Plug "fishfinder/chartplotter combo" into Google, and you'll get 10,200 hits. There may not be that many different units on the market – but it sure may feel like it when you're trying to choose which unit is the best for you.
So, how will you know which one to buy? Read on.
For 90 percent of the boaters out there, the limiting factor when choosing a new unit will be cost. And with each major feature, the cost naturally rises. Major features can be broken down into the following categories: screen size, color palette, cartography and fish-finding capabilities.
LENNY RUDOWLimited dash space may mean binacle-mounting is necessary. Just make sure you can see.Of course, this is just one aspect of choosing a unit. Deciding which one meshes best with your own sensibilities and is the easiest for you to use is another important aspect, as is longevity, physical functionality and viewability.
SIZE MATTERS
Large screen size is important to many boaters, especially those of advanced age who may have trouble making out the small numerals and contour lines on low-end units. You'll often want to use a combo unit in split-screen mode, which means there will only be half as much space on-screen for each function. Before you can even decide what size screen you'd like and can afford, however, you'll need to see what size screen your helm can accommodate.
If you're flush-mounting the unit, depth counts as much as height and width. Many helm stations have wiring, control cables, and other important items tucked behind them, which may interfere when mounting your unit. So before you even begin shopping, take a tape measure and nail down the maximum dimensions you can consider.
NORTHSTARScreen size is an important feature; on a 10.4 inch screen like this, numerals are easy to read even in split-screen mode.If you're binnacle (top) mounting the unit, depth is still a consideration. Helms with sharply raked windshields or multiple windshield supports may be difficult to fit, and those with rounded helms are even worse. So again, measure carefully to figure the exact amount of room you have available. Remember to allow space for a clamshell fitting, where your wires will pass through the top of the dash, and also ensure that the surface is accessible from below, so you can through-bolt the unit in place. (Screws don't cut it, as they'll often vibrate loose from the helm station.) Even if there's plenty of space on top your helm, don't get too crazy – large units may impede your view and substantially limit visibility, especially if you have a small windshield and a Bimini top that attaches.
Once you account for available space, it's all a matter of dollars and sense. You can expect to pay several hundred dollars more per inch of screen. Consider Humminbird's line-up. Start with the minimal 3.5-inch screen 383c Combo, and you'll pay about $400. Get a 5-inch screen with the 595c, and the cost jumps to $500. Then check out the 7-inch 917c, and the cost will jump up to about $1,000. An 8-inch 955c takes this price tag up to $1,400, and jumping to a bodacious 10.4-inch screen takes the cost all the way up to the neighborhood of $2,000.
GARMINMore expensive units, like this Garmin 545s ($1,200) may come pre-loaded with cartography that you unlock with codes.THE COLOR CONUNDRUM
Another important consideration – and cost-boosting feature – is whether to go with a color or monochrome unit. The majority of the units on the market today are color, as are nearly all high-end units.
But if a minimal expense is what works for you, monochrome may be worth considering. From a purely navigational standpoint color may be nice, but is not necessary. It allows you to differentiate between land and water boundaries more quickly, and makes contour lines more readily apparent. But with some squinting and hard looking, you'd figure these differences out either way.
If you're an angler, however, the benefits of color can not be oversold. The differences between reds, yellows, and greens will indicate the density of the fishfinder returns, and you'll be able to differentiate between schools of bait, big fish, little fish and structure.
How big a financial difference does color make? It's pretty substantial. Consider Eagle's Fishelite 480, for example. It has a 5-inch monochrome display and costs a hair less than $400. The 640c, however, goes for about $200 more and has little difference, other than the addition of color to the screen.
CHIP CHAT
Different units will take different cartography chips, and this is usually more manufacturer-based than it is model-based. There are two main cartography companies out there, C-Map and Navionics.
Navionics cards are accepted by Eagle, Furuno, Humminbird, Lowrance, Northstar, and Raymarine units. C-Map chart cards are accepted by Northstar, Simrad, Furuno, Si-Tex, Standard-Horizon, Interphase, JRC, and Cobra. (Note: Though most are compatible, there are specific models made by these manufacturers which may not be, so check before you buy.) Garmin has its own Bluechart and g2 cartography chips, as well as Inland Lakes and Lakemaster chips.
