Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
h.jpg Home.
a.jpg Association Forum
s.jpg Ships Store
c.jpg Cruising
r.jpg Racing
t.jpg Technical Tips
g.jpg Photo Gallery - New
o.jpg Boat Search - Updated
m.jpg Manuals & Brochures
3rdrpt.jpg Swap Meet
l.jpg Links
f.jpg Officer Flag Line & Staff
b.jpg Bylaws & Constitution
 
1.jpg Members Area
1.jpg Join the Association
 
Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
 
Association Forum
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
 Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 General Sailing Forum
 Which fishfinder?		  New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

AADIVER
Admiral

Member Avatar

USA
966 Posts
Initially Posted - 02/25/2006 :  23:47:08  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
which is the better fishfinder/depth sounder: Humminbird MAX 15 or the Garmin 90, both for under a 100 bucks at WM?
Frank Farmer
Long Beach, CA
aa.diver@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/aa.diver

PRETTY PENNY
'01 C-250 WK, Hull #558
Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
736 Posts
Response Posted - 02/26/2006 :  06:21:29  Show Profile  Visit Turk's Homepage
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by FARMHAND</i>
<br />which is the better fishfinder/depth sounder: Humminbird MAX 15 or the Garmin 90, both for under a 100 bucks at WM?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

The Hummingbird Max has a much higher resolution screen 140 x 160. Looks clearer. On sale everywhere for $89.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3468 Posts
Response Posted - 02/26/2006 :  08:16:13  Show Profile  Visit OLarryR's Homepage
I was looking at the catalog and on-line and cannot find the Garmin 90 advertised. I saw the Garmin 80 advertised on the WM website for over $100.
I had bought the Matrix 17 and you can see the installation, etc on my website. What was important for me in making the decision was what Turk indicated regarding resolution. Other factors were how large the display was - Which may not be that important if all you want is to read depth, however, I am on a river and I find watching the screen and noting the contour of the river bed falling off and rising as an important feature. Having the big number view is also important and I would think all the fishfinders have that but check - You may prefer one over the other.

Here is something that I had not considered and isn't a make or break decision factor but could add to the cost comparison - The length of the transducer cable ! During installation, I had to route the wire a little bit different than originally planned because the supplied wire was perhaps 20' long. I ran the wire (may be apparent from the photos on my website) thru the port shelve/sliding drawers and then across to the fishfinder. The original depthmeter had the wires behind the galley bulkhead. That was not possible with the wire provided.

I noticed that the Garmin 120 has a 30' cable. Not sure how long the Garmin 90 cable is but consider that also in your purchase plans.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3468 Posts
Response Posted - 02/26/2006 :  08:17:10  Show Profile  Visit OLarryR's Homepage
I was looking at the catalog and on-line and cannot find the Garmin 90 advertised. I saw the Garmin 80 advertised on the WM website for over $100.
I had bought the Matrix 17 and you can see the installation, etc on my website. What was important for me in making the decision was what Turk indicated regarding resolution. Other factors were how large the display was - Which may not be that important if all you want is to read depth, however, I am on a river and I find watching the screen and noting the contour of the river bed falling off and rising as an important feature. Having the big number view is also important and I would think all the fishfinders have that but check - You may prefer one over the other.

Here is something that I had not considered and isn't a make or break decision factor but could add to the cost comparison - The length of the transducer cable ! During installation, I had to route the wire a little bit different than originally planned because the supplied wire was perhaps 20' long. I ran the wire (may be apparent from the photos on my website) thru the port shelve/sliding drawers and then across to the fishfinder. The original depthmeter had the wires behind the galley bulkhead. That was not possible with the wire provided.

I noticed that the Garmin 120 has a 30' cable. Not sure how long the Garmin 90 cable is but consider that also in your purchase plans.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 02/26/2006 :  11:01:14  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
My transducer is behind my stairs, the matrix cable was way too long for me.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

AADIVER
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 02/26/2006 :  13:53:24  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
I purchased a Humminbird Pirhana MAX 10 portable from an online supplier, Boatersland.com. It came with a defective battery contact plate. Humminbird replaced it free, but when I reloaded the 8 AA batteries, still wouldn't activate. The unit's totally defective. I hope boatersland will either replace it or refund my money.
Since decided not to go AA battery portable, but rather a hard wired 12V unit, i.e., the MAX 15. Lesson learned: do NOT buy electrical/electronic gear on the internet. The money saved just isn't worth the hassle should the units be defective. Better to buy from a local West Marine.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.