Need Fishfinder Info

[Sharkbite]

Hey guys I am looking into fishfinders and I might get one for X mas.   ;D  I never used one before so I need one that will be easy to read and use.  I am looking at spending $100 to $200.  What would be my best bet at this price range?  I need to be able to remove this divice when I leave so I am not sure if I could use a regular one or do I need a portable.

I am thinking about mounting the tranducer to my trolling motor b/c I don't want to put any holes in my boat.  Is this a good way to use it?  What do most of you guys do?

[fastcasterjo]

I have my transducer on my trolling motor. I bought a trolling motor transducer mounting kit a bass pro shops for 15 bucks. You could use this but i think it would be too much of a pain to get it on and off. If I were you I would look into the "portable transducer bracket" from cabelas. you can probably look it up on cabelas website. I think its around 40 dollars. but that is well worth it considering portable ones are around 40 dollars more. Also I am not a huge fan of portable fishfinders. most come with a suction cup. The suction cup tends to fall off. As far as the fish finder type, I am not really sure which one is best for you but I have a hummingbird 535and I really like it. GOOD LUCK and I hope I helped a little bit.

[kbkindle]

i a'm looking at a 535 bird  finder  have 2 garmin 240;s but i see they  

dont make them any more   on your 535  did you get the transducer with  water temp and speed control. if so how does the speed part work out for you  having a yamaha motor you know the speedo hole is allways pluged up  wondering if this works out ok  and can you make the speed numbers larger on screen   thanks in advance

kbkindle@sugardog.com

[Sharkbite]

I have my transducer on my trolling motor. I bought a trolling motor transducer mounting kit a bass pro shops for 15 bucks. You could use this but i think it would be too much of a pain to get it on and off. If I were you I would look into the "portable transducer bracket" from cabelas. you can probably look it up on cabelas website. I think its around 40 dollars. but that is well worth it considering portable ones are around 40 dollars more. Also I am not a huge fan of portable fishfinders. most come with a suction cup. The suction cup tends to fall off. As far as the fish finder type, I am not really sure which one is best for you but I have a hummingbird 535and I really like it. GOOD LUCK and I hope I helped a little bit.

So the portable mount will come off every time I leave the boat.  I can get that for any fishfinders or just certain ones?  I though that the device comes with different mounting systems?

When the transducer is on the motor do you ever have problems with twist or does the motions of the motor interupt the sonar?  What if you need to raise the motor higher does this stop you from doing so?

[Sharkbite]

i a'm looking at a 535 bird finder have 2 garmin 240;s but i see they

dont make them any more on your 535 did you get the transducer with water temp and speed control. if so how does the speed part work out for you having a yamaha motor you know the speedo hole is allways pluged up wondering if this works out ok and can you make the speed numbers larger on screen thanks in advance

kbkindle@sugardog.com

How do you like the Garmins?  I have a Garmin GPS and I never had a problem.  Thats for a car though.

[moloch16]

I bought a portable FishMark 320 and it has been fantastic. It comes with a suction cup mounted transducer which has never come off under normal conditions (dragging it across an underwater log doesn't count as normal conditions ). I put batteries in two years ago and they have yet to be replaced. I'll replace them next season just to get that warm fuzzy feeling. It comes with water temp sensor built-in but not speed.

Also, Eagle provides emulators so you can play with the fish finder in the comfort of your house:

http://www.eaglenav.com/en/Downloads/Product-Emulators/

Overall I highly recommend the FishMark 320 (or 480 if you have the extra cash). It seems Eagle/Lowrance is a class-act company too.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_52530

[Jig Man]

Hey guys I am looking into fishfinders and I might get one for X mas. ;D I never used one before so I need one that will be easy to read and use. I am looking at spending $100 to $200. What would be my best bet at this price range? I need to be able to remove this divice when I leave so I am not sure if I could use a regular one or do I need a portable.

I am thinking about mounting the tranducer to my trolling motor b/c I don't want to put any holes in my boat. Is this a good way to use it? What do most of you guys do?

You don't state enough info. (glass boat, alum boat, outboard or electric only).  

If the trolling motor is a permanent bow mount then putting a ducer on it will be just fine.  If it is one you take on and off I'd rethink that.

I understand not wanting to drill holes in the boat.  You can use a mounting board like comes with Lund boats and put the ducer on it.

If you plan to use the unit to find and catch fish, save your money until you can get at least a 480X480 pixel unit.  If you are only caring about depth then any unit will do.

[Sharkbite]

Hey guys I am looking into fishfinders and I might get one for X mas. ;D I never used one before so I need one that will be easy to read and use. I am looking at spending $100 to $200. What would be my best bet at this price range? I need to be able to remove this divice when I leave so I am not sure if I could use a regular one or do I need a portable.

I am thinking about mounting the tranducer to my trolling motor b/c I don't want to put any holes in my boat. Is this a good way to use it? What do most of you guys do?

You don't state enough info. (glass boat, alum boat, outboard or electric only).

If the trolling motor is a permanent bow mount then putting a ducer on it will be just fine. If it is one you take on and off I'd rethink that.

I understand not wanting to drill holes in the boat. You can use a mounting board like comes with Lund boats and put the ducer on it.

If you plan to use the unit to find and catch fish, save your money until you can get at least a 480X480 pixel unit. If you are only caring about depth then any unit will do.

I have a 12' aluminum boat.  Electric only.  I would like the device to tell me depth, Temp,  and structure more then pics of fish.  

I keep the boat at a freind house so I don't want to leave anything on it I don't have to.  So even it I permanitly attach the transducer I could still remove the main sonar unit correct?

[Grey Wolf]

Get a portable unit with the suction cup for the transducer .I've never had a problem with the one I have.

[Matt 825]

On my 11' Aluminum I use a trolling motor mounted tranducer and I was useing a Hummingbird Piranahmax 240.  It costs like $130 and it worked great, better than some units that cost 3x as much.  

[Sharkbite]

On my 11' Aluminum I use a trolling motor mounted tranducer and I was useing a Hummingbird Piranahmax 240. It costs like $130 and it worked great, better than some units that cost 3x as much.

Thats rite in my buget and idea for the mounting.  Can you unplug the unit?

[Matt 825]

On my 11' Aluminum I use a trolling motor mounted tranducer and I was useing a Hummingbird Piranahmax 240. It costs like $130 and it worked great, better than some units that cost 3x as much.

Thats rite in my buget and idea for the mounting. Can you unplug the unit?

Yeah , there are 3 plus in the back.  1 for power, 1 for the transducer and another for any accessories that you can buy.  All three can be unplugged.

[moloch16]

It sounds like you may want a more permanent installation?  If so you can install a permanent fish finder mount and permanent transducer mount.  When you park the boat just take the fish finder and transducer with you and leave the mounts on the boat.  Both the finder and transducer are simple to attach/detach from the mounts - should take less than a minute.

[Sharkbite]

It sounds like you may want a more permanent installation? If so you can install a permanent fish finder mount and permanent transducer mount. When you park the boat just take the fish finder and transducer with you and leave the mounts on the boat. Both the finder and transducer are simple to attach/detach from the mounts - should take less than a minute.

O so there is more then just one transducer? I need 2?

[fastcasterjo]

i am going to try to attach the link to the bracket. HOPE IT WORKS.  

[urlhttp://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0000844010095a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCHFEAT_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=transducer+bracket&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1]

[fastcasterjo]

ok it didn't work I dont know how to do the link thing  http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0000844010095a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCHFEAT_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=transducer+bracket&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

[Sharkbite]

Ok it worked.  That is very nice.  So this will just clamp on I like that better.  Will the device need 2 or just one transducer?

[moloch16]

There is only one transducer.

Keep in mind that a portable unit can be easily moved around the boat.  I move mine to the back when using the "big" engine and then back to the front again when using the trolling motor.  I also take my portable unit to rent-only lakes where I have to rent the boat at the lake and can't put my own boat in the water.

[Sharkbite]

O I see so when moving in the boat do you still use one transducer?  Or do you need one for different locations on the boat?

[fastcasterjo]

My fish finder has two pieces, a transducer and then a little reciever. However, I would think you could screw both of them onto the same mount. so I believe you would only need one bracket. However, I know some fishfinders put both the transducer and reciever together in to one. but you dont have many transducers in different parts of the boat when you have only one fishfinder.  Its really actually quite simple. Once you buy your fishfinder it will all be very clear. Trust me when I bought my fishfinder all my questions were answered. Also it may be a good idea to talk to the expert at bass pro or whatever outdoor store you go to. They can help you find what you need and explain exactly what your buying and how to install it. GOOD LUCK

[kbkindle]

hey shark bait   i have 2 garmins one on trolling motor the other on dash   both work fine never had any problems  but might have , i see they dont make the 240 any more.

[Sharkbite]

It seems like Garmin make a good product for less?

[moloch16]

O I see so when moving in the boat do you still use one transducer?  Or do you need one for different locations on the boat?

The wire is long enough you can put the transducer in one spot and then move the fish finder anywhere in the boat.

[Sharkbite]

okwell I have a 2 man boat so it won't need much moving