garmin echos echos....echos...

Hi,
I'm looking to get a decent fishfinder for the kayak, looking at the garmin echos..the greyscale, don't need the colour ones..
can anyone recommend any of these ?
cheers
daire

did you see this? viewtopic.php?f=22&t=42650

cheers,MArtin, I had not. but think I'm going to go that little bit more and go garmin..

I have the echo fishfinder on the warrior and find it brilliant,great screen and detail compared to other models I have had..

After reading pages and pages of reviews,there's not much price difference in echo 100 and 150, so reckon I'll get the 150. What battery did you use? 12v 7ah ?

I have all Garmin fish finders. On my rubber boat I have a Garmin 300. The 150 is slightly less powerful so should be the kiddy if it is b/w you want (colour is fab!).
They are easy to use and trouble free. I use a 12v house alarm style battery and charge it every few trips.

I opted for the 150(budget restraints) and it's all I need of it- depth, fish.
Can you recommend where to get the battery? looking about, vast difference in prices for similar type batter, and in regards chargin, do you use just a straight forward charger for it or a trickle/smart?

any electrical wholesalers will give you a 12v 7ah alarm battery for under 20 euro, i use standard car chargers to charge the ones i have with no problems.

You will be pleased with the results....especially if used to the "older" finders.
Just a straightforward 12v charger...The lidl etc. will do grand.
I got mine from the local alarm parts wholesaler... try local electrical wholesalers if there's not an alarm specific .... would guess at around 18-20 euro

Cheers lads, Very helpful as ever. Now if yis could just make that east wind bog off we'll all be sorted..

I have a echo 150 on the yak it's a handy tool to see what your fishing over

Same as above I have the echo 150, can't fault it and its a very reasonable price.

On the charger issue: if you ever have 20/30 euro to spare, buy a little Maplins solar panel battery maintainer. i have one permanently clipped onto to the boat battery and it keeps it fully topped up even in dull weather. One less job to remember....
Halfords have a big selection of batteries, or you'll get small 12v batteries for electric fences in any agri co-op.
Maplins and Halfords are both in Galway now.
I "echo" the opinions on Garmin sounders, I've had several, monochrome and colour, and they've all been great.

Yeah, was planning going into ballinrobe tues, connacht gold agri co op there, get a battery. was lookin at the solar panels,perhaps,perhaps,funds limit most things these days...

And when you get it all sorted, you can come up here and have a go at this....

just got a Garmin echo 150 portable, This unit comes with battery but I did have order Euro adaptor for plugging in charger.
units sits in its own bag with battery and he transducer is on suction cup, but I may change this to clamp set up.
Have not had a chance to use it yet due to weather but unit looks well made

Daire, I'm quite surprised you haven't picked one of these up - yet http://www.ebay.ie/itm/321099245810?ssP ... 1423.l2649
Not that it impacted on my recent catch rates, but still, good fun and a decent and reasonable priced gadget. At least it gives me the edge of finding excuses...
There are a few threads already if you can be bothered to search for those, I'm way to banjaxed today for that sort of thing

I notice your in Cong,
I will be up that way over the weekend for a bit of duckfly fishing if the hatch ever gets going... If you can wait till then I will bring you up a couple of batteries. I think they are 7Ah. Lidl or Aldi do a Car / motorbike battery charger from time to time. They are copies of the etek charger that is sold on ebay for €40... The Lidl / Aldi ones are €20 and are very good.

Kev

Daire, I'm quite surprised you haven't picked one of these up - yet http://www.ebay.ie/itm/321099245810?ssP ... 1423.l2649
Not that it impacted on my recent catch rates, but still, good fun and a decent and reasonable priced gadget. At least it gives me the edge of finding excuses...
There are a few threads already if you can be bothered to search for those, I'm way to banjaxed today for that sort of thing

Already have one of those little finders, handy enough for depth, but a tad toyish..I want to at least believe there are fish below me, regardless of catch rate=D

I notice your in Cong,
I will be up that way over the weekend for a bit of duckfly fishing if the hatch ever gets going... If you can wait till then I will bring you up a couple of batteries. I think they are 7Ah. Lidl or Aldi do a Car / motorbike battery charger from time to time. They are copies of the etek charger that is sold on ebay for €40... The Lidl / Aldi ones are €20 and are very good.

Kev

Hi, just saw your msg! yeah, have my eye out for a charger, still ain't got a battery, all the co ops have only 9v or larger fence batteries.
did you manage to get any fish up this way?

daire