Advise on Garmin vs Lowrance Combo Finder - GPS

[HOOK-SET]

Just wondering if anybody out there has any experiance with a Garmin 398 or Lowrance 334. Wondering if target separation is good, if bottom separation is good? Does the GPS stay locked on and accurate?

Thanks for your help!!

[PerchJerker]

Ooops, double posted, see below

[PerchJerker]

I have the LMS 332, which is the external antenna version of the 334. There were issues earlier this year with the 334s loosing their satellite locks but it sounds like Lowrance has taken care of the problem units. The sonar and the view screen are excellent, as is the gps in the 332.

I am not very familiar with Garmin marine units, I have a Garmin hand-held GPS but all of my marine products are Lowrance. My opinion is that Lowrance is the way to go for marine use -- you will have better/more convenient mapping capabilities with Lowrance, plus the LowranceNet is available if you wish to network devices together.

However, if you prefer the Garmin I am sure it is a good unit too - have not heard much for problems or complaints with them.

Not sure if this matters to you, but for marine use I would think that 10 Lowrances are sold for every 1 Garmin.

[HOOK-SET]

Thanks for the info.

I am partial to Garmin only because that’s what I started with in 1993. The first GPS unit was a Garmin 75, which still works fine. I have had a number of Garmins since, you know, have to upgrade to newer units,. They were all hand held units, but the last ones have Map capability. I am using Lake Master Pro now through Garmin Mapsource. It seems to be unreal for accuracy, I also have the Fishing Hot Spots through Garmin and that is not near as accurate as Lake Master Software.

My only issue is, Garmin has not been in the business for making depth finders. I would like to experience a unit from Garmin before purchasing. I have had many Lowrance units including 2330c flashing and X16 graph. The paper graph was and still is on-touchable as far as target and bottom separation.

Anyway, that's for your advice.

RW

[Black_Bay]

I had a Garmin 240 until last year when I traded in the boat. It was a great unit and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Garmin product. I now have a Lowrance 332c. When the 332 decides to work correctly it's great, but I've come close to tossing the thing overboard more than a few times. I sent it back for warranty work for the second time yesterday. The first time it shut down and wouldn't turn back on. This time it has been turning on and off by itself, losing the bottom resulting in readings of 2 feet in over 30 feet of water even when the boat is not under power, and I can't even explain how the GPS is or better yet isn't working. One good thing is that Lowrance has been great to work with, but if the unit has more problems I'll never buy another Lowrance product again.

[PerchJerker]

Garmin is putting more emphasis on their land and air navigation units, less emphasis on their marine units.

[kenjr]

I have a Humminbird 767 and have been extremely happy with it. The transducer works great at high speeds and the GPS is very nice, especially with the navionics add-on maps. I sold an old Lowrance X75 that was on the boat I bought and replaced it with the 767. I wish the screen was a little larger, but at this point that's the only complaint I have with it.

From my research, I'd go with a Humminbird marine over any Garmin marine. I don't think it's any secret that Lowrance is the most popular brand but for the $$ I don't think you can beat the Humminbird - they have some killer transducers as well - side view, etc...

[RandyR]

I think it is interesting how we can have bad luck with one product line while another person will swear by it.

I went through two Garmin units in 6 years and now have a Lowrance product that I like alot. The Garmins both died after the warranty period and I have had no trouble with the Lowrance. I think it is the luck of the draw. I suspect that marine electronics are made with the same internal electronic components.

Does anyone know if any of the popular manufacturers assemble their units in the United States? I imagine it is like everything else and most manufacturing is done in Asia.