Before you can decide which fishfinder is the best one for you, you should know how a fish finder performs.
Sonar technology is used by fishfinders to locate fish or other solid objects beneath the waters surface. Sonar sound waves travel through the water. The farther the sound waves travel, the more they fan out into a cone shape and increase in diameter. The cone naturally becomes larger in deeper water because it continues to fan out from the point of origin. Whenever the sonar wave impacts against a solid object of any substance, it will send an echo back to the transducer. The shape of the object struck will be determined by how long it took the signal to go out and then bounce the sound wave echo back compared to the surrounding area. The echo will then appear on your fishfinder screen and you will see the aproximate size, shape and depth of the object.
The next thing you need to know before you can determine which fishfinder is best for you is your budget. Figure out how much you would really like to spend on a fish finder. Then multiply that times two. That will give you a more realistic budget to work with.
Of course, budget cannot be the only consideration. There are six other significant factors to help you to make the best choice for you. Review all of the following:
DEPTH RATING
Each fishfinder is rated for a particular depth. In other words, it tells you how far down the sonar or sound waves will reach effectively based on the intensity of the signal being sent. You should first realize that the ratings are for ideal conditions in clear fresh water unless stated otherwise. When fishing in salt or murky water the effective depth will be less than stated. Like everything else; the more power the higher the cost; so know that if you plan to fish really deep water you need to spend more.
A good rule of thumb and my recommendation is to purchase a fishfinder with a rating of 10 more than you plan to need.
TRANSDUCER INCLUDED?
One needs to check the packaging for your fishfinder carefully before makinf a purchase. Some do not come with a transducer and you will need to purchase one separately. That will make a difference in the overal price. The two types of transducers are single frequency and dual frequency. You may require one, the other or both depending on for what and where you are fishing. Single frequency transducers work best in shallow coastal waters or inland lakes. For offshore deep water and sea fishing, a dual frequency transducer is recommended. This dual frequency transducer provides a second, higher frequency signal that shows you the fish or objects within a smaller cone for deeper water. As an example; a 50kHz frequency transducer could have a 4 degree cone to provide a good view of the bottom in deep water and 200kHz transducer with a 20 degree cone would provide a better view of the bottom in shallower water. When purchasing the transducer you want get the right one as all will produce an image on the screen but you want it to represent the bottom under the boat, not hundreds of yards around it.
Installation of the unit must also be factored in here. Another consideration is portability; will you leave it on one boat or move it from boat to boat. Also, you need to decide if you will mount it on the transom or go through the hull for optimum clarity.
Several companies make single frequency ducers.Most of these units are intended for use on smaller boats. They are intended for use on rivers, streams, or inland lakes.
It is usually less costly and easiest to install a transom mount transducer. Trasducers can be purchased in both single and dual frequency fish finder models. A fast moving boat will cause disrupted water at the transom and affect the use of a transom mount.Clarity usually is affected once your boat reaches 10 knots.
Through hull transducers, on the other hand, are ideal for performance and clarity. But this does require putting another hole in your boat hull for installation. And they are really only warranted if you need bottom reading at very high speeds.
My recommendation is to purchase a through the hull mounted transducer with dual frequency only if you are planning to fish in very deep waters either fresh water or salt water.
For anyone who has a small boat or won t be fishing at really high speeds, go with a portable unit or a transom mount. Save money on a transducer and buy more fuel for the boat!
POWER CONSIDERATION
Rule of thumb; more power is better. You will generally find less power in the cheaper unit when all else is equal. However, power is the key to accuracy and clarity because that is what determines the speed of the sonar echoes (bounced back sound waves) reaching your unit.
My recommendation is to purchase the highest power rating you can afford with all other factors being equal. First find all the units that have the features you want then choose the one with the highest power rating.
SCREEN RESOLUTION
Consider this when looking at different options for the display. Color screens are easier to view in bright sunlight. Also, the higher the resolution, the clearer the image you will see on the screen.
We recommend you research several units in your price range then choose the one with the highest resolution and a color screen. 480x480 is ideal, but you don t want to go any lower than 320x240.
DISPLAY SIZE
Like more power being better, when it comes to display size, bigger is always better if it fits where you want to put it! The area measurements of where you plan to install the monitor will help determine the size. That will dictate the largest display screen you can purchase. A bigger screen will equal a heftier price, of course. However, screen size isn t everthing. A few really good fish finders have a 4 screen.
READ THE REVIEWS, BUT . . .
When reading the fish finders reviews be somewhat skeptical of exagerated claims of performance! There is no way the reviews are written by someone who has actually used all of the different units and can definitively say one unit is the absolute best. More than likely the writer works for a manufacturer or distributor. Instead, look for unbiased sources that present the actual facts. One example is of eFishBox s Fishfinder Review page. Make your decision based on your requirements and a solid understanding of the features you need, not someone who is getting paid to endorse a particular product.
Author Resource:
http//www.efishbox.com is a fishing and boating electronics outfitters store. We specialize in customer care first. Compare the great selection and fair pricing at eFishBox today.See our fish finder reviews here. http://www.efishbox.com/page/fish-finder-review/
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