Furuno LS6100?

Grilse · January 23, 2013, 08:23:36 AM

Anybody use one of these? I don't have a need for the nav, so this looked to be a good alternative, meaning affordable. It has a b&w display and uses the Airmar transducer, which seems to be well liked. I'm wondering if the flashy color displays really help? I just want to see what's in the Nehalem, Tillamook and occasionally the Columbia...and my 12 year old Raytheon is starting to get a bit long in the tooth.

Thanks,
Jeff

Vancouvertechie · January 23, 2013, 08:29:07 AM

I have the LS-4100 and it is a solid unit. I have used it a couple of times and I like it. The LS-6100 has better back lighting than the smaller unit. Furuno makes an excellent sounder IMHO, and paired with the Airmar its a win, win. I am eager to try in in the Puget Sound this year chasing Coho's and Lings.

You can network the unit to get NMEA GPS data to the screen.

VT

amazing grace · January 23, 2013, 08:56:02 AM

I don't have one. They seem to be really good units. I contemplated getting one. Still might at some point. I ended up getting a Raymarine A50D unit. Mainly on the advice of our esteemed experts here. The Digital color FF is highly recommended. Also comes with a chartplotter as a bonus, even if you don't need one. For about the same money that you are talking about spending on the Furuno. It also comes with an Airmar transducer. I think it is worth some consideration over the Furuno.
This model is disconntinued but can still be found.

Good luck.

Threeweight · January 23, 2013, 09:59:28 AM

They are a real popular unit w/ the Pacific City dory fleet here in Oregon (the guys who launch their open dories directly into the surf off the beach in the summer.) Very durable units with great reputations.

I would second AG's comment on the Raymarine A50d (or A57d, or A64d, if you can find any of them). They are an older model that has been replaced by Raymarine's touch screens, but they are great color units w/ chartplotter function, and excellent sonars that come with a pretty good Airmar transducer.

Grilse · January 24, 2013, 08:07:17 AM

Thanks, hopefully I'll get to see it at the Sportsmans show. The A50d still seems to be available on the Raytheon store.

Jeff

Vancouvertechie · January 24, 2013, 08:16:20 AM

Really?

How much for the A50d? Got a link?

VT

Grilse · January 24, 2013, 07:06:56 PM

This the one?:

https://www.raymarinestore.com/index.php/chartplotters-mfds/a-series/e62186-us.html

Maybe I should order before I post...

Grilse · February 20, 2013, 08:39:33 AM

Okay, in the continuing search for the sub $500 fishfinder, I've come across the Garmin 550c. The Garmin site says its designed for freshwater, only good to 700 feet in salt. I rarely venture beyond the Oregon river bars, so I don't think this is a problem. Can anyone else see why this wouldn't be a good deal? $350 seems to be the going price, reviews all seem good, but mostly freshwater users.

Thanks for any help,

Jeff

StreamFixer · February 20, 2013, 08:59:28 AM

Jeff

I am a Garmin fan and do not see where you would have a problem in fresh or salt. The transducer does not care.

Sounds like a good price for a fine unit.

StreamFixer

Threeweight · February 20, 2013, 10:11:34 AM

I'd have to disagree with Russ a bit... not all transducers are created equally.

Because saltwater is denser than freshwater, and fishing there tends to be much deeper, units generally operate at lower frequencies (50/200 mhz on a dual frequency unit) than a freshwater transducer (83/200, or 77/200). Saltwater units also typically put out more power.

The Garmin unit you are looking at has a 77/200 transducer that puts out 500 watts. I think for the kind of fishing you are doing, it would be a fine bare-bones unit

Hydro-Therapy · February 20, 2013, 10:57:57 AM

Grilse if you could stretch your budget to under $600 and not be in a big hurry to get it. I would take a serious look at the Raymarine Butterfly. They are just released and at the price point are litterly flying off the shelves. By far the best unit for the money out there right now.

H-T

amazing grace · February 20, 2013, 01:11:25 PM

First let me say I am no expert. I tend to agree with SF on the Garmin unit. They are user friendly and seem to be quite built pretty well and have a lot of satified users out there.
I personally think there is a lot to like about them for the money.

That Furuno unit would be a solid, powerful unit, albeit black and white. If I can find a really good deal on one (4100 or 6100) I would like one for a secondary unit.

I recently bought one the A50d units from the Raymarine store with insight lake and river software and transducer for sub $400. It is a reconditioned unit that absolutely looks new. I bought it mostly for the FF capabilities but it has the gps as well.
I decided on it because it had the software and a special tranducer I liked.
Several of our board techies raved about the digital sonar of this unit. For the money I could not resist.

Unfortuately it will be awhile before I can use it as the boat is undergoing some restoration (Rewire)

I think you have some good options and I like them all. Let us know what you decide and how it works for you. Good luck.

Grilse · February 21, 2013, 08:07:38 AM

The Dragonfly does look sweet, however I didn't see any paddle wheel speedo, I wonder if it will be an accessory? Now to convince SWMBO!

Thanks for the info,

Jeff

Threeweight · February 22, 2013, 09:11:09 PM

Since it is a combo chartplotter/sonar, it has a built in GPS that can measure speed over ground without the need for a paddle wheel.

Grilse · February 23, 2013, 11:10:39 AM

I know, but I've gotten in the habit of paying attention to my speed through the water when trolling, which is mostly what I do. Nehalem, Tillamook, etc. The Dragonfly looks like the beginning of a new generation, I'll be curious to see how it develops.

Plus, the shop needs a new dust collector, so I need to remain low tech!

amazing grace · February 23, 2013, 04:30:07 PM

Grilse, I do not really consider any of the one's being discussed as low tech. I think the Furuno would be a great option if you did not really need gps. That is a powerful unit and I believe it to be digital. The Garmin I do not think is, could be wrong. If I were considering both for about the same money. I would go Furuno. It seems to be an awesome unit for the $

ishan · April 05, 2013, 05:22:02 PM

hope you guys dont mind me reviving this link...

my boat came with a garmin 198c, which i have not yet really given a fair shake yet,
but when i took the boat out for sea trials it seemed rather uninspiring, especially the sounder,
compared to what even some of the cheap newer combo units provide.

i've been reading around wondering about some of the hummingbird combos... and the a50d (mentioned above) seems good and they are cheaper now.
and there is the furuno gp1670f that is rather tempting... but a bit more money.

i figure if i have two combo units onboard there is some sort of redundancy incase something goes south on the water.
is there any reason not to have two transducers on the transom at the same time?

any ideas?

Threeweight · April 05, 2013, 10:57:10 PM

Re: the two transducers... if they are operating on the same frequency at the same time, they can interfere with each other. Solution is either to operate them on different frequencies, or operate them one at a time. I do the one at a time thing w/ my Lowrance and Raymarine (Lowrance HDS is typically used as a chartplotter, Raymarine as a sonar.)

croaker stroker · April 08, 2013, 11:36:42 PM

Quote from: Grilse on February 23, 2013, 11:10:39 AM
I know, but I've gotten in the habit of paying attention to my speed through the water when trolling, which is mostly what I do. Nehalem, Tillamook, etc. The Dragonfly looks like the beginning of a new generation, I'll be curious to see how it develops.

Plus, the shop needs a new dust collector, so I need to remain low tech!

You could always get an electronic speedo, with paddle wheel....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Teleflex-Electronic-Speedometer-Kit-/180214462188

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Furuno LS6100?