Lowrance, Garmin, Humminbird, ?????

I posted this in the outdoor gear forum and figured I’d try here for some more feedback.
Im sure this question will bring a thousand different responses but here goes anyway. I’m thinking about replacing my Lowrance X-85 with something a little better with a color display. I really don’t need GPS as I only fish Pool 4 and a couple of other places that I am familiar with. I would like to have a color display and something that has speed and temp. I have speed and temp on the X-85 but the temp goes away after an hour or so and I have to “reboot” it. I guess the GPS speed would be handy and more accurate. I have looked at the myriad of different units in catalogs, and in stores and the more I see the more confused I get. What unit do you guys recommend and why. Thanks

If you dont need GPS, check out the Vexilar Edge. Its an awesome river locator..

http://www.in-depthangling.com/articles/johnston_edge.html

so are you going to sell your other unit? I am interested!

I think any one of them make a unit that will fit your needs, I personally like Eagle because from what I can tell they are the same unit as Lowrance and probably made the same place for a little less money.

I bought a lowrance 102c and a 332c this year. I love the color, if you don’t want gps I would consider the 102c.. Ron

102C lowrance sure is a great unit

What I am getting is that the 102C is the best unit for my situation. Does that mean it is better than the thousand other ones on the market or is it just because I already have a Lowrance?

My only advice is avoid Garmin. The thing would kick in and out over shallow spots, including the tops of wingdams so I switched to Lowrance, which has been much better.

There are alot of good units on the market today. Doing a side by side comparison can help make up your mind. Lowarance and as Derrick mentioned, Vexilar are both good choices. Don’t overlook the Garmin units either. I have 4 garmin locators on my boats. Being on the water over 200 days a year, they have never faled me.

You may also want to consider a combo unit. Even on water you are familar with, it is hard to beat the options a gps will add for you.

Thanks for the info. I’ll try to do some comparisons and make up my mind after the season is over.
Ray

I have two Garmin GPS units on my boat and am very happy with the quality, price, and how easy they are to use. I have a 168 and 178 both are awesome but the 178 is a newer model which has a better resoulution and quicker switch between the different screens. I would be happy to answer any specific questions you have on these units.

Thanks

Thanks for the offer to answer questions, but my problem is I don’t really know what to ask. I started a long time ago with a Humminbird and wasn’t happy with the transducer mount which broke off a number of times. The last boat that I bought had the Lowrance X85 which has been a good unit except the temp disappears after an hour or so and I have to “reboot” the unit. I guess my problem is that I would like to have color and would also like to have GPS, but don’t really know if I NEED THEM, or just WANT THEM.
With the price of gas now I might not be doing much fishing anyway so it might be a moot point.
Ray

Color is very nice but I would opt for the GPS if you do any type of open water fishing. It sounds silly but GPS on my boat has allowed me to find underwater structures much quicker than lining up a tree with a house. It is also very nice for marking channels that you may want to stay off so you arent right on top of the fish when you find it with your graph.

Good advice. You are helping me narrow the options.

Ray

The new Humminbird’s are far better than they used to be. The 900 series units are very impressive. I run Garmin and I couldn’t be happier. The Garmin units I run meet all my needs as a tournament angler, including the river applications.

Thanks Scott,

I’ll check out the Humminbirds as well. My only problem with them is that I kept breaking the transducer mount on the back of the boat. Just broke going fast and then I had the transducer flopping in the water and almost into the prop. This happened three times, and I said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH and got a Lowrance.

I don’t know about the newer Humminbird’s, but the older humminbirds are junk. I have had three, have one on my current boat (just have been too lazy to run new transducers and everything to the bilge area), and they IMO are crap compared to the Lowrance units. I have no experience with the Garmin. Had a garmin GPS, now have a Lowrance, both have worked flawlessly.

OK, my answer is Lowarance, Lowrance, Lowrance. Never had much luck with Hummingbird’s and if you want a free Garmin just send me a personal message and you can have mine. It was a disaster.

Thanks for the offer on the free Garmin, but I don’t need any more trouble with tech stuff than I already have. I can barely send an email. I will probably get another Lowrance, after the season is over for me (next week).