What Sounder To Get???

2529 Views 13 Replies 7 Participants Last post by simond11, Sep 28, 2006

blue_mako

Discussion Starter · Aug 10, 2006

hey guys...

im new to this site and kayaking... i was just wondering, what type of sounder i should get??? i would prefer a sounder with grey scale screen though not a cheap one showing small pictures of fish (if there is a word for a 'sounder without fish pics' please let me know)...

also are there any specs. i will need to be able to fix a sounder to my yak... its a new cayman toyboy... and can you get water proof sounders and things like that?? just for sum reasurence while yaking... any info will be much appreciated

cheers, troy

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· #2 · Aug 10, 2006

Heya Troy

There are a few good sounder options which would suit your needs. And pretty much all of the major brands are waterproof and carry a couple of years warranty on the off chance you get some water into your unit.

As with anything the sky is the limit, whats your budget? this might make it easier to give you some advice

You can get entry level sounders for a little over $100 which will find depth and help find structure and fish, but the more you spend generally the more your going to see

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blue_mako

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 10, 2006

thanks mate... would you know what i could pick up for around the $400 mark?? also at what price do colour sounders start at???

cheers, troy

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· #4 · Aug 10, 2006

$400 will buy you a very nice sounder.

Colour starts a little above the $400 mark here in Aus I think, altho you could get one from O/S if your prepared to risk an OS warranty return if you have a problem.

Information on just about all different models can be found at : http://www.fishfinder-store.com/ they have grahpical ratings for important features which are easy to follow

Greyscale, check out the Humminbird Matrix or 500 series.
Also the Lowrance X52 I think is worth a look

Eagle make some nice units as well (made by Lowrance)

Colour, I think unless you are prepared to go O/S your out of luck.
You might be able to get a very cheap colour Garmin but I think you'll find the money better spent on a quality greyscale in the $400 range

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blue_mako

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 13, 2006

thanks for the info dallas... so you would say get a top grey scale sounder over a cheap colour sounder??

troy

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· #6 · Aug 15, 2006

Hey Troy

I reckon a higher resolution greyscale sounder will be more useful to you than a low res colour sounder.

When doing some homework on which sounder to get myself I read alot of comments by guys who had invested in colour sounders who didnt really think they were worth the extra cash after using them for a while.

They said the only thing the colour really told them that the greyscare didnt was what type of bottom they were over (sandy, rock, weed etc), fish arches displayed as red rather than black....other than that they didnt seem to think there were any other real advantages.

The higher resolution on the other hand will allow you to actually see more information about what is below you, fish, bait etc.

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blue_mako

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 18, 2006

Thanks a lot mate. As you have done I will do some research as well.

Cheers, Troy

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Alex

· #8 · Sep 11, 2006

Hi Troy,
i have a humminbird matrix x15 sounder on my predator.
its water proof, detachable at the end of the day, and has great resolution. I have had it for a while now and found it to be faultless.
around $450 is the cheapest i have seen at
you can have a look at ine, in rigged kayaks section under 'alex's predator'
the cheapest colour sounder i have seen was around $600, but havn't used one so can't comment one which i would prefer.

my 2 cents
hope it helps
Alex

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Jake

· #9 · Sep 11, 2006

Troy,
I have the Matrix 17x, $400 at Sundown Marine, and its a really good unit. The definition is excellent and I have caught fish that I have seen on the sounder.
I looked at all the different brands and options but I havent owned anything else so my experience is minimal, but I reckon the Humminbird is hard to beat.
Cheers,
Jake

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milansek

· #10 · Sep 11, 2006

HI TROY ONLY WAY TO GO . COLOUR . USED SOUNDERS FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HAVE TO SAY COLOUR IS THE GO. SEE YOU MILAN

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milan72

· #11 · Sep 12, 2006

Hi Troy,

Like you I am new to Kayaks and sounders also.

I have just bought a predator from Milansek and ordered a a fishfinder from the US which I am yet to recieve.

I got an Eagle Fishmark 320 with 320 * 320 screen resolution, in grey scale,for 250 AUD delivered. Considering that these units sel in Oz for anywhere between 400 to 550 depending on where you shop I found that it was worth hassle of warranty issues when buying from OS.

I would recomend considering Milansek's advice as I have spoken to him about FF (after I ordered mine) and he seems to know his stuff re this and fishing.

From what I can gather from questions about this issue in here and other places most folks with kayaks opt for the grey screen and find them a great tool. Then you get the small portion that only use thier 'fish finders' as 'depth sounders'. On the other side of the coin you find advocates of colour screen (like milansek) because of being able to distingiush objects in the water more easily than a grey screen.

I have come to the conclusion that a grey screen is advantageous and colour screen is ideal. Mind you I say this without having used a colour. Ultimately I think it all comes down to the individual and how much effort they are willing to put into learning in what thier sounders are displaying and how to interpret it. That explains in why some are using thier 'FISH FINDERS' as depth sounders only.

Cheers,

Milan.

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fishtales

· #12 · Sep 14, 2006

Jake said:
Troy,
I have the Matrix 17x, $400 at Sundown Marine, and its a really good unit. The definition is excellent and I have caught fish that I have seen on the sounder.
I looked at all the different brands and options but I havent owned anything else so my experience is minimal, but I reckon the Humminbird is hard to beat.
Cheers,
Jake

I'm with Jake.

The Matrix 17 can be had for $400 thereabouts, and it is an excellent sounder. I researched long and hard at this price range before getting mine a couple of months back, and I have absolutely no regrets at all.

As for colour sounders ,I very much doubt that you would get any sort of decent COLOUR sounder for that money though.

Chris

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simond11

· #13 · Sep 25, 2006

Troy
Just my 5 cents worth. I have been looking at a fishfinder as well, and decided to get a Dual Frequency one, as I mostly fish on the open ocean. The dual frequency ones are better suited to the ocean. The one I was considering was the Lowrance X50DS.
Cheers

Simon
Prowler 15

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simond11

· #14 · Sep 28, 2006

Well...what a fortuitous day it has been....
Today Suzie (my wife) asked me what I would like for Christmas and I said immediately..."A Fishfinder!!!!!". After much rolling of eyes and muttering, out came her credit card, on the US based "Tiger GPS" site and voila'...one Lowrance X50DS fishfinder delivered to our crew hotel in Los Angeles (where the gorgeous wife will pick it up from).
How easy was that...????Mind you, I am sure I will have to work it off somehow :shock:
Cheers

Simon
Prowler 15

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