Help! Lowrance Hds7 Gen3 or Humminbird Helix 9 ?

[Joe23Pa]

Hi guys.  I am looking for advice on which fish finder to buy for my boat...Tracker 2010 DV16

I mainly fish for bass and walleye in anywhere from 3 to 25 feet of water.

I definitely want side scan capability and have done a lot of research already but wanted to hear more advice from someone who may know more.  

Right now I have narrowed it down to 2 options:

Should I go with the Lowrance hds7 lss for $1,499.00

or 

The Humminbird Helix9 si for $999.00 plus I'll be using the Humminbird Transducer Exchange program to upgrade to the HD transducer for an extra $85. 

 

Thanks in advance for your help,

Joe

 

[fishnkamp]

Well both are nice units but let me throw in another unit in the ring.I have some experience with the Lowrance as my guide for Dale Hollow was using two HDS Gen2s linked. We used the side image to run 50 feet off some very long flats covered with grass to find the fish. Once spotted we would drop a waypoint shut down the big motor and return with the trolling motor. We would see 3 fish and catch 2. It worked over and over. With my Elite 7 I had to just fish the whole 2 mile long stretch which was very time consuming. Anyway I was looking at the HDS7 Gen3 for myself. I compared the unit to the new Elite7TI. Almost all of the functions, menus, and screen size is the same. The HDS does let you do things like monitor Engine fluids and temps if your boat has smart gauges. The HDS has a more elaborate network capability, like if you want to see the exact same screen on two units, as well as the ability to control power poles. Look closely at it because I can still network my older Elite7 Chirp DI unit to share waypoints with the new Elite 7TI. The interesting thing is it costs only $800.  Make sure if you need the extras the HDS 7 unit can do. Some of its options I will never need with my boat.

[Joe23Pa]

16 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

Well both are nice units but let me throw in another unit in the ring.I have some experience with the Lowrance as my guide for Dale Hollow was using two HDS Gen2s linked. We used the side image to run 50 feet off some very long flats covered with grass to find the fish. Once spotted we would drop a waypoint shut down the big motor and return with the trolling motor. We would see 3 fish and catch 2. It worked over and over. With my Elite 7 I had to just fish the whole 2 mile long stretch which was very time consuming. Anyway I was looking at the HDS7 Gen3 for myself. I compared the unit to the new Elite7TI. Almost all of the functions, menus, and screen size is the same. The HDS does let you do things like monitor Engine fluids and temps if your boat has smart gauges. The HDS has a more elaborate network capability, like if you want to see the exact same screen on two units, as well as the ability to control power poles. Look closely at it because I can still network my older Elite7 Chirp DI unit to share waypoints with the new Elite 7TI. The interesting thing is it costs only $800.  Make sure if you need the extras the HDS 7 unit can do. Some of its options I will never need with my boat.

Thanks for the advise.  I did like the elite7ti at first glance.  I will definitely give it a closer look!

[fishnkamp]

It does not do everything the HDS7 does but you may not need it to. check this video series out. Sorry part 2 got out of order and I could not fix it so you just need to jump down and back up for part 3 and part 4.

 

[dsqui]

you know garmin is taking the fresh water fishing scene by storm.  i switched from HB to garmin this year and am very impressed with them.  im running the echomap chirp series chart plotters with side imaging.  they are very user friendly.  and they definitely do more then i will ever need them to do atleast at this point but im still learning how exactly to use them.  one thing that really swayed me was the lake map capability, a lot of my local lakes i fish(smaller ones) do not have maps available on a HB or Lowrance unit even with after market chips like navionics or lakemaster still none.  garmin on the other hand has well ill put it this way i haven't been on a local lake with out one pre loaded on my unit yet.  garmin has 17000 lakes pre loaded right on the thing and to top that they can chart a lake if its not there as you go with out having to buy extra software which im still waiting to try i just cant seem to find a lake with out a map lol... since you are looking at that 1100-1400 price range the echomap93 chirp SV is right there at $1199.99.  you could even go with a 73sv at the counsel and then grab a striker series with sv and DV for the front of your boat and then link them for a nice little set up and still be at the $1200 range plus for wall eye that striker series unit has a interface like a vexilar or marcum which if you were out jigging them would be deadly.  i think no matter what you do you  will be happy with what ever unit you decide to purchase since you are looking at higher end units you really get what you pay for these days.  as far as which unit is truly better between the HB or Low you might as well ask who makes a better truck ford chevy or dodge its all personal preference.  if i were to throw my hat in the ring ild have to really recommend the garmin units atleast make sure you check them out as well before you decide. 

[Joe23Pa]

9 hours ago, dsqui said:

you know garmin is taking the fresh water fishing scene by storm.  i switched from HB to garmin this year and am very impressed with them.  im running the echomap chirp series chart plotters with side imaging.  they are very user friendly.  and they definitely do more then i will ever need them to do atleast at this point but im still learning how exactly to use them.  one thing that really swayed me was the lake map capability, a lot of my local lakes i fish(smaller ones) do not have maps available on a HB or Lowrance unit even with after market chips like navionics or lakemaster still none.  garmin on the other hand has well ill put it this way i haven't been on a local lake with out one pre loaded on my unit yet.  garmin has 17000 lakes pre loaded right on the thing and to top that they can chart a lake if its not there as you go with out having to buy extra software which im still waiting to try i just cant seem to find a lake with out a map lol... since you are looking at that 1100-1400 price range the echomap93 chirp SV is right there at $1199.99.  you could even go with a 73sv at the counsel and then grab a striker series with sv and DV for the front of your boat and then link them for a nice little set up and still be at the $1200 range plus for wall eye that striker series unit has a interface like a vexilar or marcum which if you were out jigging them would be deadly.  i think no matter what you do you  will be happy with what ever unit you decide to purchase since you are looking at higher end units you really get what you pay for these days.  as far as which unit is truly better between the HB or Low you might as well ask who makes a better truck ford chevy or dodge its all personal preference.  if i were to throw my hat in the ring ild have to really recommend the garmin units atleast make sure you check them out as well before you decide. 

Thanks a ton.  Great advice.  I never even considered a garmin but definitely have to take a look at these set ups you described 

[Wayne P.]

I'll add another variable, the 9" display is better than a 7" display for the side looking imaging technology. That puts the Humminbird Helix 9 SI GPS and Garmin 9sv ahead of any Lowrance 7" model.  The HDS Touch 9 Lowrance would be a better comparison.

The reason is the size of displayed subjects is larger on the larger display with the same Range settings= easier to see.

SIZE matters.

 

[marvinlee718]

How would you compare the 7" units being the garmin 7sv, helix 7, elite 7ti, and maybe even a 899?

[Wayne P.]

32 minutes ago, marvinlee718 said:

How would you compare the 7" units being the garmin 7sv, helix 7, elite 7ti, and maybe even a 899?

All six models of the Helix 7 are not networkable. The 899ci HD SI Combo is but was discontinued and replaced by the Helix 9 SI GPS.