Navman 5380 and Furuno 585

[Timpon]

I looking to overhaul the electronics on my 2 boats which at the moment has crappy Lowrance sounders.

I'm looking at getting a separate GPS and sounder unit. Whitworths has the Navman Traker 5380 on special for $399. For the sounder, I'm looking at the Furuno 585 with a 1kw transducer.

My thinking is that I can get away with a relatively cheap GPS to get me to a spot, then use a good sounder to locate structure and fish. Anyone own or use these units before? Comments? How easy are they to use, since I have little experience with marine electronics. Suggested sites to source the Furuno?

Also, to try and save costs, is it possible or viable to interchange the consoles of the two units between the two boats, ie, have the wiring and mountings on the two boats, but take the console out depending on which boat is in use?

[wiry]

Timpon, what is crappy about the Lowrance, i have an x126 sounder and a 5200c GPS and they are very good and do everything i need them to do.

I agree with going with seperate instruments cause if one dies you still have the other. it will not be difficult to swap the gear from one boat to the next, you just need to buy the an additional head for the GPS if external and a transducer for the sounder.

Gear is only as good as the user and most of the time that is the problem at the end of the day.
All you need to remember is, you get what you pay for, i recall a saying in a store some years ago,

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price has dissapeared" a good saying to live by.

[JOCOOL]

I like your idea, but not your methods. That Navman unit is TINY! And the sounder is huge. A huge sounder is good...a TINY chartplotter isn't!:noway: You will send yourself cross-eyed. If you can't spend more than what you are, then think about downsizing the sounder so that you can get a bigger plotter. Or save more!:o

[Big-Banana]

I agree with Joe to an extent. I can't see the point in spending massive bucks on plotters though...

I like my Raymarine, I've got the same as Joes, and it is a top unit apart from the point that waypoint entering and customising is a bit tedious.

You don't have to spend overs to get a good plotter.

[Timpon]

Wiry, I have the X-91 on one boat, and an X-40something one the smaller boat (haven't used it in a year, so can't remember:o ). Both units are kaput....exact same problems in both.

When turned on, it the screen will be totally blank except for the numbers in the corner that shows the depth, no line showing bottom structure, or no fish signals etc. Before both units broke down, the details shown was not clear. I have been in crystal clear water of 4-5m, so can see to the bottom. Burleying up fish, sometimes kings or other larger fish would show up, other times, only yakkas or baitfish would show up. On the sounder, I could not tell the difference between them. Other times, only jellyfish would be there, and that would show up as the same signals as fish.

You're right, most times it is user error, but I would like to know the difference between rubbish, baitfish, or actually bigger fish under the boat. Maybe the sounders are the cheaper models, and can't differentiate, or am I not adjusting them properly?

[Timpon]

I like your idea, but not your methods. That Navman unit is TINY! And the sounder is huge. A huge sounder is good...a TINY chartplotter isn't!:noway: You will send yourself cross-eyed. If you can't spend more than what you are, then think about downsizing the sounder so that you can get a bigger plotter. Or save more!:o

Joe, the type of fishing I do is either jigging, say off the Peak or 12 Mile, or will be going to Browns to troll or cube. Else, in the Bay or Harbour, just potter around looking for fish. As such, like Anthony said, I don't see a need for a flash GPS as all I would be needing it for is to get to a certain mark. Is there anything about the 5380 besides the size that would put you off?

I heard it was one of the most easy GPS to enter marks, me being useless with gadgets :o , I reckon it would suit me.

[Big-Banana]

If the Navman is anything, it's easy to bloody use!

[djmac]

i used the 5380 with a furuno 620

worked a treat. i had limited dash space and i wanted to be able to reach the plotter easily enough wihtout having to take a step across the boat...

its a great little unit.


no need to say anything about the 585 its like sex but im marking fish!

[phild]

I just up graded my electronics and got the 5570 Norstar and matched with a Furuno 620. (thanks to a top shelf member of sydney angler). I can already tell that they will make a massive difference to my fishing. Re the chartplotter, I have put a C-MAP NT card in and now wonder how I have lived without a decent chartplotter for so long.

[Robbie.]

Phil,

How is the 620 at reading the bottom out wide?

It is 600w yeah?

[djmac]

robbie the 620 is standard with the 600w

i lost bottom in about 110 fathoms

most of the time you have ur sounder reading the top 50 anyway as theres where the bait will hold (in saying that we have pulled fish at port with bait compacted right at the bottom in 90fathoms)

only an issue if u want to bottom drop at browns etc then its worth going the 1kw

although if money wasnt an issue id go the 585 with the 1kw tranny =]

[Robbie.]

Thanks mate,

That's what I needed to hear :D

I would go the 585 option as well if selling your spouse wasn't illegal

[phild]

Hey Robbie I havent really tested the legs in the blue yonder yet so Ill take Cols word on it (it confirms what Ive already heard too). I dont really bottom bounce those depths and if I did it would just be whilst cubing anyway, so as long as it still sounds out well at the 12 mile mark Ill be happy.

I actually picked up that second hand unit that you made mention of in another post, picked up a bargin 2months old in mint condtion with current warrenty for under $900. he was going back to the us and didnt need it anymore.

I think we would all love the 585 with a 1k tranny on it

[Bashir]

585 with the 1kw is worth every penny. I can mark fish quite clearly on the bottom of browns and I think I can establish the difference between the gemfish and the blue eye too. It shits on my old simrad and even that wasn't too bad a unit.

[mr magoo]

585 with the 1kw is worth every penny. I can mark fish quite clearly on the bottom of browns and I think I can establish the difference between the gemfish and the blue eye too. It shits on my old simrad and even that wasn't too bad a unit.


what tranie option did you go,as ive decided to sell a kidney and and get a 585 with a one kw transducer but theres ,as you know a few options and i would definetly like to mark fish down deep on the mountain
cheers arman

[Big-Banana]

620 for me, I can't wait!

[Bashir]

what tranie option did you go,as ive decided to sell a kidney and and get a 585 with a one kw transducer but theres ,as you know a few options and i would definetly like to mark fish down deep on the mountain
cheers arman
I went for an Airmar B164 zero degree. Its a through hull model that requires a frucking huge hole to be drilled in your hull. I got it landed here for around $700. Not sure if its available in oz yet. The standard transom mount one has better specs than mine I think though I already had a through hull with my previous sounder so decided to stick with another one rather than repair a hole.

[Timpon]

585 with the 1kw is worth every penny. I can mark fish quite clearly on the bottom of browns and I think I can establish the difference between the gemfish and the blue eye too. It shits on my old simrad and even that wasn't too bad a unit.


That's good to know, as bottom bouncing Brown's is definitely something that I would like to take up down the road. Heard the 1kw transom tranny was an extra grand though.:(