Best fish finder for $250ish

My folks want to get me a gift for graduation from the MBA (last week) plus my birthday (next week).  Budget is $250, and I'm thinking about a new fish finder.

I have a Lowrance Mark 4 but that's been a PITA.  Sent one back after it got fried.  Second one worked for an hour or so and now isn't turning on.  Not sure if it's the battery, corrosion in a cable, or the unit.  Even if the fish finder still works I'm thinking I want a new one and the Mark 4 can be a spare or put on a kid's boat or something.  Also I have a good battery box now, with proper fuses, which I didn't before.  Just need a battery for the box, and I have a Cabelas gift card I'm planning to use for that.

So, for kayak fishing (including surf launch/landings), what is my best bet for $250 or so.  I'm OK putting a little of my own money towards it, but I'd put a hard limit of $300 all in (including tax, shipping, etc.).  I'd like to get it before ORC so I can try it out on the coast the weekend of the 4th.

I have the lowrance elite4 chirp with maps (about your price range)  great battery life, shows fish with a variety of frequencies, charts are great for navigation even planning.  My only complaint is the screen grab function is so stupid (push zoom and power at same time -- usually it just tries to power off, and I never get my screen grab). I have Xducer shooting thru hull. Works great when I remember to fill the reservoir with water.

Do most people keep their FF below deck during a surf launch?  Or are these FF OK to get salt splash??  Ive been splashing mine and it still works.

I have the lowrance elite4 chirp with maps (about your price range)  great battery life, shows fish with a variety of frequencies, charts are great for navigation even planning.  My only complaint is the screen grab function is so stupid (push zoom and power at same time -- usually it just tries to power off, and I never get my screen grab). I have Xducer shooting thru hull. Works great when I remember to fill the reservoir with water.

Do most people keep their FF below deck during a surf launch?  Or are these FF OK to get salt splash??  Ive been splashing mine and it still works.

They are as long as you don't make the mistake like I did, I left the rubber plug out for where the nav card goes in while playing in the surf . I now I have a piece of tape over it so it cannot come out, Lawrance was awesome enough to send me a replacement unit.

Hey Andrew,

One of the things I've learned (the hard way) is that the display can easily get turned off (brightness goes dark and barely visible) or is in "Standby" mode. It can fool you that its not turning on as you describe. Do you get the Lowrance splash screen at first when you push the power button to turn it on?

I have an Elite-4 Chirp and an Elite-4 HDI and am happy with both.  The Hook series replaced the Elite series this year, and you may find Elite units on sale.  I'm seeing a few Elite-4 HDI units out there for less than $200 on a fast Google trawl on the WWW.

If you bump it up a bit, Gander Mountain will sell you an Elite-5 HDI for $299.
http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Lowrance-Elite-5-HDI-Fishfinder/Chartplotter-With-Suncover&i=922116

And there may be still better prices around.

Hey Andrew,

One of the things I've learned (the hard way) is that the display can easily get turned off (brightness goes dark and barely visible) or is in "Standby" mode. It can fool you that its not turning on as you describe. Do you get the Lowrance splash screen at first when you push the power button to turn it on?

Nope.

But I'm thinking there's a chance the battery is kaput.  Like I said though, even if with a new battery the Mark-4 turns on OK, I still want a new one.  It's good to have a spare, and when I start taking the kids out I'd like to have one for them too.

Another Lowrance Elite 4 Chirp here. I like the unit a lot! It took me some time to get it dialed in, but works great and seems like it doesn't draw much off the battery.
Kevin


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Garmin 301dv here, so far I like it as it does all I need it to

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Lowrance Hook 4 (formerly the Elite 4) with $50 rebate until early July its put it right at the $250 mark.

Lowrance Hook 4 (formerly the Elite 4) with $50 rebate until early July its put it right at the $250 mark.

I just got this set up and have liked it the few times I have used it properly

Can someone 'splain to me CHIRP?  I'm too lazy (busy at work) right now to Google it.

Also, what says the hive mind about this one?  Price is right (~$270 with shipping) and it comes with up to 2GB of Navionics Gold Charting.  But I know nothing about Raymarine fish finders, or their customer service and warranty support..

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Raymarine-Dragonfly4-PRO-with-Navionics-Plus-P4418.aspx

Also, what says the hive mind about this one?  Price is right (~$270 with shipping) and it comes with up to 2GB of Navionics Gold Charting.  But I know nothing about Raymarine fish finders, or their customer service and warranty support..

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Raymarine-Dragonfly4-PRO-with-Navionics-Plus-P4418.aspx

My FF is the previous gen Dragonfly running Navionics.   Love it, but some days it needs a reboot when it loses the sonar connection.  It's bright and easy to use.


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Ordered the Raymarine in the link above.  $260 shipped.  Was going to get that Lowrance, but after spotty quality with the Mark 4, and the ability to get CHIRP DI for $40 less than the Elite 5 (at a cost of .7" smaller screen) I thought it was the better deal.  Didn't find any Elite 4's that were a better deal for the level of technology.  The ability to get the Navionics+ maps helped.

Ordered the Raymarine in the link above.  $260 shipped.  Was going to get that Lowrance, but after spotty quality with the Mark 4, and the ability to get CHIRP DI for $40 less than the Elite 5 (at a cost of .7" smaller screen) I thought it was the better deal.  Didn't find any Elite 4's that were a better deal for the level of technology.  The ability to get the Navionics+ maps helped.

That's a killer deal!  I think you're going to be very very happy.  Let us know how it performs for you.