Lowrance 332c or a handheld?

[hoggs222]

I am looking at the 332c and also the ih20. I've got a decent lowrance finder in the boat already, but I need gps with mapping capabilities. What would you go with? I've got the depth part taken care of with the finder. I would definitely like the color of the 332c, but I'm undecided. It would be used mainly for fishing for the "You are here" purpose. I have used handhelds that do the trick, but it would be nice to have an "all in one unit".

[steve schmidt]

I have the H2O handheld. If you are going to use it exclusively for fishing AND are always using your boat then go with one on the locator.

I find I have mine in my truck constantly and can "play" with it and become accustomed to the keys, etc. It works fine in my boat AND my friends if we go fishing, since when we take his boat he does not have GPS capabilities of anykind.

Handheld for me!

[ccarlson]

I went with the Lowrance 3500C which is the 332 without sonar. I wanted a stand alone GPS with a bigger screen and color which the handhelds didn't offer. So far I really like it. Had some problems at first but Lowrance sent an update and all is good now.

The 3500 C is about $120 less than the 332c if I remember right.

If you have a good sonar, I would suggest a separate GPS unit. I dislike splitting screens myself.

ccarlson

[TSCTSC]

The problem with having a hand held GPS to use on your boat is that you cannot interface your fishing spots with the Sonar. I have a handheld GPS and a 332C, and am I glad I went with dual sonar/gps. It is so much more convenient. For a boat GPS, I think an installed one is better than a handheld, at least for me. I never use the portable GPS for fishing anymore.

Prior to this, I had a Garmin Sonor without GPS and I use it with my handheld GPS. I am so much better of now with the 332c. No more one hand holding onto the portable, check position, then look at sonoar, with the other hand holding steering wheel and throttle and intermittently punching buttons on the sonor.

[musky hunter]

This is my first year that I've really gotten into the GPS. I have a 332C. A couple weeks ago I was on Mille Lacs. My first night out on the lake I met up with another fisherman at the landing and we agreed to go out on my boat. He had fished the lake before and had a hand held. While initializing my 332C, I accidentally pushed the factory reset button and screwed the thing up. It took me 45 minutes to get everything back so we just used his hand held to find the spots. But when I got the unit back up, the capabilities amazed my friend. The Lakemaster chip detail was phenominal, the navigation a snap. Night settings allow the screen lighting levels to be adjusted way down, it's just so easy to use, and my friend is looking to get one for his boat next year based on the one time experience of navigating Mille Lacs. Just my $.02.

[Shorelunch]

If your just going to use it in your boat - 332. If your going to use it for ice fishing, tracking deer stand locations, driving along with open water fishing - H20. Best case scenerio . . . get both!

[wisconsinfish]

I've got the 332c and love it. I also have a hand held in the boat on a ram mount to mark spots I want to try for ice fishing.

[Lip RIPPER!]

For the money, a 332c is a great buy if you want a combo unit for your boat. Bought one last spring and haven't looked back. Well, unless I looked at the X111's.