Fishfinder Upgrade Help

[sbfishySC]

Hey folks,

Just bought my first boat a couple months ago and I am looking to upgrade the fish finder for it eventually. The boat is a 16' Procraft bass boat and it currently has a Humminbird 323 Fishfinder with a Humminbird Piranha1 on the bow. Obviously, those are a bit out of date. They work, so I'm not in too much of a hurry to upgrade, but I'd like to start looking to see what's best that's out there. Mainly I'm looking to upgrade the 323. I don't really know what to look for as far as side imaging, down imaging...etc. and lowrance or humminbird. My budget at this point is probably no more than $500, which I know will limit me a bit, but I can't justify the need for a $1,000+ unit at this point, as I'm just a casual weekend bass fisherman.

Can anyone offer any suggestions? I've got my eye on the Lowrance Elite 5 DSI w/ GPS, but again, I don't know much about anything out there.

Thanks for the help!

Steve

[Wayne P.]

There are no units by any company that do Side Imaging/Structure Scan in your price range.

The only imaging capable units in your price range are either Lowance DSI or Humminbird DI.

Of those, only the Humminbirds have regular 2D sonar and Down Imaging. The Lowrance DSI units are Down Scan only.

Humminbird has the widest selection with that technology in your price range--- 346c DI, 386ci DI Combo, 561 DI, 571 HD DI, 581i HD DI Combo, 587ci HD DI Combo, 596c HD DI, 597ci HD DI Combo and some discontinued models of some of those same series.

Additionally there are a couple more special sale models that are not on the Humminibird web site. You have to contact a dealer to see what those models are and the price--I don't remember the model numbers of those.

Lowrance units are the Elite-4x DSI, and Elite-5x DSI, Elite-5 DSI, Mark-5x DSI, Elite-7x HDI

[sbfishySC]

Thank you! That definitely helps point me in the right direction.

[Wayne P.]

I made a mistake in my list, The new Lowrance HDI unit does Down Scan and 2D sonar.

[TRYTOFISH]

I have a brand new lowrance HDS5 W/Insight and transducer i need to get rid of. pm me if interested.

[TRYTOFISH]

here they are

[BassnChris]

I bought my 1st boat last May. Then got a humminbird 597ci HD DI. Now selling it to upgrade to Lowrance hds-7 gen2 touch and a hds-5 gen2.

Never thought I would be able to get one.......due to some unexpected income.....I can.

My error was I did not know, or have the experience to ask the right questions.

Where do I want to be fish finder wise in the future? The answer is an easy to upgrade....networkable solution.

I was set to travel the humminbird route...ordered an Ethernet switch and cables. I will send them back as soon as they arrive.

Decided on the Lowrance route. The 597 is a great unit except that it is not networkable and no side imaging.

There a lots of options in both Lowrance and Humminbird. Example, you can pick up a new Lowrance hds-5 gen 2 with insight and transducer on eBay for $525-625 and use 2D sonar now......and when you save up $5-600ish and pick up the structure scan module and transducer to get SI and DI features. Those prices are all buy it now......cheaper if you are not in a hurry and are able to bid or find a deal on Craigslist or somewhere. Be very careful shopping online.

Good luck......take your time and think it out better than I did. ;-)

Chris