First Bass boat, $1500 fish finder budget

[wantsomeranch]

I bought my first bass boat a couple weeks ago and I'm looking to buy some fish finders for it. Looking for opinions on the best setup I can get for around $1500. Only Humminbird has contour maps of my local lake that I fish the most (and I already have a southeast smart strike card) so I'd prefer to stick with them.

 

I am not opposed to buying units used on ebay and I will do so if possible. I have been kayak fishing for a couple years and I already have a garmin striker plus 4cv and humminbird helix 5 chirp di gps g2 which I can use or sell to increase my budget. I'd like to have side imaging/2d sonar/gps at the console and 2d sonar/gps at the bow with networking between them so I can share my waypoints. It'd be nice to be able to see the side imaging at the bow over networking as well if possible.

 

I saw some helix 9 mega si g2n units that were selling for around $900-1000 now since the g3n units are out so I was thinking of grabbing one of those for the console and then trying to find an older unit with a big screen like a humminbird 1198 for the bow. Not sure how compatible they are with networking though. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Dirtyeggroll]

If you want to g2n Helix 9 you better hurry because they are disappearing quick.

 

Unfortunately, it seems the 1100 series humminbirds pick up a pretty penny used.

 

If I had a $1500 budget I would be perplexed between buying a whole USED setup for the bow and console or getting one unit NEW with a warranty.

 

The other forum thats primarily about bass boats (if you don't know it PM me) has some pretty good finds in their classifieds section and units tend to show up on Facebook Marketplace.

 

If you just want total boat functionality I think you could get a couple 999 and/or 1199 for about that budget and maybe even come in a bit under. The downside is that you would not have MEGA imaging. I'll tell you though, MEGA imaging really isnt a game changer in my opinion and I have all MEGA+ graphs coming from not having MEGA at all. If I see a change on the graph it essentially becomes a casting target. Don't get me wrong its cool to see all the branches of a tree and all the rocks in a pile but it hasn't changed my fishing style.

 

The idea you have to get a Helix 9 G2N is not a bad idea either... You might be able to scoop up one plus an 1199 or a 999.

 

Alternatively, I have seen some of the Helix 9 G3N on sale for ~$1275... Could get one and sell your other units to get a 899 or 999.

 

Lots of options out there. You are on the right track making sure to a networkable unit though. Good luck and keep us updated.

[Titan]

I had the same dilemma a few months back.  I started out looking at all the Humminbird units but finally settled on Lowrance.  I bought an Elite Ti2 9 for the console ($1,000) and a new Elite Ti2 7 for the front ($600).  The units have wireless networking and many other features.  I've been very impressed with the sonar/downscan/sidescan quality.  I did have to download and install the latest upgrade but it was a fairly simple process.  I'm a BIG fan of Cmap Genesis.  I've found the more I use it, the more I like it.  I've had a blast "mapping" my home lakes.

[Do1982]

Last winter I upgraded the electronics on my boat. I bought a Garmin echomap plus 93sv for both the front and the rear of my boat. This setup came with everything needed including the unit, transducer, cradle, and all of the mounting hardware. They were brand new complete units. I bought the first one during black friday for $600, a couple months later got the other one for the same price.

 

I believe I purchased them from the GPS Store.  I have seen the same units sold for the same price at many retailers since then. I expect if you're patient you could also.  

 

When I was looking I had about the same budget and thoughts as you. I chose what I did because of 9inch screens, touch screens, easy to use, brand new, sonar, side scan, down imaging, chirp, GPS, quick draw mapping, all for $600. I didnt feel I could get a better deal than that. 

 

I will say that I dont have mine networked so I can't comment on that aspect of it. 

[moguy1973]

You can get a Garmin Echomap 93sv  plus 9" with side/down/sonar touchscreen for the console for around $850 with tranducer and maybe a little less if you look around. An Echomap 73cv plus 7" with down/sonar touchscreen for the front can be had for around $500. That would be a pretty good setup within your budget.  Both have NMEA2000 so networking them together should be pretty easy.

 

Nice thing about the Garmin units is they are preloaded with maps.  With Lowrance and HB you'll have to budget for map cards unless you find a good package deal. Maps aren't cheap.