$200 fishfinders

I finally got a FF with a chart plotter. I'll never go back.

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I agree. You want a chart plotter.

An elite 4 sounds good but there's so many different models to choose from it confusing.

I agree and, from what I can tell, these are the main distinctions:

- Elite is color
- Mark is b/w
- "4" v. "5" is screen size
- "x" models don't have a chart plotter
- the Elite 4 HDI models have a higher resolution than the older Elite 4 models
- HDI models have sonar and down scan imaging (if you can only pick one get sonar, imo)
- DI models are down scan imaging only
- Gold includes the Navionics gold maps for advanced topography (better point out contour changes than signal reefs and channels!)
- CHIRP is a sonar tech used in higher end sonar equipment that's now being incorporated into our "lower end" units. Sharper picture.


I have an Elite 5 HDI and it's awesome but the DI isn't all that helpful to me in the ocean (at least not yet, I'm still learning how to use it). The "5" screen size is, however, very nice.

*Also, some models require you purchase the transducer separately. keep this in mind when you price them out. F_ckers don't make it easy. West Marine carries Lowrance if you want to drop in your local store and play around with them. They have those nice Raymarine units too.

What's the difference between GPS and a chartplotter?

At work and no time to Google the differences.

Thanks.

What's the difference between GPS and a chartplotter?

At work and no time to Google the differences.

Thanks.

I think a chartplotter also has a map where a GPS just provides coordinates and maybe navigates to coordinates

Thank you're  all very helpful. It's definitely narrowed down to the $200 mark 4 or $230 elite gold

go with the elite gold! for $30 you won't regret it!

 I got the gold. Thanks again everyone!!!