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I am looking into adding a chartplotter/fishfinder combo unit on my bayboat. I am thinking of a combo unit mostly because of console space. I fish mostly in Keaton beach area, so a functional depthfinder is sufficien but it would has to have a good chart to help with navigation, finding fishing holes and so on. I cant decide between a Garmin or Lowrence. Which brand would you recommend and why? Also, which particular unit would you recommend for trout and redfish fishing in Keaton beach area.

I really like having the fishfinder separate from my GPS I have the handheld Garmin 76 and it only takes up about 3 inches of space MAX and if I want to take it on a different boat, I just take it out of the cradle "a power cord is a must though"

PS: GET THE MAP76, I certainly wish that I had

My dad and I both have Eagle 500C-DFs on our boats and like them pretty well once we learned the tricks to them. I went with the combo unit as well for sake of console space, but kinda wish I had two seperate mounted units.

The Garmins are definately the most user freindly units. Their 178 or 298 series would probably be your best bet. Both series are color combo gps/fishifinders and come with internal or external gps antennas. Unless its in a thick electronics box or under a hardtop the internal antenna will work fine and save you from extra wiring work.
-Chris

I have a Garmin 498 and love it. It's still new so everytime I go out I learn more & more.

Breambuster wrote:I am looking into adding a chartplotter/fishfinder combo unit on my bayboat. I am thinking of a combo unit mostly because of console space. I fish mostly in Keaton beach area, so a functional depthfinder is sufficien but it would has to have a good chart to help with navigation, finding fishing holes and so on. I cant decide between a Garmin or Lowrence. Which brand would you recommend and why? Also, which particular unit would you recommend for trout and redfish fishing in Keaton beach area.

Garmin 498. Mine works great.

EJ

I don't recommend Lowrance. I got a Lowrance GlobalMap 5300c with an internal antenna for Christmas. Installed it on the console of my bayboat & could not get it to work right. It would only get to 180ft position error, which is not good when my Etrex handheld was within 15 ft accuracy. Their technical support was of no help so I boxed it up & sent it back to Bass Pro for a refund. My brother has the Lowrance 332c Combo GPS/Fish Finder & has a lot of problems with the GPS module not responding. When I get around to getting another permanent mount GPS for my boat it will be a Garmin.

The 498 is an AWESOME boat/car combo. On the boat it is a full function sounder/plotter, in the car it has voice navagation, and it's your xm radio and weather unit in the truck and boat as well.
-Chris

EddieJoe wrote:

Breambuster wrote:I am looking into adding a chartplotter/fishfinder combo unit on my bayboat. I am thinking of a combo unit mostly because of console space. I fish mostly in Keaton beach area, so a functional depthfinder is sufficien but it would has to have a good chart to help with navigation, finding fishing holes and so on. I cant decide between a Garmin or Lowrence. Which brand would you recommend and why? Also, which particular unit would you recommend for trout and redfish fishing in Keaton beach area.

Garmin 498. Mine works great.

EJ

What is the difference betwen Garmin 178 vs 498? Both units cost around $500-600.

EJ, you mentioned about using it for driving? Does it also show road map for driving directions? Do you have buy bluecharts for details map for navigation in coastal water?

Sorry for all the questions.

Breambuster wrote:What is the difference betwen Garmin 178 vs 498? Both units cost around $500-600.

EJ, you mentioned about using it for driving? Does it also show road map for driving directions? Do you have buy bluecharts for details map for navigation in coastal water?

Sorry for all the questions.

The 498 has a larger screen that is LCD. It also has a little better sounder and can hold more wpts in routes.
-Chris

Does the preloaded map cover the bigbend area?

Yep, the basemap covers this area.

Breambuster wrote:Does the preloaded map cover the bigbend area?

If you decide on a Garmin, regardless of which unit you decide to purchase, buy Bluechart. The basemap shows the area, but very little detail. You want bluechart. Well worth the money.

If you decide on a Garmin, regardless of which unit you decide to purchase, buy Bluechart. The basemap shows the area, but very little detail. You want bluechart. Well worth the money.[/quote]


Got it. Thank you very much.