Help With Fish Finder Upgrade

[Stay Bent]

I've been upgrade shopping for a new FF and have somewhat narrowed it down. I have a gray-scale Raymarine and wanting to go color without going over $800, "I said", but that Furuno.

Here's my choices:
DS500X Raymarine for $650 at Boater's World. (Save $24 with BW club disc)
$669 at West Marine with 10% off. ($600)
This is a transom-mounted transducer.

250C Garmin for $499 at Boater's World. (Save $12 with discount)
This is a transom-mounted transducer.

FCV-600L Furuno for $755.02 at Breakwater; In-hull ducer at $95; Install it all for about 5 hours at $375; $101.06 tax; $1,326.08 or less ( Less labor time)

What would you do? I like the Furuno look, but at double the cost.

jtburf.(PM if you need to)

[SEAHUNT186]

Are they charging you $375 just to install it? If so that seems high to me. I was looking at the lowrance LMS/480 GPS fishfinder combo for $548 at academy. I just need someone to install it. Preferrably less than $375.

Steve

[Stay Bent]

I agree Steve about the install price.($75 an hour x 5)

Most of the sales people didn't suggest Lowrance, but a few fishing buds have it in gray-scale and it does okay.

If I get the Raymarine, maybe we can help one another install since we're LC neighbors.

Bernard

[Fishdaze]

I don't think you can go wrong with the Garmin. My 2 cents.

[UNLEASHED]

Stay Bent, I am going to be upgrading my Furuno electronics soon to the Navnet system with the 1000 watt transducer (compliments of JTBURF). I have a 600L that it will be selling once I do the install. If you can wait a bit, I will make you a good deal on the display. I sent it off to Furuno last winter for check up and software upgrade so it has the latest software and mods from Furuno. I have the transom mount transducer as well but its not worth the money or effort to pull it out so I plan on keeping it as a second one.

If you are ready to do something now however, get in touch with JTBURF, he can definitely get you some good prices. I would highly recommend the Furuno equipment.

[Dutch Treat]

Bernard, I recommend you get in touch with JTBURF as Game On! advised. He is very competitive on pricing. The quote you have been given can be beat all to pieces. Especially since it is boat show week. Give John a call.

I looked on the net just now and found it at $599.00 in about three minutes.

You know in your heart of hearts you want the Furuno. Breakwater can be beaten. I know that from experience.

Bob

[bg]

I've got the Raymarine DS400x which is the same internals as the DS500x and I've fished on boats with the FCV-600l. Hands down, the Raymarine is a better performer. It does a better job with target discrimination and the automatic modes work quite well. With the Furuno, you really need to fiddle with it to get the best results which means you've really got to know what it's supposed to look like and understand how it works. Buy the Raymarine but get it with the thru-hull and you'll never look back. Oh, it also has the best sunlight viewable display of any color electronics I've ever used.

[Stay Bent]

Thanks fellow fishermen, I truly appreciate the feedback. jtburf and I have spoken and I'm sure he'll be getting me the best deal going. Now Game On: I'm in no rush and will be doing further research at the boat show, so I can wait on a Furuno deal, so send me a PM. Fishdaze & bg: I was strongly comparing the features of Garmin vs Raymarine, and hands down, the Raymarine's sun/glare display and options are better and the ease thru menus wasn't bad.(That's one thing I like about Garmin-My Garmin GPS is so easy to thumb thru) Lastly, Raymarine 500x has a bigger screen.
Now I will go to the boat show and get the distributer's song & dance. Thanks guys!
Bernard

[wet dreams]

I bought a Furuno 667 last yr and love it. I was looking for a DF and talked with Rik Jacobson and he refered me to it, at this time he told me it was 1 of the best on the market for the price, only diff in it and the 600 is the 667 is not waterproof and wasnt going to be an issue where I was mounting mine. I like the color screen but cannot comment on viewing in sunlite as mine is mounted in "T top". Rik took mine off the default settings and jacked the gain up and changed the depth settings. My future bro-in-law owns Bergs Engine Service in Sabine Pass and hooked me up with a deal I couldnt refuse at a local Marine electronics store in SP total cost 500$ no tax (less Trans) This is not 1 of the "thin" units as its about 7"deep. Rik told me after I get familiar with it I would be able to tell what kind of fish I'm marking, still havnt mastered that but I can tell you it's awesome when you see it lite up with FISH. WW

[Stay Bent]

Wet Dreams,
That's my problem - I saw a Furuno light up with fish. I knew my gray-scale Raymarine couldn't do that, so the search began. I've learned a lot and found out the 667 is for a console flush mount, but I need a 600 to deck mount.(I like to take all of my electronics out when I put her to bed) So I will do the boat show, learn some more and give you a holla afterwards. Thanks, Bernard

[BDunk]

If you are looking at Furuno, there is a place in Kemah that has some really nice prices on electronics and the people there are extremely helpful. Their website is sailtechmarine.com I was looking at a furuno setup less the sonar. They actually saved me about $400-600 compared to what I was planning on spending and I ended up getting more. I ended up with a JRC color radar and GPS for less than 1500.00 I hope posting the company website is alright on this board, I just think it is worth sharing.

[Stay Bent]

Thanks BDunk,
I drive by that place at least 3 times a week and never thought about going in.(I thought it was only sail stuff) I will pay them a visit. Did they do your install?
Bernard

[BDunk]

I am going to be putting it in myself, but have a few other things to do on the boat first. I am bracing the hard top, just to make it a little stronger before I mount the antennas.

[CHARLIE]

The price for the Furuno quoted to you is way too high. They are cheaper places and you can install them yourself. Are you needing a dual frequency model.?You dont need 50KC transmitter unless you are going to fish in over about 300 feet of water. Radars and bottom machines always Furuno

Charlie

[Southshore Marine Svcs.]

For a color machine in your price range I would look around for the Furuno 600L. There are other units out there, but hard to get that much bang for the buck. I have been using one for years and can't complain.