I want to hear from Garmin Users!!!!!!

I would like to hear from some Garmin users what they are running and how it performs.I have had experience with a hand held gps only.I will be running this product this year and would like your opinion on a choice.I would say the 240 looks good for a sounder.Brett

Brett,

I have never run the Garmin units either. But just as you chose to do I am going to be running Garmin this year as well. I am going to run a 240 on the bow and a 168 for the console. I am also interested in the performence of these two models.

Anyone out there have expeirience with one of these models? Likes and Dislikes?

I’ve run the 240’s…. good units and VERY easy to run. That seems to be a trademark with Garmin. If you can’t run a garmin, you likely can’t figure out how to dial a phone. They’re set up to be that user friendly and Garmin seems quite adept at resisting the urge to add “fluff” anglers just don’t need. Remember that popular unit that actually played 4 different melodies including “anchors away.” Cummon!

I thought for the money they did a good job with target seperation as well as differentiating bottom content. The scroll speed was a bit slower than some comparitive models produced by other manufacturers. That may not be the case now, I haven’t re-examined their specs on that unit. That didn’t however pose a problem for me in the way I used it at the rear of my boat as a 3-rd sonar used while running the kicker motor. It might be a disadvantage if it was used as a console unit at higher speeds.

The backlight was a bit dim at the highest/brightest setting for my personal prefference, not a big deal, but points were won with me for having adjustable “brightness” settings when my Lowrance 350A still only offered two settings…. “OFF” and “Stare at the Sun.” Anyone that ever tried to navigate at night with a 350A – 18″ from their face knows what I mean there.

In a years use I had no problems at all with the 240 I ran, the transducer was a snap to install and it was really easy to set the transducer to get a good bottom reading.

I’d not hesitate to run another Garmin product… especially after my year of hell with my Lowrance X-15. What a piece of @$%#…. man was I fed up with that unit. Please don’t tell me your’s worked great. That only makes me feel that incredible frustration again. I wanted that $1000 finder to work, believe me I did. I must have had a bum unit or something and the solution the factory had was “another software upgrade”… but that’s a different post some other time.

Thanks for your insight on the Garmin 240 James.

I did run a x-85….Now a have the Garmin 240…$100.00 less in price and works as well if not better. At the same price I’d still choose the Garmin…

I have never run Garmin’s Fishfinders but I had a 126 GPS and switched to a 162GPS (Same as 168 except no FF) this year. Both were great units, easy to use and always got me where I wanted to be.

I agree with James’s comments. I ran one for a season and a half . Good all around unit.

When I installed the transducer initially, I did not use the shim that came with the unit. I was losing bottom contact at about 30 mph. After adding the shim, which dropped the rear of the transducer lower than the front, the unit held bottom contact at all speeds and water conditions.

The best thing about the 240 is after you have all the settings the way you want them, (Scale, gray line, power ,ect.) they stay set even after turning the unit off/on.

Also still have the Garmin 126 gps. It’s basically a Garmin 12 gps with a big screen, dash mount, built in antenna. If you don’t need mapping, this is a easy to use, basic unit under $300 bucks. The 126 and 240 looked very good mounted next to each other.

Good Luck,

J.

Thanks for the input guys the choice is looking better all the time.One other question I have on the gps system is if the plotter works at drift speeds.My 350 did but I have been told of many units that do not.Brett

My 126 will leave a plot track on a drift.

J.

My 162 leaves a trail…

I remember reading you have to be moving at least 1.2 mph to plot accurately.

I talked with Garmin tech and was told they will plot at drift speeds.They told me for us inland fisherman the 162 was the best GPS to use.I still have to find out if it is able to take the Lakemaster mapping.I just can`t seem to fit enough phone calls into a day at work.Maybe another strong argument to quit.LOLBrett

I Have a Garmin 162 it is a great unit, I read that you where looking for graph info, but The Garmin products are very user freindly. Also the factory is very helpful if you have any Questions on their products.

klh

The lakemaster software will work with the 162. You can double check that with Lakemaster, but I’m 99% sure I’m right on this one.