clemsondds Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 Ok, so I know this has been brought up all the time, but in this modern era, tech changes every day. So I got my first boat and want to put a fish finder on it. Going with a minnkota riptide 80lb for trolling motor. Which fish finder is the best? I know there's probably a ton of opinions, but is there one or two that separate themselves? I am looking to try to keep it under $1000 and I'm just doing a console unit right now...I'll add a deck unit later. I'm thinking the Humminbird 9" just because I have heard they are leading in the way of sidescan. But I definitely know nothing about Lowrance...so I need to do some research! Could you share your thoughts? Thanks!! Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted March 6, 2019 Global Moderator Posted March 6, 2019 The best thing to do is educate yourself on what Down imaging, side imaging, create your own maps, CHIRP, 2d sonar, and so much more can do and if and how they fit your needs. Then educate yourself on Lowrance, Humminbird, and don’t forget Garmin. The more YOU learn the better of a decision you’ll make and the happier you’ll be. I could spend your $1000 in a second and you won’t have a clue what you have. So educate yourself so you can spend your money. I hope this helps. 1 Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted March 6, 2019 Super User Posted March 6, 2019 I’ll add to what 12lb said. If there are HD Lakemaster maps available for the lakes you fish, that’s a big plus for going with Humminbird. Quote
Super User WRB Posted March 6, 2019 Super User Posted March 6, 2019 My suggestion is use your $1,000 budget for 2 units. You fish 100% of the time from the deck and drive your boat from the console. Mapmaking is IMO a waste of time and money, GPS with Navoinics chip is all you need. Side imaging increases the cost and until you become effiencent at reading a sonar unit may also be a waste of money unless you plan to bass fish competitively. Tom Quote
Smokinal Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 Spend some time in Cabelas/BPS playing with their units. Go through the menus, change settings etc...and see which template you like better. Quote
clemsondds Posted March 6, 2019 Author Posted March 6, 2019 Thanks. Yes, I'm trying to do my research as quick as possible. I purchased the boat and it's 5 hours away from me. The closest dealer to me is 1.5 hours...so I'm going to try to have the dealer go ahead and install everything now. So that's why I am in a little bit of a rush trying to decide which to go with. I just got off the phone with the service manager and he said that the boat is designed to have a Garmin 741xs which is 7". There's not a lot of extra room on the console but I think a 9" Lowrance Elite would work since it's only 10.5" wide (the garmin is 9" wide). Humminbird 9" is probably out since it's 13" wide. From everything I have read in reviews, ppl recommend going with as big of screen as you can get. So at this point it looks like I should go with the Lowrance. What do you think? I know they are all pretty good...I'm not tournament fishing here...just fun weekend stuff. I would love the humminbird, especially since all the lakes I fish are available on lakemaster, but with them not being touchscreen, they all are quite a bit larger. Thoughts? Quote
redmexican5081 Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 If that Garmin 741xs is included in your base price and includes a transducer, I wouldn't change it out. If you need to outfit the boat by adding a graph, any make/model can be done if you are open to mounting using a RAM mount Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted March 6, 2019 Super User Posted March 6, 2019 Everyone says get the biggest screen possible but I don't think it's that simple. High screen resolution gives you more detail. Large screen size makes it easier to view from a distance. At the console you are setting close to the screen so go with the highest screen resolution which may or may not be the one with the largest screen. Quote
Super User Scott F Posted March 6, 2019 Super User Posted March 6, 2019 1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said: Everyone says get the biggest screen possible but I don't think it's that simple. High screen resolution gives you more detail. Large screen size makes it easier to view from a distance. At the console you are setting close to the screen so go with the highest screen resolution which may or may not be the one with the largest screen. If you only have one view open, a big screen isn’t that critical. Very often, you will have multiple views open at the same time. Maps, down view, and side view for example. On a small screen, all three views are too small to see. On a bigger screen, all three can be easily read at the same time. 1 Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted March 6, 2019 Super User Posted March 6, 2019 57 minutes ago, Scott F said: If you only have one view open, a big screen isn’t that critical. Very often, you will have multiple views open at the same time. Maps, down view, and side view for example. On a small screen, all three views are too small to see. On a bigger screen, all three can be easily read at the same time. Take the Humminbird SOLIX series. There is a 10in, 12in, and 15in model. All three models have the same 1280 x 800 resolution so you see exactly the same thing on all three units, the pixels are just bigger on the bigger units. I have the 10 inch version on my console and I'm usually 25 inches from it when I'm using it. It's easy to see everything on the screen at that distance. The pixels are much bigger than your typical cell phone. My iPhone is 1792 x 828 on a 6.1 inch screen. If you have poor vision that's a different story. Quote
Super User WRB Posted March 7, 2019 Super User Posted March 7, 2019 Don't have the console unit built in or several reasons, the most important is you can't remove it when trailing your boat, can't adjust the light reflection or unit position. As suggested a RAM mount allows quick removal and adjustments and you are not limited to size. Lowrance Split Shot US/CAN NAV+ , get 2 units. Tom Quote
Delaware_lip_ripper Posted March 7, 2019 Posted March 7, 2019 Online deal only at Cabela's...lowerance elite 7ti for 500$ (comes with total scan transducer) buy 2. Problem solved lol Quote
clemsondds Posted March 7, 2019 Author Posted March 7, 2019 is 7 big enough to see side scan real well? Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted March 7, 2019 Global Moderator Posted March 7, 2019 Just now, clemsondds said: is 7 big enough to see side scan real well? Yes Quote
clemsondds Posted March 7, 2019 Author Posted March 7, 2019 Robalo dealer really wants to install Garmin 7"...anyone have any experience with garmin? Do they have sidescan and equivalent to humminbird and lowrance? I don't have a store near me that has all of these. thanks Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted March 7, 2019 Global Moderator Posted March 7, 2019 13 minutes ago, clemsondds said: Robalo dealer really wants to install Garmin 7"...anyone have any experience with garmin? Do they have sidescan and equivalent to humminbird and lowrance? I don't have a store near me that has all of these. thanks I have a Garmin and the side scan is comparable to both Humminbird and Lowrance. They are very user friendly. Quote
Delaware_lip_ripper Posted March 8, 2019 Posted March 8, 2019 Why are they wanting to install the Garmin so bad? Are you paying for no matter what brand? Pushing the Garmin cause they are authorized dealer or something? The elite 7ti is a hell of a deal for 500$. Quote
clemsondds Posted March 8, 2019 Author Posted March 8, 2019 Honestly I'm not real sure. Seems like all boat sales near/on coast seem much bigger on Garmin and Simrad. anyone have experience with the latest garmin 7" (I assume garmin striker plus 7sv) and the Lowrance 7 elite? Would love to hear comparisons. Thanks again Quote
clemsondds Posted March 8, 2019 Author Posted March 8, 2019 If you buy two of that lowrance special deal, I assume it would come with two transducers. Can you use two? Sorry for my ignorance Quote
LonnieP Posted March 8, 2019 Posted March 8, 2019 The Lowrance elites can be linked together so only one transducer is needed. The elite 7ti that's on sale at bass pro for 499 comes with Navionics mapping. The Garmin striker doesn't have mapping. Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted March 8, 2019 Global Moderator Posted March 8, 2019 46 minutes ago, LonnieP said: The Lowrance elites can be linked together so only one transducer is needed. The elite 7ti that's on sale at bass pro for 499 comes with Navionics mapping. The Garmin striker doesn't have mapping. The Garmin Striker Plus units have QuickDraw mapping though. Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted March 8, 2019 Global Moderator Posted March 8, 2019 1 hour ago, clemsondds said: What is that? QuickDraw? It’s where you create your own contour maps. You can map over 1 million acres of lakes. The contour maps created are 1’ contours. Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted March 8, 2019 Super User Posted March 8, 2019 5 hours ago, clemsondds said: If you buy two of that lowrance special deal, I assume it would come with two transducers. Can you use two? Sorry for my ignorance Yes you can used two. You will want to get a different one to mount to your trolling motor. Lowrance might allow you to swap for free. I know Humminbird does. Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted March 8, 2019 Global Moderator Posted March 8, 2019 The transducers on the Striker and Echomap units are universal so you can mount them on the transom or trolling motor. No swapping and waiting on shipping them. ? 7 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said: Yes you can used two. You will want to get a different one to mount to your trolling motor. Lowrance might allow you to swap for free. I know Humminbird does. We’ll see who the better salesman is, how about that? ? j/k you really can’t go wrong with either brand these days. Quote
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