Need help choosing

[keithdog]

I am going to buy a new depth finder soon. I am leaning towards one of the Hummingbird 500 series models. Havn't bought a depth finder since 1982! So they are all new to me really. Here is my problem. I have a 12 foot john boat. I simply haul it around in the bed of my pickup. Don't use a trailer. It's a wider john boat, often refered to as a lake john. But it's very easy to haul this way and no trailor hassle. Now I am trying to decide if I should buy a permanent mount version or if I should go with a portable mount style? I don't want the transducer to get damaged dragging the boat out of the lake onto the loading ramp or shoreline. And the suction cup mount of the portable unit would make it easy to remove that problem. However, I have also been told the transducer mount on the permanent model allows the transducer head to swing up and away from hazards like I was talking about. Also, I was told I wouldn't have to have the transducer mounted flush with the bottom. Rather I could mount the transducer so that it would be about an inch higher than a flush mount and I would still get enough clearance for the signal beam to work clearly. I am also thinking about the bulky size of the portable housing, and the transducer cable hanging outside of the housing. Another worry I have is how long the suction cup mount will hold securly. Many years ago, I had a portable mount unit and the suction cup was always comming free of the boat. Drove me nuts!!! At least with the permanent mount model, that would not be a worry, and thye head is easily removed from the mounting bracket to allow me to bring it inside for security reasons. The john boat is kept outside, upside down along the garage between outtings. So I'm curious here, which would you go with? OHHHHH, another question. Is it worth the extra cost in your opinion to have the dual 20 degree and 60 degree beam transducer like on the 565 model or would just the standard 20 degree beam like on the 535 model be sufficient? At what times would I want the use of the 60 degree beam? I am assuming that would be helpfull in shallow water, but I don't really know. Thanks for takin the time to read all this, and any advice you would have!