Hello All, Sonar/ GPS Question

First of all, Hello to all here and thanks for this great site.  I have been fishing pretty much my whole life, and have done a little bit of kayak fishing, and a lot of canoe/rowboat/float tube/ power boat/ shore fishing.  I have been reading up on Kayak fishing resources ever since I started saving up for my first yak (too long ago!) I recently ran into Danglin in Oakland, and was convinced to post something instead of just perusing.   I could have sprung for a used yak a long time ago, but I didn't want to compromise, so finally I was able to get my Hobie Adventure this October.  I took it for its maiden voyage a few weeks ago, and it was euphoric, to say the least.  (3 short hali, 2 Leopards, 3 bat rays, 4 Smelt...BP ruins, frozen anchovies on a 3-way)  ANYWAY, I could go on and on about all of the things I liked about the Adventure versus the several other Kayaks I've used, but the purpose of this post is really to get feedback, if you have it, on different models of Sonar/GPS Units with as much cartographic capability as possible..

I don't mind dropping some $$ on a (relatively) expensive unit, if it will be the one the is head and shoulders above others  in terms of functionality for my specific goals. (see above paragraph on kayak selection.)  That being said, I don't make much money, and it takes me a while to save up.  I think the wait for a thousand dollar unit would be way too long for my liking.  I have done quite a bit of research, and I think the two units I am most drawn to at the moment are the Humminbird 383c and the Humminbird 787c2.  I have seen both of them up close, and the differences are obvious.

What I REALLY want is the capability to record depth WITH geographic position, and upload it to my computer (presumably on an SD card.)  I am a cartographer by trade, and want to make my own depth charts.  I understand that many are fans of handheld gps, myself included, but I also want the GPS features in my Sonar unit, for convenience's sake.  I am familiar with their use from fishing on my friends' and family's boats (non-yak), but I don't know specifically if any units out now that don't cost an arm and a leg will export a geo-referenced bathymetry (depth sounding combined with coordinates) file.  I suspect that some  Lowrance units might have that capability, but they also seem under-featured for the price, and I also heard that they tend to break more easily than some others.  I understand that any unit bolted to an ocean kayak is going to receive a beating, so durability is a consideration.  The 383c definitely doesn't have SD card or other memory/storage for saving data.  The 787 has an SD port, but I suspect it is mainly for map imports and waypoint/ track data export, not depth data.  If this is the case, I'd rather just get the 383 and be out on the water with it ASAP, unless you can provide a compelling reason to save for the 787.  I like the barometer feature, but I don't see that as being so compelling, unless I'm on a multi day voyage where the weather might vary from the forecast I always check before heading out, and my VHF breaks (no so common or likely a scenario)

ANYWAY, sorry for the long-winded first post, and thanks in advance for any feedback.

Welcome aboard , Great meeting you the other day and you should be recieving feedback soon from the pros on this site. You appear to know much already, but I think Mooch, alfredo and a host of others will be able to direct in the right way. Again WELCOME.............Danglin

Ok..First of all the fishfinders and GPS units on the fishfinder are made for the boating crowd.  Rarely see saltwater and sand.  I have had 3 to 4 fishfinders dead because of the elements.  If you want to spend 1k on a unit.  Just rember to buy a backup.

You really only need a unit to show you the bottom and the bait fish around. Color is great and you can get a unit with color from around $220 to $250. Your GPS if handheld you can go all out on.  I have a cheap $80 one and a nice $450 GPS.  Love the more $$$ one.

Ken kickfish

Thanks for the quick response

Actually, I know quite a bit about sonar features and use, dual vs single beam, etc..., as I have used various units on my father's and others' boats growing up.

I'm really just wondering:

-Do any units nowadays allow recording and export of depth WITH position
-Is there something inherently wrong with the 383c
-Is there some compelling reason I should spend pretty much twice as much for the 787?

Thanks Again
-Morone

Hang in there for info, I belive that most people reading this don't know as much as you do as it is, maybe send ' alfredo 'or " bsteves " a personal message, they appear to be very knowlegable about such things. And welcome again....Danglin

I was interested in doing the "homemade" depth chart thing as well, but never found a GPS/Sonar unit that recorded depth and position simultaneously. Of course, I wasn't looking at anything over $600. I did eventually go to the 383C, and like it a lot. Having the dual sonar/GPS display makes it very simple to keep drifting over the same bit of structure when targeting rockfish.. Of course, mine's only been in the salt about a dozen times in the past 5 months, but so far, it has worked flawlessly.

Regards,
Scott

I am of the opinion that you do not want to spend a ton of $$ on electronics for your kayak. The elements will kill your pocket book.
I have gone through 2 H'bird 535's.
Ask any of us who have put in time on a kayak and we will all tell you that someday you will take a dunk. Plus with unexpected wind and waves your electronics will be put to the test. Oh yea, let's not forget a surf tumble. Even if it is in your kayak it will still take a beating rolling around in there while the surf is having it's way with your kayak.
I almost got the 3-D humminbird unit. I went to the store to specifically purchase it. Fortunately they didn't have it in stock. I thought I would wait but then convinced myself I didn't need to go that expensive. I was right. I got the Eagle 245DS( brand new for $90 including shipping on ebay ) and am very happy with it's performance. It marks fish and gives me depth and structure. That's all I need.
I have a handheld gps so if I wanted to mark waypoints I can correlate the two.
I am a huge fan of gadgets. I love what the expensive units can do but realistically I do not think spending a ton of $$$ for a unit on a kayak is a wise choice. Just my .02