New Locator for Grandpa

[sticknstring]

Grandma wants to get gramps a new fishing locator for the boat. The old BottomLine is getting hard on batteries and as much time as he spends on the water, deserves an upgrade. I know my ice units rather well, but have zero knowledge on what's available for open water. I've got a $400 max budget and it needs to be SIMPLE TO USE. Hit a button to turn it on, maybe have a button for a light for at night, and that's about it!

Any suggestions of a good unit? Thanks in advance!

[leech~~]

Why mess with success!

[sticknstring]

He's got one of them in the garage too! I didn't give much background on the style of fishing or size of water, etc. Small 250 acre lake, backtrolling and drifting. Lots of structure, boulders, weedlines. Water temp & trolling speed would be a bonus. I spose most all the units will have that these days eh? Most important feature is that it's easy to use for a guy in his upper 70's! Don't need any GPS features! Any ideas?

[leech~~]

Wow SS, no help from the open water guys yet? Not sure how gramps eye's are but maybe something with a bigger screen or bigger screen readout features? I wish I was more up on them to give some help?

[sticknstring]

Guess everyone's in the ice fishing threads - can't blame them! I'll probably head to the big C and have a look and talk with the sales guys. I was hoping to save some gas money and order online - oh well! Thanks leech!

[SpecialK]

If you can find one of these somewhere:

http://store.humminbird.com/products/271323?product_id=2c850ec48686819d682b24b1844d65e1

Might do what you want and half of your budget. Bird also has a few color models in your price range but the screens may be smaller.

[SpecialK]

Actually this one has the same screen size

http://store.humminbird.com/products/399597/596c_HD

[sticknstring]

Thanks K. Are any of these units still powered by 6v batteries or is a 12v external source required? He's usually got a marine battery in the boat for the trolling motor, but not always. Those things aren't light.

[leech~~]

I'm not sure you are going to find any 6V systems out there any more?

[SpecialK]

Yeah the only other thing I can think of would be the portable one that runs off of AA batteries but that one seems like a pain on a regular boat because he would have to take it off if moving at any sort of speed beyond trolling. Couple that with the he is going to have to turn to face it wherever it's mounted.

I would get him another battery to run the new finder on and a dual charger maybe so he doesn't have to lift them out of the boat?

[magnum mike]

If Gramps doesn't have a Vexilar, get him one. Get the open water transducer and you have a solution for all seasons. I used that set-up for years and works great.

[sticknstring]

That's not a bad idea. I'll probably have enough left over to get him another battery. He's got a Vex for the ice, prefers a screen for the boat though. That gives me a plan - appreciate the suggestions!

[delcecchi]

Big C has a lowrance elite 5xdsi w/gps for 399 and 5x dsi for 349 or monochrome for 249

[Tom7227]

Could you rig up a motor cycle battery or one for a lawn tractor and get that to power things? Lot lighter to haul and probably a longer operating time,

[sticknstring]

Yeah, the weight has me concerned. A smaller, lighter battery would be ideal. I'll see what I can come up with. For those of you that have color screens, do you find it beneficial in viewing? Pros/cons?

[SpecialK]

I have a Humminbird 728 black and white screen and wish I had a color screen.

[NEPARON]

This makes almost any Humminbird unit portable!

http://store.humminbird.com/products/322965/PTC_U