Newbie Fishfinder

hey all!
      I'm looking for a FF to get a basic setup for my kayak going.  I've been feeling swamped searching through the site and a lot of information is for old models that aren't available new.  Does anyone have any recommendations on a fairly inexpensive, waterproof(ish), fishfinder that would work well for ocean and lakes?   I'm looking to go fairly inexpensive as I'm imagining this thing will take some abuse as I'm a newbie.
     Thanks

I recently bought an Eagle cuda 300.. pretty much a basic FF but it shows the bottom, fish depths and bait. 

 http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/405238/377%20710/0/cuda%20300/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=cuda%20300&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=cuda%20300&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5003&subdeptNum=3&classNum=10879

hey all!
      I'm looking for a FF to get a basic setup for my kayak going.  I've been feeling swamped searching through the site and a lot of information is for old models that aren't available new.  Does anyone have any recommendations on a fairly inexpensive, waterproof(ish), fishfinder that would work well for ocean and lakes?   I'm looking to go fairly inexpensive as I'm imagining this thing will take some abuse as I'm a newbie.
     Thanks

The best budget minded ff would be the following -

Lowrance X50DS
Eagle Fisheasy 245DS

I would avoid Humminbird's lower end pirahna series fishfinders.  They don't seem to hold up well.

do not spend over 100.oo!!   get the cheap one that is linked by Bills, there are simular ones in design and price that are BOMB PROOF!!

here is a fish on the bottom

Hey guys I was at at the Anglers Marine (3475 E. La Palma Ave
Anaheim, CA 714-666-2628) on Sat to see a bass show .  They had some nice fish finders for 50 dollars that were taken off the bass boats when customers upgraded.  I talked to the manager and he's going to get me a list and prices.  The prices were between 50 and 150.  Give them a call the fifty dollar fish finder seemed to be pretty decent.  Andy


 http://www.anglersmarine.com/contactusnew.htm

 

FWIW, I've just experienced that Humminbird's Piranha line doesn't hold up well*.  

Thanks for the recommendations, Shicken.  Gonna get one of those.

*My Piranhamax 220 just went kaput--a pin from the battery cable broke off in the unit.  Corroded.  Yeah yeah I hadn't lathered on the dielectric grease yet, but I washed it out after each use and had only used it half a dozen times.  That pin was tiny and the connection not robust.  They can do better than that.  I'm sending it in for warranty service--don't know if they'll fix it but if they do it's gonna be a backup unit.

Great info!  thanks Andy..I filled out the "contact us" form...crossing my fingers they have something cheap in the GPS/FF variety 

Thanks Brian they had lots of decent new finders for 50 bucks. 

My Eagle Cuda 242 has been rolled in the surf, dropped out of the truck and been submerged for about 20 seconds at Shelter Cove. It still works like new. It was 79.99 new. I'm not sure but I believe the Cuda 300 has replaced it. Sportsmans Warehouse has them for 80 dollars.