Is Lowrance the Best Choice?

[DeanMac]

Typical me, I am having second thoughts about going with a Lowrance HDS.

I guess I research thing to death and I am finding tons of upset folks with the customer service and warranty work of Lowrance. It appears the folks who have had no problems love their units. My luck I would get a lemon and have a nightmare getting it fixed or replaced.

I know there is load of experience on this board. Would you please direct me in a good direction for some electronics. I do have room for two seperate units, but think I would like to go with a combo.

I would like to stay in the the $1000 range to used on a inshore boat in the Carrabelle area.
One guy on another forum said you could not even get a good transducer for that kind of money.
That said, almost anything would be better than what I have, a old B&W fishfinder with no GPS.

All suggestions would be appreciated.

[captkeyser]

I have a Garmin 440s and love it. Garmins are known for being a bit slow as far a reaction time goes, and I have had issues picking up a signal on cloudy day but that is rare.

Had a buddy buy one on ebay about a yr ago. He dropped it out of the boat onto the grass and it stopped working. He mailed it into Garmin and just recieved a brand spankin new one, no questions asked. I'd say that is dayum good customer service.
Hopefully that helps.

[Gulf Coast]

GARMIN, HAD THREE OF THEM ON DIFFERANT BOATS.EASY TO USE.

[Reel Cowboy]

I've got last year's model (28C i think) and it's very easy to use and thus far I haven't had any issues with mine. Bow'd Up got this years model and it's PDC and just as easy to use.
I've had 1 Garmin product and was far from impressed but that's why they make Lowrance and Garmin and Hummingbird

[Tidedancer]

GPS=Garmin

Bottom machine=furuno

[flatbrokeI]

I have also heard a lot complaining about service of Lowrance, I have used a Humminbird 987Si with the side scan sonar for about 4 years, the fish can't hide rom this machine may not bite but can not hide. Side scan works extremely well at speeds ranging from 1-7 miles an hour. Excellent customer service. Humminbird now has an 898si which runs about 1400 same machine as the 997 with only an inch smaller screen. You can actually see an image of the structure you are fishing with amazing detail.

[Barhopr]

Fishing inshore I wouldn't sink a bunch of money in a sonar, beside who needs sonar in >10' of water. With the high res. elec. charts available and satelite image overlays it's like seeing the Bays with all of the water drained out. Gulf side fishing is a different story, a good sonar is a must have. Buy the GPS with the best maps,aerial overlay/best resolution you can afford.

[jadams92002]

I have a Garmin 541s and I like the GPS on the unit, it comes with some really good pre programmed maps for inshore fishing. On the other hand the cards you can buy for freshwater are quite lacking. They will show the banks but will not show the depth or channel of the rivers. Good luck on the search.

[haliaetus]

I had heard the same thing about Lowrance customer service. Heard they're hard to even get on the phone, so I called customer service number and sure enough, someone answered! After I bought an HDS unit, I called tech support when I had a question about connecting it to an icom radio, and someone answered and they were more than helpful. Very happy with the HDS5 unit as well.

[woopty]

I have a Garmin 440s and love it. Garmins are known for being a bit slow as far a reaction time goes, and I have had issues picking up a signal on cloudy day but that is rare.

Had a buddy buy one on ebay about a yr ago. He dropped it out of the boat onto the grass and it stopped working. He mailed it into Garmin and just recieved a brand spankin new one, no questions asked. I'd say that is dayum good customer service.
Hopefully that helps.

Got 440s too and have had no problems in three years. If your battery runs low, the bottom machine will quit working but the gps will still work.

[Tom Keels]

Fishing inshore I wouldn't sink a bunch of money in a sonar, beside who needs sonar in >10' of water. With the high res. elec. charts available and satelite image overlays it's like seeing the Bays with all of the water drained out. Gulf side fishing is a different story, a good sonar is a must have. Buy the GPS with the best maps,aerial overlay/best resolution you can afford.

[DeanMac]

Thanks guys for the good information and responses,