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In that price range you can also get gps capability, which will also tell you speed.
Probably just about any of the name brand stuff with the features you want will work fine.
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If you do a search on this Utah General Forum you will find all kinds of info on fish finders. If you don't need GPS you can buy a pretty good FF for that price. I believe you can get the speed wheel with the transducer if you don't buy GPS.
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I got my Humminbird 383c, color, gps, built in maps, for $360. I'm sure there are black and white models that are cheaper with built in gps, or there's always the option of connecting your handheld gps to some fishfinders.
The little paddle wheels work, but they don't seem to be very accurate at trolling speeds.
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Lowrance has some real gems for around $400. And, most dealers right now are blowing them out in anticipation of the new models coming out in a month. Check some on-line dealers via a Google search for "Lowrance." I just "stole" a couple of units from Cabela's that they had on sale on their website. They were high-end, big screen LCX-25c models that have been selling from between $950 and $1400. I got two for $679 each!
For $400, you can find some very nice units, and can also get some "decent" stuff for around $300. Its a buyers market right now, and ebay has some deals too. Go shopping!
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Check these sites out for starters:
[url "http://www.scubasteve.biz/store/manufacturers/lowrance/combo.htm"]http://www.scubasteve.biz/store/manufacturers/lowrance/combo.htm[/url]
[url "http://www.skipper-dan.com/mfr/lowrance.htm"]http://www.skipper-dan.com/mfr/lowrance.htm[/url]
[url "http://www.marinedeal.com/SearchResults.asp"]http://www.marinedeal.com/SearchResults.asp[/url]
[url "http://www.jandhproducts.com/_e/dept/01-008/Lowrance_Fishfinders.htm"]http://www.jandhproducts.com/_e/dept/01-008/Lowrance_Fishfinders.htm[/url]
this is just a start, there's tons of dealers on-line.
Check out the X-135, even though its in the low $300's. Its one little powerful unit without any frills. Just a great fishfinder.
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been there and done that curt. go to the fishing gear and gadgets board under the utah banner and there are tons of post about fishfinders. that is where ive been archiving them at.
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?forum=129"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?forum=129[/url];
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I haven't checked the prices this year but last year that would have been a great buy, did you get it on sale? I can't speak for Humminbird FFers but Bottom line FFers are accurate to within .2 mph of a GPS. Also Lowrance has a calibrate function that allows the operator to set his FFer to match a GPS for speed. I wish my FFer had that function. It sounds like I need to start checking prices of these new units, if you can buy a color FFer with GPs for that price. WH2
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Hey Partlyian: There's a Lowrance X-85, new, on ebay with a $150 bid price, and a $200 buy it now price on it. It has speed/temp capability. I'd jump on it if I needed one! If you need a speed/temp guage for it, I just happen to have a used one for an X-85 I was getting ready to put on ebay. PM me.
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P. S. There's also a used one on there for $100! It doesn't have cables, but I do. I have 4 transducers for it as well.
[#0000ff][url "http://search.stores.ebay.com/lowrance-X-85_W0QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfclZ3QQfromZR9QQfromZR9QQfrppZ50QQfsclZ1QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQfstypeZ1QQftrtZ1QQsacatZQ2d6QQsaslopZ1QQsatitleZlowranceQ20XQ2d85QQsofpZ4QQsspagenameZSTRKQ3aMEFSRCHQ3aSRCH"]http://search.stores.ebay.com/lowrance-X-85_W0QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfclZ3QQfromZR9QQfromZR9QQfrppZ50QQfsclZ1QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQfstypeZ1QQftrtZ1QQsacatZQ2d6QQsaslopZ1QQsatitleZlowranceQ20XQ2d85QQsofpZ4QQsspagenameZSTRKQ3aMEFSRCHQ3aSRCH[/url][/#0000ff][url "http://search.stores.ebay.com/lowrance-X-85_W0QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfclZ3QQfromZR9QQfromZR9QQfrppZ50QQfsclZ1QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQfstypeZ1QQftrtZ1QQsacatZQ2d6QQsaslopZ1QQsatitleZlowranceQ20XQ2d85QQsofpZ4QQsspagenameZSTRKQ3aMEFSRCHQ3aSRC"][/url]
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] Most of the guys like Lowrance but Bottom does it for me. I'm not aware of a GPS and a fish finder you can buy for $300.00, maybe used on E bay, if there is, I'd be interested. I've got a 5100 tournament by Bottomline, it has the biggest display screen on the market for the price, it pushes 3200 watts and has a simple add on paddle wheel for speed. Most FFers have an extra cable for speed but with Bottom line all you have to do is buy a clip on paddle wheel for $15.00. The display menu is simple to use, just hit the menu button, hit the up or down arrow to see all the functions, hit the left or right arrow to turn the function on or off and increase or decrease that function. The best thing you can do is go to a store, like Sportsmans Warehouse and look at and play with their display models, it's the best way to try before you buy. The guys there are more than willing to show you how the different models work, just ask them for some help. Good luck on what ever you buy there is a lot of good FFers out there. WH2