OLATHE, Kan. - Garmin International Inc. announced today the company will enter the low-cost freshwater fishfinder market with the Fishfinder 80 - an affordable, entry-level sonar for recreational boaters and anglers. The Fishfinder 80 joins the Fishfinder 160 and Fishfinder 240 in Garmin's family of dedicated freshwater sonar products.
"The Fishfinder 80 is for the cost-conscious weekend angler who has dreamed of graduating up to Garmin," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's director of marketing. "With this product, we are bringing our proven record of quality design, intuitive software and reliable manufacturing to a broader audience in the freshwater market."
The Fishfinder 80 has Garmin's patented Depth Control Gain (DCG) feature and See-Thru technology to help users get an accurate picture of bottom hardness, while locating fish in difficult hiding spots - like thermoclines or underwater structure. And it's easy to learn and operate. At the touch of one button (Menu), the Fishfinder 80 gives the angler access to the most vital information he or she needs - Range, Gain and Zoom - to find fish fast. The unit shows fish symbols and depth on a large, four-inch (diagonal) monochrome display, which also boasts the robust screen resolution of 64x128 pixels. And Garmin adds its unique 360-degree swivel mount and quick-release mechanism to increase utility and portability of the Fishfinder 80.
Another feature of the Fishfinder 80 almost goes unnoticed: Garmin's inaugural line of patented single-frequency 200-kHz transducers, which transmit at 100 watts (RMS) and 800 watts (peak-to-peak) for a maximum depth of up to 600 feet, including temperature. Garmin's unique design also accommodates mounting on either the transom or trolling motor.
Other specifications for the Fishfinder 80:
- Display Type: FSTN, black and white monochrome
- Backlighting for display and keypad: adjustable incandescent
- Viewing Area: 2.0"W x 3.3"H
- Unit Dimensions (WxHxD): 4.72" x 4.94" x 2.43"
- Internal memory backup for user settings with power disconnected
- Graphic whiteline provides clear image of bottom hardness and structure
- Alarms: shallow water and fish by size
- Adjustable range, gain and zoom
- Waterproof design to IPX-7 standards: Submersible in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes