Combo or Handheld

[Lipbskt]

Hey just wanted to know what do you think? I'm getting ready to purchase some new electronics for my boat. Gps/finder combo or handheld and good fishfinder?

[fishincreek]

Handheld gps does a fine job.

[Lipbskt]

What models and or units do you recommend.

[fishincreek]

I use the Lowrance iFinder Hunt(has 16 channels vs 12 of some other models) Has not let me down and has gotten me to the ramp in fog when I could not see the front of the boat.

[Lipbskt]

Come on give me some good advise.....

[TritonKTB]

It depends on what you will use your GPS for. If you only want it for your boat I would suggest Lowrance LMS-520C. This unit will do anything you need it to for fishing. If you want it to hunt or hike with in the woods I would suggest Lowrance's I finder.

[Lipbskt]

I will use it just for boat or maybe family trip in the car,,,

[pastorbass]

I have been thinking about the Lowrance XOG - it is like the ones for your car, but it is used for car, boat, or hiking. Runs $269 and bass pro and cabelas. It doesn't have a very good review for the boat though. There is also the Lowrance iway 600c for land or marine. It's around $600 but supposed to be the best on the market. If I had an extra $600 I would get that one. It looks pretty impressive - especially if you want one for car and boat. I have an older hand held I use for the boat some and it does a decent job in the boat, but not in the car. I have a Garmin nuvi in the car and it does excellent.

[Col Forbin]

I have had both (lowrance Ifinder H20 - handheld, and lowrance sonar/gps 520 - actually I have the 480, monochrome version of the 520). If I were buying a new one - I would definitely go with color. I like the sonar/gps much better. You really sacrafice screen size with the handheld - even a handheld with a larger screen. They both operate very similar - but it seems the 520 operates a little quicker. I don't think you will be disapointed with the 520 - sonar is great, gps is great. I know I had the plan of using my handheld in the boat and the occasional car - but it wasn't as good for car trips as I had hoped. Handhelds don't offer turn by turn directions when driving - and basically ends up being a little more complicated to use than a road map or AAA trip tic. I ended up selling it when I got a newer boat with the lowrance in it. I don't think you will be let down by the lowrance 520, but if you get a handheld - I think you will always be wanting a little more and second guessing your purchase as I did.

[Col Forbin]

check out tigergps.com - I bought mine there and their prices are hard to beat.

[birdstrike]

I've got the I-finder as well. It really is a nice unit. The only thing with the handhelds is the screen size. If you are just going to use it in one boat, get a big permanent unit with a nice color screen. The price of the handhelds goes up considerably when you start adding mounting hardware for different vehicles, memory cards or map cards, etc...

Good luck!

[SuperSprint007]

I have the lowrance I-finder H2O and like it alot becuase I fish out of others boats quite a bit... for navigaition purposes it works well but a little hard to see in the bright sun, you need to have it pluged in the whole time or the batteries will go down in a days time. If I was only going to have it in my boat i would go with a combo, my next purchase will be the humminbird 797 with the side imaging....