Help a newbie out.

[Spyder7723]

So i got my first boat this past weekend and am looking to outfit it with a fishfinder/gps thingy mabob.  I know jack about fishing and boats.  Literally started fishing less than a month ago, hooked a bass and well.. looks like I'm the one that got hooked. 

 

 

My limited research has me deciding between a garmin striker 4 for 110 bucks or a lowrance hook 7 for 300ish.  However I'm definately open to suggestions on a different fish finder gps combo. 

 

My main question is: is the more expensive model actually with the extras money or is it just bells and whistles that will never get used?  Will it actually translate into making my fishng outings more productive and more importantly help me learn how to be a better fisherman? 

 

My concern about the cost isn't budget related, i can afford the more expensive model, however i hate to spend money on unnecessary items.   Im the kind of guy that gets 20 years out of a vehicle. I guess thrifty is the term.  Waste not want not. 

 

 

[ohboyitsrobby]

The Garmin striker models don't have maps. The GPS on them just shows you your tracks and where on planet earth you happen to be on a blank white screen. Now being a Garmin guy I would point you towards an echomap 53dv or 73dv or sv. Bps happens to have the 73sv on sale for $450 pretty sure you can get a 53dv for around 3-350. Their preloaded maps are pretty good and have the quickdraw function for unmapped bodies of water.

[12poundbass]

A quick crash course on "fish finders" 

 

2d sonar and "down looking" (down imaging/ down view) imaging helps you to see what is beneath you.

 

"Side seeing" (side imaging/side view) helps you to see what is off to the side of your boat. With this you see below and to the side a certain distance up to and over 150 feet to the side.

 

I would not go smaller than 7 inches as far a screen size goes. What I would do is read, read, and read more on what each feature can do and how it could or could not help you. The more you inform yourself the better decision you'll make. I can tell you my opinion and everyone else can too but they're only opinions. 

 

We are all ready and willing to spend your money for you, but if you don't know what they do it won't do you any good. Hope this helps, good luck, and don't hesitate to ask anymore questions.

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard! Wish I could help with what you should

get, but alas, I use a cheap Garmin Echo 100 on my kayak...

Some day I'd like to get a large-screen, sidescan, etc. finder.

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

Congrats on your new rig.

@12poundbass has offered some solid info & advice; I'd definitely start there.

Also each brand has a different 'display language & appearance' - perhaps check out a few different manufactures.

This may assist in determining which may be your preference as they can be quite a bit different. 

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

[Spyder7723]

Well the options that appear useful would be both down and side view.  That way i could slowly make my way up the river/stream/canal/ bank of lake/etc and see everything around me. 

 

A good gps is something id almost consider required equipment.  It just seems way to likely to get lost while exploring all the twisting interconnected streams branching off the rivers and channels around here.  

 

I also like the idea of auto mapping and saving for when I'm off the beaten path in the smaller waters around me that won't have a preloaded map of them.   Take 9 mile canal here in north port.  I highly doubt this little canal is going to be on one of the included maps of any of the units.  13000 included lakes is great for when i want to start making fishing trips to larger waters like Okeechobee but id like to be able to make my own maps for the waters within 5 minutes of my house that i can be hitting a few days a week, even if only for an hour.    

 

 

Edit to add: and for what it's worth the boat i picked up is a 1990 tracker pro v 16 ft with a 55 horse evinrude. And i got it for a song.  1200 bucks.  The carpet and wood could use redoing but that  can wait till the new enthusiasm slows down enough i am willing to spend a weekend redoing it vs being on the water.  

 

 

Also another question.  Do fish finders require a separate battery or can i just hook it into one of the 2 i already have?

 

 

[12poundbass]

7 minutes ago, Spyder7723 said:

Take 9 mile canal here in north port.  I highly doubt this little canal is going to be on one of the included maps of any of the units.

You might be surprised. While doing my research I looked at a couple lakes I fish. Both less than 80 acres. One of the two you need to drive down a two track for about 1/2 mile to the launch and you need 4 wheel drive to load your boat. Both of these small lakes were available! I was extremely surprised. Goes to show you ya never know.

[A-Jay]

55 minutes ago, Spyder7723 said:

Also another question.  Do fish finders require a separate battery or can i just hook it into one of the 2 i already have?

 

 

Standard practice is to wire 'accessories' like the sonar/gps unit to the cranking battery.

The other battery is used solely for the trolling motor.

btw - if installed, ensure the on board battery charger, wiring, & associated connections are intact, in good repair & working properly.

If not installed, consider one.  They are very helpful.

A-Jay

 

[jbmaine]

Check out Cabelas. They are having a sale on electronics right now plus 10% off today. I ordered a Garmin echo map chip 73sv sonar/ gps combo with lake vu HD for $ 539.99 and the same with CV for $ 431.99

[Spyder7723]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Standard practice is to wire 'accessories' like the sonar/gps unit to the cranking battery.

The other battery is used solely for the trolling motor.

btw - if installed, ensure the on board battery charger, wiring, & associated connections are intact, in good repair & working properly.

If not installed, consider one.  They are very helpful.

A-Jay

 

No built in charger.  That will change when i tear the wood out and redesign things to suit my wants/needs.  In the mean time I've got a couple trickle chargers i hook up when i get back home from the water.  

[Spyder7723]

7 hours ago, ohboyitsrobby said:

The Garmin striker models don't have maps. The GPS on them just shows you your tracks and where on planet earth you happen to be on a blank white screen. Now being a Garmin guy I would point you towards an echomap 53dv or 73dv or sv. Bps happens to have the 73sv on sale for $450 pretty sure you can get a 53dv for around 3-350. Their preloaded maps are pretty good and have the quickdraw function for unmapped bodies of water.

 

Do you have a link to the bass pro shop add for the 73 sv?  Looking at their website i can't even find an echmap 73 sv. 

[ohboyitsrobby]

11 minutes ago, Spyder7723 said:

 

Do you have a link to the bass pro shop add for the 73 sv?  Looking at their website i can't even find an echmap 73 sv. 

No I can't find it. I was in store Sunday though. Maybe I took it for granted it would be on their site also or maybe it was just at our store. If that's that's the case I do apologize

[Spyder7723]

Just now, ohboyitsrobby said:

No I can't find it. I was in store Sunday though. Maybe I took it for granted it would be on their site also or maybe it was just at our store. If that's that's the case I do apologize

What store was that? Im sure they could ship it.  

[NHBull]

If you buy garmon, buy the navionics app for your phone.........

[Spyder7723]

I'm not entirely sold on Garmin.  But two things are making me lean heavily in that direction.

 

 1: many moons ago i got a lot of hands on experience with their avionics equipment.   At the time they were so far ahead of their competitors three might add well have not been any other manufacturer in the market.  Basically i trust the brand. 

 

2: my google searching has not found a similarly priced fish finder/gps with side view.  

[ohboyitsrobby]

Little rock

[Spyder7723]

34 minutes ago, ohboyitsrobby said:

Little rock

Thank you sir.  Will call them in the morning.  

[Spyder7723]

12 hours ago, ohboyitsrobby said:

Little rock

 

That was the echomap model but not the chirp. 

 

This morning i ended up ordering the Garmin  echomap chirp 73 sv from cabellas for 599. Plus another 40 +/- for over night shipping.  Hard to believe that cabellas doesn't have a single store in the state of Florida.  

 

So ended up spending about twice what i originally planned on but from the reading I've done it looks like i got a much better, more useful unit. 

 

 

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, Spyder7723 said:

 

That was the echomap model but not the chirp. 

 

This morning i ended up ordering the Garmin  echomap chirp 73 sv from cabellas for 599. Plus another 40 +/- for over night shipping.  Hard to believe that cabellas doesn't have a single store in the state of Florida.  

 

So ended up spending about twice what i originally planned on but from the reading I've done it looks like i got a much better, more useful unit. 

 

 

The 73sv echomap is the direction I'm going too. I finally got my hands on one last week. Actually seeing it in person and playing around with it at the store pretty much sealed the deal for me. It looks like a great unit with awesome features.

 

You can link it with another similar unit with a $20 cable. A lot more with other units. 

 

To get features like this with other units you're talking $200 or more. There are several guys on here who have this unit and are quite satisfied with it. 

16 hours ago, NHBull said:

If you buy garmon, buy the navionics app for your phone.........

Did you decide to go with Garmin for your new boat or are you still) deciding?

[Spyder7723]

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

The 73sv echomap is the direction I'm going too. I finally got my hands on one last week. Actually seeing it in person and playing around with it at the store pretty much sealed the deal for me. It looks like a great unit with awesome features.

 

You can link it with another similar unit with a $20 cable. A lot more with other units. 

 

To get features like this with other units you're talking $200 or more. There are several guys on here who have this unit and are quite satisfied with it. 

Did you decide to go with Garmin for your new boat or are you still) deciding?

 

 

I did get the garmin. Echomap chirp 73 sv model. Supposed to arrive sometime tomorrow. Hopping to get it early enough to install and figure out the controls a bit so i can get it in the water the next morning.   

 

If you get anywhere near Sarasota Florida you are welcome to give me a shout so you can check it out in action.  

[12poundbass]

35 minutes ago, Spyder7723 said:

 

 

I did get the garmin. Echomap chirp 73 sv model. Supposed to arrive sometime tomorrow. Hopping to get it early enough to install and figure out the controls a bit so i can get it in the water the next morning.   

 

If you get anywhere near Sarasota Florida you are welcome to give me a shout so you can check it out in action.  

I wish I'd get near you. I'm about 24hrs north of you. Lol

[NHBull]

2 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

The 73sv echomap is the direction I'm going too. I finally got my hands on one last week. Actually seeing it in person and playing around with it at the store pretty much sealed the deal for me. It looks like a great unit with awesome features.

 

You can link it with another similar unit with a $20 cable. A lot more with other units. 

 

To get features like this with other units you're talking $200 or more. There are several guys on here who have this unit and are quite satisfied with it. 

Did you decide to go with Garmin for your new boat or are you still) deciding?

 

I am still looking at 9/10 inch Garmins and Lowrange.  I think Garmin is going to get the call.  I am shopping as I type this note

[12poundbass]

2 hours ago, NHBull said:

 

I am still looking at 9/10 inch Garmins and Lowrange.  I think Garmin is going to get the call.  I am shopping as I type this note

Nice! Can't wait to see the new rig and everything you're putting on it.

[Further North]

5 hours ago, NHBull said:

 

I am still looking at 9/10 inch Garmins and Lowrange.  I think Garmin is going to get the call.  I am shopping as I type this note

I really don't think you can go wrong with any of the major brands.

 

I happen to like Humminbird, the menus make sense to me and the new MEGA SI is just nuts...but I don't see it making any real difference in how I fish or how successful I am.  It was just time to update after 4 seasons.

 

Lowrance, Garmin, Raymarine (I think I got 'em all) all work great...I really think it's important to go play around with the units in-store to see what you like best...the "features" are just decorations on top of rock-solid basics for all the top brands and - IMO - won't make a bit of difference on the water over time.

[SuperCorona]

On 10/25/2017 at 11:52 AM, Spyder7723 said:

 

That was the echomap model but not the chirp. 

 

This morning i ended up ordering the Garmin  echomap chirp 73 sv from cabellas for 599. Plus another 40 +/- for over night shipping.  Hard to believe that cabellas doesn't have a single store in the state of Florida.  

 

So ended up spending about twice what i originally planned on but from the reading I've done it looks like i got a much better, more useful unit. 

 

 

Thanks for the tip on the Garmin deal at Cabela's!  I showed it to my wife and she said "Merry Christmas"!  Hopefully it will get here this week so I can get it installed in time for the weekend.