After Christmas combo ff/gps unit sales?

[amazing grace]

Just checking in guys. Since I will need to order online or over the phone I am wondering about any "red hot" deals. 

I have been watching the Raymarine store on Closeouts and reconditioned units sff mentioned. I had my eye on a A57D and when I went to order someone beat me to it

They have some A50D's and I may go that route. I figure it would make an awesome Fish finder and a back up for a gps, being I am planning on using a tablet for gps at this point. I should be able to have both the A50D and a good 7" tablet and ram mount for around $700.

Maybe by summer I will be able to spring for the new Raymarine ff/gps/radar unit($1700-) for the other SR :whistle:.

Thought's about my current thinking? and any deals that you may know about? :arms:

[SRanger]

Cool video of VancouverTechie demo of his A50 on YouTube.  Well done John!

SR

[beancounter]

I was in West Marine couple days before Christmas and they had a color 4 or 5" combo for I believe 349 it was a Garmin. It was like reg 539 or something.

[Salmon King]

I was in West Marine couple days before Christmas and they had a color 4 or 5" combo for I believe 349 it was a Garmin. It was like reg 539 or something.

Yes..and that price is good through the 31st.
I am giving serious thought to getting one...but then...
I'm also thinking I would rather have a Lowrance unit.

For me...I don't feel that Garmin has the quality resolution it should have with the technology that is available.
IMO...all of the other major brands have better looking displays.


S.K.

[theSaltyPuddle]

I almost bought the Garmin before I got my hd-s 5.  In my opinion, the screen is way too small and for that small a screen the resolution should be better, like you said SK.  I'm very happy with my Lowrance so far.

[amazing grace]

I think Garmin makes some good units. Especially above the $500 to $600 units i am looking at . I believe their customer service is really good. too.
ONe thing I think hurts them is they have so much available that it just gets my head spinning and I give up. Sometimes more is not better

[Threeweight]

Raymarine A50D w/ no charts, $613:

http://www.starmarinedepot.com/Raymarine+A50D+Chartplotter+Fishfinder.html?gclid=CL-46-2RvrQCFYN_Qgod-yMAGw

Lowrance HDS -5 Gen 2 w/ the Nautic Insight saltwater charts bundled, $678:

http://www.boemarine.com/000-10519-001_Lowrance_HDS-5_Gen2_Nautic_Insight_50200_kHz_Transducer/

I've used the low end ($700) and very high end ($4500) Garmin units.  IMO, they make fantastic chart plotters, are well made, and seem to have a good rep for customer service.  On the other, their sonars don't measure up well compared to Lowrance, and really fall short of higher end units like Raymarine or Furuno.  On the sub-$1000 units, you typically get smaller, lower resolution screens for your $$ on the Garmins.  The other thing to consider is Garmin's use proprietary Bluechart mapping chips, which cost big $$, whereas the Raymarine, Lowrance, Humminbird, etc... units use Navionics chips.

[Jay in Kitsap]

I just posted in the other FF thread, go with Lowrance vs Hummingbird.  I got on sale at West Marine, with their warranty coverage.