Need Help with Fish Finder / Chartplotter Purchase Decision

[generalee]

I have been reading posts on this and other sites in attempt to refine the selection of a combo fish finder/ chart plotter. Seems the more I read the more confused I become. I presently have a Lowrance LCX20C unit on the 23' Grady White (with transom mtd. transducer and separate speed wheel). I would like to keep this unit active on the boat as a back up. Would like to keep new unit cost under $ 1K.
A little about how I anticipate using the machine:

boating in Northern Gulf of Mexico very rarely ranging more than 30 miles offshore.
fishing is primarily bottom fishing in water less than 100'. Need to be able to identify bottom structure including natural limestone outcrops and man made reef structure.
Probably 9 inch display will max out the mounting location and budget. Ok with 7 inch display.
My level of technical savvy is far from advanced and really want to keep the operation simple and intuitive.
Considering trying to upgrade the LCX 20c Navonics and use it for navigation and the new unit for fish finder. ?

A couple of specific questions:

If I keep the LCX20C operational, is there potential problems with 2 units sending & receiving sonar signals ?
Anyway to run 2 units off of one transducer (without degrading the performance of the units)?
The LCX 20 c has and external antenna that works fine. Can the antenna service 2 units ? (units mounted under a hardtop)

I will appreciate any thoughts, ideas, recommendations, experience, etc. No rush to purchase and willing to wait on new products pending release.

Thanks,

 

[max366]

Re: Need Help with Fish Finder / Chartplotter Purchase Decis

You might consider this new unit from Raymarine- uses "chirp" technology to get a great image on the bottom of structure, etc. About $650- $700 including tducer. A bit small display but you get many features. The multiple frequencies the Dragonfly tducer uses should not interfere with your existing unit. http://www.raymarine.com/dragonfly/#.UVDCQhzqnKk

 

[max366]

Re: Need Help with Fish Finder / Chartplotter Purchase Decis

one more thing- Defender has it on sale with Gold Navionics charts for $632. Model # E70085-GLD

 

[Doc Stressor]

Re: Need Help with Fish Finder / Chartplotter Purchase Decis

Well, to keep within your $1000 budget, you're sort of limited to the Humminbird 858c if you want a unit that will serve both as a fish finder and a chart plotter. Other 8" models will take you over budget since they don't include a transducer.

I fish the same general area as yourself and do fine with a Humminbird 998si. The side imaging isn't useful once you get to deeper water and the cost would be over your budget. The 858c is the same unit without side imaging and a smaller screen. The screen is still large enough to split for navigation and fish finding at the same time.

Since you can run a separate chart plotter, I would recommend taking a look at the Furuno FCV-627. That would run you just under a grand with a good transducer. They are outstanding bottom machines and even have a very useful bottom discrimination function that tells you the type of bottom you are over with a graphic. If I had room for both a chart plotter and a dedicated fish finder, I would have a Furuno.

As long as you keep your LCX20 as a chart plotter, you should be good to go. You can use the Airmar transducer that you will get with the Furuno with your Lowrance as long as you get the proper adapter from Airmar. But you can also just leave you Lowrance transducer in place and mount the Airmar next to it. You won't be able to run them at the same time without interference, but in a pinch you could just turn off the Furuno and use your existing system. I am assuming that you can turn off the sonar function on the Lowrance the way I can on my Humminbird. That way you can run the Lowrance as a chart plotter without interfering with the Furuno.

Don't get distracted by features like down imaging and low end CHIRP. They aren't useful for the type of fishing we do. Bottom discrimination is the most important feature of a FF in our area. For that, you can't beat a Furuno. For the depths that you fish, their lowest end transducers (p66 or B60) will do just fine.

 

[zimm]

Re: Need Help with Fish Finder / Chartplotter Purchase Decis

I'm going with a SIMRAD NSS7. Found one from the GPSstore.com for $1056 and there's a $100 rebate from SIMRAD.

 

[generalee]

Re: Need Help with Fish Finder / Chartplotter Purchase Decis

Thanks for the information folks. A couple of things I considering now based on comments here and on the Hull Truth site..
Not using the old Lowrance unit as backup
and opening the pocket book a little wider to expand the equipment quality options.

I will for sure look at the Hummingbird, Furuno and SIMRAD units mentioned.

 

[g0tagrip]

Re: Need Help with Fish Finder / Chartplotter Purchase Decis

Opinions are like...arm pits everyone has at least two..... I had a Furuno on my Sailfish and did not like it. With the Marlin I went with a Garmin 4212. If you are going to open up the purse some the 4208 is a great machine and will probably fit nicely.