal display with the duel beam transducer(60/200). It has speed and temp. The cool thing about this unit is that you can hook up any brand hadheld GPS or the GPS unit you can get from Hummingbird or the weather sense monitor. It allows you to use the sonar screen rather then the small handheld GPS screens.

It has all the other standards such as split screen depth and fish alarms. It has 2,400 Watts peak to peak with 1,00 ft max depth.
It also comes with the quick disconnet so you never have to fuss with any wires or knobs, just push the back and it pops out ready to go.

It is also water proof and it floats, incase you drop it in the water.

If I were to get a new one, I would either go with a Matrix 67 (which includes everything, except for color screen) or the Lowrance X100 because of the TFT color display.

Price "not" an issue, Furuno, specifically- FCV582L fishfinder, or 1850 fishfinder/chartplotter combo. Like Willie says, "simply the best".

Price an issue, Garmin 240 Blue fishfinder or 178C fishfinder/chartplotter. Garmin has been setting the standard in recreational electronics for a while, they put out good quality products and they stand behind them, I can't say that about some of the other brands I sale.

Some of the other middle/lower end electronics

Lowrance/Eagle make some good stuff and Raymarines new line of fishfinders are much better quality then the crap they've been putting out for the past 5 years, Humminbird is fine if your a bass fisherman and Bottomline is, well, Bottomline, their motto should be "pay more, get less".

Love my garmin 160 blue (would have gotten the 240 but I was poor at the time). I am now looking for a fixed mount gps, maybe a lowrance 3300c or garmin 182, but still looking because as seems to be the case these days I am presently a little light in the wallet!

Just installed the Lowrance LCX-15 MT, can't wait to get out on the water!

Kev

I use the gpsmap 162 from Garmin for the gps and a Lowrance x126df that's 480 x 480 resolution for tracking the fish.

Lowrance or Raytheon in general hands down. You name it GPS, Fishfinders radar etc...

Thanks to cold-war federal funding these company's products are superior to all others in my opinion. I used to sell these products and they rarely were returned for service.

In the 3 years I've been selling marine electronics, I've sent more Raymarine (not Raytheon) products (specifically their 265, 365 and 470 fishfinders, and VHF radio's) in for service/warranty work then all the other brands combined.

Great choice Kev... I love mine! Lot's of great attributes to owning one of those babies!

Ditto for the X-15

What AKKings said.....

I had one of those crummy Ratheon FF's. Replaced it with a color Furuno FCV600L - couldn't be happier. They make excellent navigational electronics as well.

you will really like it get the navionics (sp) map cards for it

Awesome suggestions.
Thank You.

I have been beating my brain to death trying to decide which chart plotter and sounder to buy. I believe I am going to get the Garmin 182C chart plotter or the new one coming out next month; 172C, it is $300 cheaper, but a little smaller screen.

For a sonar unit I am looking at the Lowrance 105C. I have had nothing but Lowrance sonars and have been extremely happy with them.

I tell you, there is so much out there and so many different opinions about them I end up suffering from sensory overload. But, I know both Garmin and Lowrance are quality products.

I agree Mike. I think for a value the 172C is the ticket.

The BEST recreational boating chartplotter is Nobeltec software on a laptop and a basic high-quality GPS.

But then you have the hassle of hauling around a laptop.