allcheck Posted June 18, 2009 Posted June 18, 2009 I am sure that this has been covered before, but what is the current fish finder best buy? The side immaging units are out of my price range, but I would like a color unit with gps. Quote
Super User burleytog Posted June 18, 2009 Super User Posted June 18, 2009 Best buy for the money, color excluded? Humminbird 565 For color/gps, a bigger screen is certainly better. I won't make a recommendation because I only have experience with one unit. Quote
soccplayer07 Posted June 18, 2009 Posted June 18, 2009 I have a hb 565 and a hb 788ci. I love them both. In my opinion the 565 is the best non color unit and the 788 is the best color/gps w/o side imaging. Quote
trubicon Posted June 18, 2009 Posted June 18, 2009 has anybody try the hb 728 i been looking at this one at bps like to know if it worth the extra 100 $ more than the 565 any body thy this one let me know the good or the bad Quote
soccplayer07 Posted June 18, 2009 Posted June 18, 2009 i would buy whatever you chose on eBay instead of bps. i saved close to 200 on my last two units. Quote
Dc26217 Posted June 24, 2009 Posted June 24, 2009 I just purchased the humminbird 798CI SI combo NVB for $1000.00 with the navionics chip. Without the chip it was like $800.00 I think and it has side imaging. Not much more the the 788ci combo NVB which I was going to buy without side imaging. Let me know if you want the website for the place I bought it from. I am new to this site so I don't know the rules on posting links. Quote
SoFl-native Posted June 24, 2009 Posted June 24, 2009 +1 on the 788ci. Just got it and love it. +1 on not getting it from BPS too.......if you go HB check their outlet store. If you use ebay make sure you get from an authorized dealer to make sure you get a warranty. Quote
EastMarkME Posted June 24, 2009 Posted June 24, 2009 Is the side imaging that helpful ? Id love to hear some opinions on that. Mark Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted June 25, 2009 Super User Posted June 25, 2009 The best "FISH FINDER" for the money is a plastic worm. Quote
EastMarkME Posted June 25, 2009 Posted June 25, 2009 Is the side imaging that helpful ?Id love to hear some opinions on that. Mark Is the "side imaging" strictly a function of 'marking fish' of does it help you to see/understand the terrain better ? "Posted by: Way2slow Posted on: Yesterday at 9:41pm The best "FISH FINDER" for the money is a plastic worm. " LOL. Good point. To me these units are all about being in touch with the terrain. I guess Im missing something on the 'fishfinder' part. ;-) Mark Quote
RobbyZ5001 Posted June 25, 2009 Posted June 25, 2009 Best buy for the money, color excluded? Humminbird 565For color/gps, a bigger screen is certainly better. I won't make a recommendation because I only have experience with one unit. I can't find anything saying GPS on the 565. Its a great deal if there is GPS also. Can you use hotmaps or navionics? Quote
Super User burleytog Posted June 25, 2009 Super User Posted June 25, 2009 No, the 565 is not GPS compatible. Quote
EastMarkME Posted June 25, 2009 Posted June 25, 2009 I believe the 565 comes in different versions....some have the following and some dont: basic portable speed water temp TM mount Im leaning toward a 565 to mount in the front of the toon. Mark Quote
Super User burleytog Posted June 26, 2009 Super User Posted June 26, 2009 I believe the 565 comes in different versions....some have the following and some dont:basic portable speed water temp TM mount Im leaning toward a 565 to mount in the front of the toon. Mark It is the same graph no matter what. The portable runs off a rechargable battery and the transducer is a skimmer-type with a suction cup. Speed is generated by a paddle wheel mounted on the stern. I've yet to see a graph that didn't display the water temperature. The 'TM mount' is just a puck transducer with a large cable clamp around the lower unit of the motor. The 565 uses a standard Humminbird Dual Beam transducer, available in either a skimmer or a puck. Quote
EastMarkME Posted June 26, 2009 Posted June 26, 2009 JTB What is the purpose of the 'side beam' ? Is it related to marking fish or identifying terrain ? Thanks for your detail you provided on these 565's ! Mark Quote
Super User burleytog Posted June 26, 2009 Super User Posted June 26, 2009 What side beam? Humminbird offers several different tranducers with varying cone angles. The lower priced HB's utilize a 20* beam (very narrow). The rest feature a 20*/60* DualBeam tranducer that can be combined or displayed separately on the graph. There is the Quadrabeam Plus that offers a 90* view of the bottom. The 3D Plus utilizes six beams to offer a unique 3D view of the bottom. The latest and greatest is the Side Imaging sonar that offers the traditional 20*/60* view as well as the Side Imaging 180* view. http://www.humminbird.com/leading_innovation/humminbird-sonar.aspx Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted June 26, 2009 Super User Posted June 26, 2009 Just an FYI: Cabelas has this unit on sale for $180. I am also in the market and will likely pick one of these up in the next week or so. I've also considered the Lowrance X96. It is about the same price. I know it is subjective, but do any of you guys know how these two match up? Quote
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