spearing fishfinder/gps rec?

Hi, looking to spend maybe $400 tops for complete setup including battery, transducer, misc (?) for a ff/gps for my tandem Ocean Kayak. Can anyone tell me what you'd buy at this moment or great place to get the whole kit. Been in to West Marine, loved the 3D canned demo displays, but the sales assistance was really bad, also have clicked around on a bunch of review but that confuses me.

Mostly want to see as 3D a view as possible of bottom structure in like 40 ft or less. And it would be nice to store waypoints or even better screenshots of great spots with the waypoint.

I'm pretty much a dumbshit with figuring out operations. For instance, reading my Aeries F10 watch manual was way more complicated than I wanted to deal with. So looking for super simple to use and to remember how to use.

Am I dreaming or is there something out there like this? (Oh, almost entirely spearing related, though I dream of mooching for salmon one of these late summer seasons).

Really appreciate any personal experience recs from this community.
Thanks!

WestbMarine Elite 4 CHIRP $329 + some rebate? Maybe

"I'm pretty much a dumbshit with figuring out operations" -

Dude - I subscribe to your vibe.  I'm exactly like that with electronics manuals - can't stand the need for encyclopedic learning sessions.  I just need to be able to switch it on and go.

"I dream of mooching for salmon one of these late summer seasons" = poetry to me.   

Keep me in mind. 

You could also get a B&W model for less money.  Don't use the term 3D because there are no true 3D models for under a few thousand $.  The units I quoted will have regular fish finder & DownScan imaging.  Maybe that's what you are referring to as 3D?  In any case, lemme know if I can help in any way.

W.M.  Lowrance Mark 4 CHIRP (B&W) $199

I just picked up the Lowrance Elite 4 HDI and it is awesome it has the high res Down Scan structure and 2d for fish arches and you can combine this for a really nice display called Downscan Overlay. It also has all the chartplotting and set waypoints very cool. Here are some others I was looking at:
Garmin Striker 4 This is a "no go" the charting on this is very very basic you don't want this.
Garmin-EchoMAP-43DV-CHIRP now this is a nice unit it has the high detail and chartplotting and has a REBATE on this at Bass Pro Shop
Lowrance Hook 4 Fishfinder Chartplotter this is new new and looks great.
Now be sure it comes WITH the transducer some actually Don't have the transducer with them and they look real cheap beware!
Another is make sure your getting the chartplotter model if that is important to you.
Next These are all small screens if that's what you want fine,mine is good for me its all I need.
YouTube is a good place to see most of them but Bass Pro Shop and West Marine have them ready to preview. I got mine at West Marine.
Go and fiddle with them  see if it responds the way you want and is not too confusing.
Battery you can get a 12 volt 7 to 9 amp Sealed Battery delivered to your door from Amazon for $20.00 the connections are standard they come with F1 terminals but F2 connections will work to connect to. 
Last but not least is the transducer many options here to mount though the hull (not my choice for high def FF) this is the glue/water trough style then there is the arms the swing off the side mount and finally they do have a magnet style or better yet DIY this is way more fun and works just as good I made my own and I like it better that the round arm and magnet versions.
Anyway take your time its a nice addition to a kayak and you want to enjoy the new technology they have to offer.

Hey so SRDave, did you get both the fishfinder and transducer at West Marine? And standard maps? What is the big deal on Navionics vs off the shelf for N CA shorelines? Really appreciate any feedback!

Yes I got it at West Marine and it was kind of a strange thing I got the whole kit FF transducer and the Navionics mapping it all came in a kit box retail. I paid 199.00 for it and its brand new never been open. A few weeks later I checked and it was 299.00 weird? The one for 199.00 now comes without the transducer so watch for that Amazon is the same way. The little card for the navionics it just gives better detail of the water and contour lines on the map. The map built in to the unit will work fine it has the contour lines too. I might just use that and not fool with the navionics.
I was worried about where the card goes in at the bottom so I sealed that up with Gorilla tape to keep any salt water out I get a lot of spray sometimes in the ocean so it needs to be covered.
I was looking at the Garmin too that mapping was nice and fast the scroll was very quick and responsive but at the time it was 100.00 more so I went with the Lowrance. Now I see Garmin has a rebate for some units at Bass Pro shop. I might have went with that but I like the Lowrance too and the views you get and with tracking wow great stuff. I cant wait to try the high def viewing and tracking in the ocean for rockfishing/spearfishing. I have used it in Collins lake and it did all what Lowrance said it would. I trolled around Collins for 4-5 hrs and the battery went from 12.8 to 12.6 so that is nice too. 

Ok dirkbeachman I just been surfing around on the web and this is exactly what I am talking about: Garmins rebate as far as I can tell is not such a good deal after all you have to buy the HD ULTRA map that's extra and its like another 130.00 for me not worth it. So I go to Amazon wow a Lowrance Mark 4 HDI b&w wow ok 199.00 comes with transducer wow sounds like a deal. Not so fast grasshopper the transducer is only 83/200 well that is just a for marking fish not the high def DownScan that transducer should say "83/200 & 455/800 kHz" so this is why you have to make sure your getting what you want and pay for. That 455/800 kHz is for that detailed DownScan imaging. Belive me when I say I aint no tech dude on this stuff and dont claim to be but I am a consumer who dose not like the bait and switch stuff so I read and like you ask questions and make sure your getting what you want and pay for. Just a heads up. Definitely don't let me put you off with all this just read the fine print and ask questions.West Marine and Bass Pro Shop are nice folks and if your not happy you can always take it back keep that receipt.

Not so fast grasshopper the transducer is only 83/200 well that is just a for marking fish not the high def DownScan that transducer should say "83/200 & 455/800 kHz" so this is why you have to make sure your getting what you want and pay for. That 455/800 kHz is for that detailed DownScan imaging.

If using it in the ocean, Lowrance also offers the 50/200 & 455/800 transducer. But the 83/200 version should work fine too (it just won't go as deep).
The Lowrance basemaps are sufficient for most mapping/navigating. I've purchased plenty Navionics chips over the years, and I honestly don't think it's necessary with the Elite series.
Dirk, all you really need is a FF/GPS unit (it should include transducer, power cable, and mounting base), 12v battery & charger, and a wire cap to run wires through the hull.
(wirecap = http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--two-hole-wire-caps--P003_094_010_501) You can also buy a battery at Home Depot in the automatic gate section (mighty mule brand is about $20). And a battery charger tender at Auto Zone/O'Reilleys/Kragen for about $25. 

Ok good info here. I feel a little less dumb hearing others feel the same way. So even if the electronics promise down vu, you can't actually get that with both transducers?

You need to make sure it includes (or buy) the HDI transducer if you want DownScan imaging (on a Lowrance).  Garmin calls it something different after getting spanked for some infringement.  Most Lowrance head units are capable of it, as so long as it is coupled with the corresponding ducer

Hey Fishing for Cure and everyone I really appreciate it. Just got some feedback from a boating friend who said definitely get Garmin for ease of use. In West Marine, there were so few operational machines (the Alameda store) and those have canned demos that I didn't really get the feel and there were no Dragonflys. Does it matter- is Garmin significantly easier? They seem more expensive generally.

Garmin is easy to use but its just like ANY other piece of electronics - a few minutes of use on ANY brand & you'll be familiar with the basic operation.  I've used, and sold, every brand over the years.  Garmin was easy to use BUT their newest line (Stryker series) seems to be a HUGE step backwards for them PLUS they took away the gPS map and ability to add a chart chip ... WTF?  That is a 15+ year step BACKWARDS in product design IMHO.  I, as well as the others in the marine electronics centers I've trained, found the new Garmin systems to be rather difficult to operate.  With that being said, be sure to get your hands on a variety of units & get familiar with what makes YOU feel the best when it comes to operation.  YOU and only YOU need to be comfortable with its operation because YOU are the one on the water using it and relying on its operation.

I service all the West Marine stores and Bass Pro store(s) in the Bay area.  If you want the largest selection available to play with, I'd try the Bass Pro in San Jose OR the West Marine in Sausalito.  The West Marine stores locally are all undergoing their 2016 NPR (new product rollout) so are in a flux of low units to show till they complete this in the next week or so.  The Sausalito store is already done as of last wed's.  The Bass Pro is done also.

Update:  As far as brands & support goes:  I think you'll find user support on NCKA by order of brand (based on # of users) in this order:  Lowrance, H-Bird, Raymarine, Garmin.  Means what?  Means questions & fellow user support network will be the highest with Lowrance & H-Bird among the ncka community.  Should this matter?  Up to you!  Just an FYI FWIW

Hey Fishing for a Cure, Yes the support, ESPECIALLY on this board is huge. Any company for any product can claim to support its products, or be user friendly, but I am a big believer in personal recommendations. And even more a believer in seeing gear that real people like me have on a beach here in N CA and are happy with. Those relative rankings say a lot.
And maybe that West Marine in Alameda was unusual, not only very little product, but the two salesmen on duty knew almost nothing about actually using the ff/chartplotters.
Really appreciate your knowledge. Thanks!