Furuno 600L

[Big Pig]

My LMS 350A has seen better days, and I want a new bottom machine. I have heard some good things about the 600L, and the price is affordable. Plus I already have a compatible thru-hull transducer for the 600L or 582L. I really like the 582L, but don't want to spend the $$$ right now.

How does the 600L perform in depths between 120-200 feet?
Will it draw a 2 foot ledge in 120 feet?
What is the zoom feature like in manual mode?
When in manual mode, how friendly is it to tweak?

Any help would be appreciated.

[SPEARIT]

If your transducer is a 600watt unit and you mate it to the FCV-600(300watt) you'll get good resolution. When I replaced my 582 CRT with the 582L, I put in a 1KW BTH and it really made a difference. I've found it better to run the unit on manual since you don't get the constant screen changes like with Auto setting. Same with Zoom, set it in manual and change the zoom range when you need to. Just use the gain to tweak.
I'd spend the extra for the 582L. There's one on Ebay now.

[Spear One]

The machine is only as good as the transducer. There are several upgrade transducers available for the 582L. The FCV 667's are very good machines as well, but get the best transducer available for it if you cannot afford the 582L.

[Big Pig]

Thanks for the input. The transducer that is currently in the boat is a 600W. If I decide to spend the $$ and go with the 582L, my buddy has an extra 1kW shoot through transducer I can use.

Spearit
I saw the 582 on ebay. I'm very reluctant to buy used electronics unless I can verify their integrity. For all I know it could be a unit that survived a lightning strike to the boat.

[SPEARIT]

Big Pig
Though I do buy and sell some used electronics, you've got to be careful. Besides the 582's I've seen on Ebay lately are selling within a couple of hundred dollars of new price.
You may want to check with Furuno. I thought about using a shoot-thru when I replaced my T/H and they thought I'd get just as good reception with the 600W T/H because of hull interference. Decided to put in the 1KW(have a glass man here who builds a pocket in the hull so the transducer is flush mounted). This makes the unit read just as good at 35knts as when stopped.