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VE: How things have changed and so quickly! The sounders above are Colour versus mono — Not that long ago a colour sounder was an
typical of those sold a few years ago but should you update? From the left: expensive option and the domain of big boats only. The week I wrote
1) The Humminbird Wide series was an upgrade on the LCR models this chapter I purchased a brand new colour Garmin sounder at
previously. They are good basic sounders but like using a handline instead Burnsco that has a beautiful colour display and an incredible array of
of a rod and reel compared with modern units. 2) The Lowrance X23 is features and it cost just $450. The reduction in prices plus the massive
similar. Simple and basic but a long way short of today. The Eagle brand
was also made by Lowrance and either the same or slightly less-featured. 3)
The Humminbird LCR W was designed to fit into a gauge hole in the dash. I
sold a surprising number of them and you will still see them fitted. A simple
sounder well short on features but a great performer. 4) The Furuno FCV
582L. If your boat has one of these fitted, don’t change it! This is a superb
sounder and the one I chose to run myself (or the equally good Koden
equivalent). Originally we had big video units of similar performance before
the change to LCD. The screens are nowhere near as good as modern
versions but the sounder is excellent. 5) The Garmin 80 is a later model
mono LCD unit. If you need just a basic sounder it will do the job well. I
have just removed the similar Garmin 90 from the project boat to fit a colour
sounder, which you can see at right.
Now LCD displays are so good they can be read in bright sunlight and ABOVE AND RIGHT: The old and
at any angle. The key thing, outside of readability in sunlight, is the the new! More pixels, colour, superb
vertical pixel count. Think of it this way: if you have a sounder with 100 detail and simple operation. As well
pixels vertically and you are in 100 m of water, then you have one dot as the Garmin 90 performed, there’s
per metre to display the information. Small and medium sounders will no comparison really!
likely have 240 or 480 vertical pixels. You can see the difference in the
ability to display the information when you have four times as many
pixels to use. With displays, more is more, and the more the better.
194 How to Go Boating and Where
typical of those sold a few years ago but should you update? From the left: expensive option and the domain of big boats only. The week I wrote
1) The Humminbird Wide series was an upgrade on the LCR models this chapter I purchased a brand new colour Garmin sounder at
previously. They are good basic sounders but like using a handline instead Burnsco that has a beautiful colour display and an incredible array of
of a rod and reel compared with modern units. 2) The Lowrance X23 is features and it cost just $450. The reduction in prices plus the massive
similar. Simple and basic but a long way short of today. The Eagle brand
was also made by Lowrance and either the same or slightly less-featured. 3)
The Humminbird LCR W was designed to fit into a gauge hole in the dash. I
sold a surprising number of them and you will still see them fitted. A simple
sounder well short on features but a great performer. 4) The Furuno FCV
582L. If your boat has one of these fitted, don’t change it! This is a superb
sounder and the one I chose to run myself (or the equally good Koden
equivalent). Originally we had big video units of similar performance before
the change to LCD. The screens are nowhere near as good as modern
versions but the sounder is excellent. 5) The Garmin 80 is a later model
mono LCD unit. If you need just a basic sounder it will do the job well. I
have just removed the similar Garmin 90 from the project boat to fit a colour
sounder, which you can see at right.
Now LCD displays are so good they can be read in bright sunlight and ABOVE AND RIGHT: The old and
at any angle. The key thing, outside of readability in sunlight, is the the new! More pixels, colour, superb
vertical pixel count. Think of it this way: if you have a sounder with 100 detail and simple operation. As well
pixels vertically and you are in 100 m of water, then you have one dot as the Garmin 90 performed, there’s
per metre to display the information. Small and medium sounders will no comparison really!
likely have 240 or 480 vertical pixels. You can see the difference in the
ability to display the information when you have four times as many
pixels to use. With displays, more is more, and the more the better.
194 How to Go Boating and Where
