What fishfinder has the best value under $300??

Thanks!

each finder is unique in its own way but some offer many more features in your range.

You can find the Garmin 400c for right around that price, packed with decent features,  Take a look at some of Humminbirds units, the 581i is a click over your looking price but features a built in GPS unit, which is very helpful for marking spots and trails and track...they also doit in a 365i unit.

Goto a local dealer and mess around with them, see what you like and dont like about the units in question, I feel the Garmin is a little more user friendly but thats just me(slo perhaps).

Im doing the same as you, looking looking and looking, I need a unit for my kayak, more to see structure then to find fish.

Good Luck

HUMMINBIRD 383C COMBO 

Does anyone have any information about the Humminbird® 728?

Is it better to get a unit with gps than getting a better fishfinder?

I am pretty close to pulling the trigger on the Humminbird 570..  Cost is $199.00 and the specs are pretty good..

I am pretty close to pulling the trigger on the Humminbird 570.. Cost is $199.00 and the specs are pretty good..

Theres a thread on the 570 somewhere around here.  I know I was very disappointed with it and returned it.  I believe Dink Whisperer had some serious issues with his as well.  I'm not sure how that turned out, you may want to PM him and see what troubles he had on his.

Remember, if you are trying to get the "best sonar for your buck", adding a GPS is defeating your purpose - unless you truly want that. The same sonar with a GPS will have less vertical pixels. It has to, as a manufacturing cost issue. Handheld GPS units are relatively inexpensive and serve just as well.

For a "plain" sonar, you will not find a better unit than a Lowrance X-135. But again....depends on what you "want" out of a sonar. If color is mandatory, then you'll want something other than a B&W like the X-135. If you can live without color and do not want the GPS feature included on your sonar, you will do no better than the X-135.

Stay away from the HB 570! I am on my third one that i just tried this weekend and same issue! Transducer not reading the bottom and jumping around in depth readings as well! I am just going to exchange it for a Lowrance unit! My 581i is still in question because i am waiting on my bilge mount transducer!

Remember, if you are trying to get the "best sonar for your buck", adding a GPS is defeating your purpose - unless you truly want that. The same sonar with a GPS will have less vertical pixels. It has to, as a manufacturing cost issue. Handheld GPS units are relatively inexpensive and serve just as well.

For a "plain" sonar, you will not find a better unit than a Lowrance X-135. But again....depends on what you "want" out of a sonar. If color is mandatory, then you'll want something other than a B&W like the X-135. If you can live without color and do not want the GPS feature included on your sonar, you will do no better than the X-135.

No doubt, the X125/135s are great monochrome sonar units, but they have been recently discontinued. Some retailers will still have them. The Mark and Elite Series have replaced these units and are currently shipping. Specifications on this series of units can be found here:

http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/Mark-Elite-Series/