FISH FINDERS REPORTS

Lowrance X65

I have a Lowrance X65 sounder, and for the shallow waters I fish (around 150ft maximum) and find it to be a slick, effective unit, though looking at the manual, I suspect its depth capabilities may not be up to fishing sea lochs (400 ft plus in places).
Not a lot of frills given that it was fairly pricy, and the screen could do with more pixels (160 x 160) but this is a flaw that has been rectified on newer Lowrance models. It picks up fish arches, though not consistently. But a very solidly-built unit that looks like it will go on for years - unlike some sounders I've had (Eagle Magna II being the last).

Garmin FF160

Good, basic budget model. Easy to use, adequate performance.

Garmin FF100

The Fishfinder 100 is a full-featured 200 khz sounder with temperature that's both waterproof and affordable.
On the outside, the unit comes packaged in a case that measures 5" w x 4.9" h x 2.5" d.
The 2.5-inch diagonal display that makes detecting fish easy on the eyes, and it delivers the big picture thanks to a blue/green, LCD, STN display with 160 x 100 pixels.
You don't have to worry about this unit getting splashed because it was designed to withstand immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

Eagle Ultra Classic

I bought the boat with this fish finder installed. I have found it quite good but I have only known this model so I am unable to compare against others. Looks similar to the Lowrance X65.
It has an exstensive menu and the picture quality seems good in most daylight conditions.
160 x 160 pixels, 600 watts output, 192kHz frequency and 4 x zoom

By Jim

Fitted to our first boat an Orkney Fastliner.
This is a relatively cheap set with poor screen resolution. Also our sounder had been on a marina boat and had become fogged up.
That said it operated OK given its limitations and told me the depth. It lost track of the bottom around 40 m.
It was difficult to detect differences in the bottom Sand/Mud/Rock but obvious features could be made out.
The zoom feature on it was good, though as it is a compact screen sounder this did not split the screen.
Overall cheap and cheerful

By Dave

Specification
Display - 5" Screen
Resolution - 320 x 320 pixels with 10 grayscale definition
Backlighting
200kHz sonar
1500 watts peak to peak / 188 watts RMS
Depth capability - 800ft (244 meters)
Depth display - continuous
Surface water Temp
Audible alarms - Shallow/Deep/fish/zone
Auto bottom track
Split screen zoom

I have only just purchased this unit and still getting to know how to get the best from it.

The screen display is much better than I am use to, previously I had a fish finder with a display of 160 x 160.
It shows the bottom so much clearer and I am seeing things I would have missed previously. Traveling at speed it still shows the bottom well and I am able to pick things out.

I have set it up so that it shows the water tempreture as well as the battery voltage as I use two batteries on the boat, one for running the electronics and the other just for starting the outboard.

Although it is not a colour model it appears clear but I am still awaiting to see the fish arches as shown in the users handbook or even identifing the differance between fish and weed!

As I have said earlier, I am still learning to get the most out of the unit so I may well add to this report soon.

By Jim

Specification
Display - 5" Screen
Resolution - 320 x 320 pixels with 10 grayscale definition
Backlighting
50/200kHz sonar
4000 watts peak to peak / 500 watts RMS
Depth capability - 1700ft (518 meters)
Depth display - continuous
Surface water Temp
Audible alarms - Shallow/Deep/fish/zone
Auto bottom track
Split screen zoom

The X88 DF sounder is a nice piece of kit being almost identical to the X87 with the exception that the X88 DF has a dual frequency transducer.

I've used this sounder several times now and feel a lot more confident being able to interpret what it is telling me.
The screen clarity is ace with 320 * 320 pixels.
The Fish ID function seems quite accurate in identifying fish like Pollock though I've still to progress to switching the fish ID off and looking for arches.
In shallow water fishing, this is easily the best fish finder I've used. There are numerous software features on it that I've only scratched the surface but would still buy an other of this type.
The software simulator is very good for letting you see the sorts of displays you can get, also the press button Zoom in and Zoom out buttons are useful when trying to find the edge of a smaller structure.

Installation was easy, though the dual frequency transducer is substantially bigger than the surface skimmer used on the X87 model and needs 4 screws to fix it to the transom.

The way this sounder works is like having two different frequency transducers in the same housing and you can see the return from both transducers on a split screen or you can view the two signals separately. What is doesn't do is combine the two signals together onto the screen.
For deep water areas such as loch ettive the sounder accurately tracks to the bottom and follows it, so quite impressed so far.
One downside of the higher power output/different frequency is that it produces more electrical noise for the VHF to pick up.

405SX Single Beam Fishfinder
160 Vertical Pixels Speed & Temp Included! 150 kHz transducers allows for multiple units to work without interference
Water Surface Temp Included!
Find More Fish with Water Temperature Variation

Big 3" x 4" High Contrast FSTN Display
Provides Clear Viewing At Angle and In Tough Lighting
Exclusive Quick Connect Tilt & Swivel Mount
Easy & Adjustable Mounting - With No Cables to Plug In

160 Vertical Pixels with 4 Level Grayscale
High Resolution Reveals Greater Underwater Detail

2400/300 Watts (PTP/RMS) Output Power Maximizes Bottom, Fish & Structure Definition

Total Screen Update
Updates Bottom Image as Depth Ranges Change
Selectable Fish IDTM Target Identification
Identify Fish Targets & Their Depth or View Sonar Data

Specifications
Depth Capability: 600 feet
Display Matrix & Size: 160 V x 160 H Pixels, 3" V x 4" H
Display Type: FSTN Liquid Crystal Display
Unit Size (installed): 7.75" H x 7.875" W x 4.25" D
Power Requirement: 12 VDC
Operating Frequency: 150 kHz
Sonar Coverage: 24 degrees @ -10db
Transducer (Standard): Single Beam XT-6-24 with 20 foot cable
Speed/Temperature: Speed and Temp Included
Power Output:2400 Watts (Peak to Peak), 300 Watts (RMS)
Made in U.S.A.

I was in the market for a powerful single beam.
My priority was to have a powerful transmitting sonar with a single beam transducer. With that I could better identify the ocean floor (bottom) directly beneath my kayak.
Whether it was sandy, rocky or stacked thick with kelp, I wanted a bigger, better picture with greater detail to view it.
I turned to Humminbird's 405SX to get that enhanced sonar performance.

The 405SX transmits a more powerful beam than what I was previously use to.
I immediately noticed the difference in detail as I paddled out towards the kelp beds. When I was directly over the kelp bed, the display was showing the individual columns of kelp. The images reflecting the shape and structure of the kelp columns were easy to interpret. With the larger display size to accompany the enhanced performance, I was in for a greater sonar experience.

I set the fish id and the fish alarm at various settings to see how it interpreted the sonar data. It seemed to perform well. Usually I set the fish alarm to only sound for larger fish. Though it depends on what type of fish you're targeting. When I'm searching for larger schools of baitfish, I set the fish alarm to sound for all objects the 405SX interpret as fish.

There are some other features which were new to me.
The True Zoom feature got me off of the fence when I was trying to decide which fish finder to go with. You can zoom right up on the ocean bottom. I like to get up close and personal with what's going on at the bottom. As I stated earlier, what I really wanted out of a fish finder was a good reading of the ocean floor.
The True Zoom with Auto Zoom feature allows you to view a small area of the ocean floor without giving up your perspective of the entire water column beneath you.

Other features include speed control, sensitivity, depth alarm, bottom black, enhanced diagnostic, fish id and alarm (as previously mentioned) and more.

I like the freedom the quick connect tilt and swivel mount offer. You can launch and land your kayak with the 405SX safely stowed below deck since the unit easily connects and disconnects from the mount.

The 405SX is waterproof but it isn't bullet proof. Take extra care of it and you may not have to send it into service for repair. Salt water and electronics don't mix well together sometimes. I recommend purchasing the extended 2 year factor warranty just in case. From experience, Humminbird has a fantastic service department with a minimal turn-around time. They'll get your sonar back in shape in no time.

I am very pleased with the performance of Humminbird's 405SX. Though I still haven't seen the kind of resolution the pictures on the box and web site depict, overall I am still very satisfied with how the 405SX performs. It's an excellent unit and value for the price.

240 x 128 pixel, four-level, grayscale FSTN display
Three-level adjustable incandescent backlighting for display and keypad
3.3"W x 3.3"H (4.5" diagonal) viewing area
6.1" x 4.9" x 2.6" (WxHxD) unit dimensions
Internal memory backup for user settings with power disconnected
Graphic whiteline provides clear image of bottom hardness and structure
Alarms for shallow water, deep water, battery voltage, and fish
Waterproof, Adjustable range, gain, zoom, and scroll speed
Limited one-year warranty
FREE DELIVERY
Recommendations
Portable Model £49 Upgrade

Package includes:
Fishfinder 120
Transducer
Power cable
Swivel-mounting bracket
Owner's manual

Specifications

Display options: Auto ranging, 2X and 4X auto and manual zoom, bottom lock, 3 fish symbol sizes, adjustable menu
Alarms: Deep water, shallow water, fish, low battery
Transducer auto-sense: Automatically displays temp data without menus
See-Thru(tm) technology: Shows weak/strong returns simultaneously
Depth Control Gain (DCG(tm)): Automatically adjusts fishfinder sensitivity according to depth
Power-down backup of setting: Customer setting not lost when unit is turned off

Sounder

Power output: 100 watts (RMS), 800 watts (peak to peak)
Frequency: 200 kHz
Depth: 600 foot max depth*
Physical Display:
240 (H) x 128 (W) pixel, 3.1" x 3.2", (7.9 x 8.1 cm)
High-contrast 4-level, grayscale FSTN display
Size: 6.1" (W) x 4.9" (H) x 2.6" (D) (15.5 x 12.5 x 6.6 cm)
Weight: 1 lb 2.9 oz
Case: Fully gasketed, high-impact plastic alloy
Keys: Backlit
Temperature range: 5°F to 158°F (-15°C to 70°C)
Waterproof: Waterproof to IEC 529 IPX7 standards, submerged to 1 meter for 30 minutes
Power Input: 10 to 18 Vdc with high-voltage protection
Usage: 8 watts max
Nominal power: 12 Vdc at 0.5 amps

The Garmin Fishfinder 120 Review

The Fishfinder 120 builds on the highly successful Fishfinder 80 as a feature-rich, affordable sonar device.
It has one of the largest and highest-resolution displays of any fishfinder in its class, providing better separation and contrast for the recreational angler.
The Fishfinder 120 allows you to view and change settings without leaving the sonar screen.
It also has an internal backup system that automatically saves your settings and an "uninterrupted operation" feature so your sonar won't stop while you're changing settings.

Packaged with the Fishfinder 120 is Garmin's innovative 360-degree swivel mount and quick-release mechanism to increase utility and security.
Also included with the unit is a temperature-sensing 200-kHz transducer, which transmits at 800 watts (peak-to-peak) and 100 watts (RMS) to a maximum depth of 600 feet. The patented transducer design allows for mounting on either the transom or trolling motor.

By Ian

Specifications

4" (10.2 cm) diagonal screen
Film SuperTwist LCD
High-definition 240x160 resolution
Backlit screen and keypad
Depth capability to 1300 ft* (457 m) with 2400 watts of peak-to-peak power
High-performance, low-profile 50/200 kHz Skimmer® dual-frequency transducer with built-in temp sensor delivers an extra wide angle of fish detection area with high sensitivity settings - Operates at boat speeds up to 70 mph (61 kts)
SP-U transom-mount sensor included for precise trolling speed/distance log readings
FishReveal™ feature uses 10 levels of gray tones to expose fish targets hidden in surface clutter, weed beds, thermoclines, and other types of underwater cover
HyperScroll™ feature locates and displays fish targets at higher boat speeds
Advanced Signal Processing (ASP™) automatically adjusts your settings for the best sonar picture
Patented GRAYLINE® separates fish from nearby structure and bottom
Advanced Fish I.D.™ shows underwater targets in different sizes of fish symbols
FishTrack™ displays target depth readings above fish symbols
Surface water temperature readings come from a built-in temp sensor in the transducer
Zoom with zoom bottom tracking and easy zoom-in/out control
Selective on/off sonar alarms: Shallow, Deep, and Fish

The echosounder unit's a dual frequency model by Eagle. (We often feel that it's inclined to show us non-existent fish to cheer us up a bit!) I think there's an identical model sold under the Lowrance badge, X59DF.

Neither of us are expert at reading the screen yet. That'll take bit more experience of using the thing, but it seems to "do what it says on the box", more or less.
We fish a variety of depths, from perhaps twenty feet into the odd foray to over a hundred feet in the Firth of Forth. Mostly depths are 40-60feet.
The shallow-water alarm isn't loud enough for me - my hearing's not good, and its fairly feeble beeps are sometimes not too noticeable. I think that a feature like this that's essentially one to provide for the safety of the whole crew should be capable of being set to foghorn-volume! Well - louder than this, anyway...
While nobody should use such a feature to replace eyes or ears, or indeed commonsense safety procedures at sea, the fact that it's there - but so quiet - seems to me to be a poor point of design.

Another small gripe - I don't like the shiny screen surface - at the wrong angle it reflects light and so hides what the display's showing till you move position. A matt surface would reduce this, although it might complicate the construction for all I know.

By Ian

Specifications
Easy to view Color TFT 5" daylight viewable screen.
600 watts RMS power optimizes overall sonar performance - depth readings to 3300 ft (1000 m).
Dual Frequency operation (200/50 kHz) that allows both signals to be mixed on one screen or split and viewed side by side.
High resolution screen for clarity of sonar returns (320 x 234 pixels)
Fully variable zoom function allows you to zoom in on any portion of the water column.
Adjustable split screen allows you to customise the screen.
Standard with Transom mount dual frequency transducer with speed and temperature built in and 33 ft (10 m) cable for ease of installation. Through hull plastic and bronze transducers are available.
Built-in fuel computer software provides fuel flow, fuel used, fuel remaining, fuel economy, estimated range functions (Requires optional fuel transducer kit).
Useful alarms including Low Battery, Too Shallow, Too Deep, Water Temperature and Temperature Rate of Change to ensure you stay in those warm currents.
Engine Hours counter to help you maintain your engine.
Fully waterproof with an IP67 rating (immersed in 3 ft [1 m] water for 30 minutes).
Unit operates in both 12 v and 24 v systems.

The 5 inch Fish 4500 was the main reason for getting this package, and it is a superb unit, with really high power that locates stacks of fish, and lets you work out what they are with practice! I can tell coalies from mackerel, though demersal fish are tricky as they are hard to separate from the bottom...typically you will only see cod etc if there are lots about, and even then only odd ones that have swum up a little in the water...

The screen frequently shows leads dropping, released fish swimming back to the bottom, loads of detail that will let you know this is no bog-standard sounder! It also clearly shows kelp beds...

It has a choice of colour schemes, and I like white for daytime and black for evening/night for ease of viewing...

The zoom display is very useful for fishfinding, and I like to set up a split screen with part of the bottom in zoom, and part normal...the proportions are variable, though obviously the unzoomed section shows a bigger area...

The unit performs well at all depths I've fished (450 ft max), though even in deep water I've yet to find a situation where 200KHz gives a worse picture than 50KHz...

The one area where this sounder performs worse than my old one (75W as opposed to 600W) is when 'pushing my luck' when entering a shallow area, like St Andrews harbour - it gives up at about 2ft, which can be disconcerting as the boat will float in 1.7 ft...perhaps there is too much power for such small depths? I believe this is adjustable, but can't see myself fiddling with it when trying to get back onto my mooring on an outrushing tide!

One final point - though you can purchase expensive bronze through-hull transducers, I find that fitting the regular transom transducer in the bilge with silicone sealant gives a perfect display, while avoiding the problems of attaching to the stern, i.e. damage from floating objects, and weed growth and/or mud on the transducer face...

Measuring just 150x127x81mm, with the bracket fitted for bracket mounting on a console shelf, or to the cabin roof, it's ideal for smaller boats or for centre-console craft with limited console space to house their electronics, as well as for general fishing craft. You can also flush-panel mount it directly into a console fascia.

The display screen is three and a half inches square, offering 256 colour TFT display with digital high-definition fish imaging that can automaticly adjust 220 sonar parameters per second. The digitally adaptive transmitter/receiver technolology minimises surface clutter on screen, giving a better, more detailed readout and colour separation of fish, with more-precise target echoes. The screen is certainly distinct with easy-to-read lettering and symbols. The screen is backlit for lowlight conditions, but is also transflective offering direct sunlight visability, so you can still read the screen data with sunlight shining directly onto the screen display. This is essential if you are working from an open boat.

It features five push-button keys that are easy to identify and use. These are a simple PWR to power up, ENTER button with up/down and sideways options, MENU, PAGE and QUIT buttons. It's dead easy to use if it's your first fishfinder. The push-button keypads are again backlit for using in low-light levels.

It also showes speed, trip and log data plus battery voltage, and fish are identified by a proper fish symbol at their specific depth in relation to the bottom feature. You can also choose x2, x3 or x4zoom-in to better highlight sea-bed features.

It offers 50/200kHz daul frequancy for working shallow inshore water and deep-water work offshore, and with an NMEA0183 interface you have the position, compass-bearing data, range and travel time to desired target areas available to you. The nominal power output is quoted as 500W and the typical hourly power consumption as 10W.

The unit is designed to be submersible and conforms to IPX7 standard and can withstand being under water for at least 30 minutes to a depth of one metre. It weighs just 1lb.

The impressive DS400X looks to be an ideal fishfinder for centre-console boats and open dinghies, plus has the performance to warrant consideration for a much bigger craft.