Looking for a fish finder for my new 2019 Hobie PA14

[freelancer27]

Hi guys!

I am absolutely stocked! I got an amazing deal on a basically new 2019 Pro Anger 14.

Now, to the next task of finding the right Fish Finder for my needs.

Since I am bit of a newbie in this regard, I am hoping to get some inputs from the community on this.

Requirements:

* At least 7 inch
* Down and side scanning
* good, robust quality
* Compatible with my hobie (I do not have the tools nor the know how to do a lot of custom work)
* Price should be (including the battery, transducer ) under 1000 USD


Thanks all!

Cheers,
Seb.

[CountryboyinDC]

Congrats on your new kayak.  A lot to consider.  I believe that your kayak comes with the really neat retractable transducer shroud (don't remember what Hobie calls it) that will hold a side scanning transducer.  I think it's supposed to be Lowrance specific, but I would bet that there are plenty of threads and videos of PA owners that have made it work with Hummingbird or Garmin transducers.  I think it will be tough without finding a bargain to get a graph mounted with everything you've mentioned for under a grand.  I'm not saying it can't be done, but you're going to have to keep your eyes open and buy what will work and is on sale rather than what you want.  When Lowrance phased out the HDS Carbon, I got a 7 inch head unit with the TotalScan transducer for a grand.  Add mounts and a battery, I'm in it $1,250 or so.  Anything Hobie-specific is expensive and rarely on sale.  But I would want to make use of the H rail and and other neat stuff on the PA.  After all, that's why folks buy Hobie - it truly is better than the competition in a lot of cases.  So I would say if buying the PA blew your budget, wait until you can get what you want or find a deal you can't pass up, and then enjoy what you end up with.  If you buy a PA and then put a bargain graph on it, it'll be like getting a tricked out Winchester 52 and shooting high velocity Walmart ammo in it.  

[Dens228]

Lowrance Hook2 Tripleshot w/Navionics   $650

Lowrance Elite-7 Ti2 w/Navionics   $820

 

Both are under $1,000.

 

I'd go with the Elite, mainly for the touch screen.

[CountryboyinDC]

@Dens228 has a couple of reasonably good options; I didn't realize that the Elite line was so much less expensive than the HDS.  You'd still be hard pressed to keep that under a grand, but especially with a creative battery solution, it could happen.  I used the Noqua larger battery, and it would kind of blow out your budget.

[freelancer27]

Thanks guys!

I could go up a bit more if needed. I dont want to be frustrated in a couple of months when a couple of hundred bucks would have given me a much better option.

Options that I currently consider:

* Hummingbird Helix 7 MSI GPS G3 NAV
* Hummingbird Helix8 MSI+ GPS G3N
--> What is the difference between 'side imaging' and 'side imaging +'. Is it that the later just goes deeper, but has the same clarity, etc.?
* Lowrance Elite-7 Ti2 Fishfinder/Chartplotters

* Lowrance Elite-9 Ti2 Fishfinder/Chartplotters

What are your thoughts?

[Hook2Jaw]

My Humminbird Helix 7 MSI GPS G3 NAV is an awesome unit and sits on my Hobie PA14.  I don't think any other company has side imaging that is as good as Humminbirds.

[freelancer27]

2 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

My Humminbird Helix 7 MSI GPS G3 NAV is an awesome unit and sits on my Hobie PA14.  I don't think any other company has side imaging that is as good as Humminbirds.

Cool! Yeah, I will go with that unit as well most likely.

Any suggestions for the installation? Any troubles fitting this into the Lowrance ready transducer box on the Hobie?

Thanks man!

 

[Hook2Jaw]

9 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Cool! Yeah, I will go with that unit as well most likely.

Any suggestions for the installation? Any troubles fitting this into the Lowrance ready transducer box on the Hobie?

Thanks man!

 

Man, it has been so long since I installed it.  I have the old style transducer recess, I'm not sure if your boat has the Guardian system.  If it does, you'd probably have to machine a way to install a different transducer in there.

 

The Guardian only likes Lowrance mounting, from what I understand.

 

If your boat doesn't have the Guardian transducer system, 60 bucks grabs a Berleypro transducer cover that'll work for the transducer that comes with the unit.  Make sure the model numbers match up.

[Fishingmickey]

Garmin 93SVplus 9" screen, sonar, side scan, down scan and chart plotter w/maps and transducer.  Use the Ram mount 1.5" H-rail ball mount for the head and Ram's transducer mount (I mounted the ball on that accessory plate). 600.00 for the unit and a hundred plus or so for the mounts. Makes for a neat, clean and removable installation.

FM

[freelancer27]

On 12/23/2019 at 6:24 PM, Hook2Jaw said:

My Humminbird Helix 7 MSI GPS G3 NAV is an awesome unit and sits on my Hobie PA14.  I don't think any other company has side imaging that is as good as Humminbirds.

 

On 12/24/2019 at 6:50 AM, Fishingmickey said:

Garmin 93SVplus 9" screen, sonar, side scan, down scan and chart plotter w/maps and transducer.  Use the Ram mount 1.5" H-rail ball mount for the head and Ram's transducer mount (I mounted the ball on that accessory plate). 600.00 for the unit and a hundred plus or so for the mounts. Makes for a neat, clean and removable installation.

FM

Was today at the Westmarin in Marin City (their flagship store) and talked with a very knowledgable and objective guy there.

What I really did not understand before was that one needs a special transducer to get all of the special featues (mega side imaging, 3d scan, Live scope, etc.). And these transducers are quite big (unfit for a kayak) and cost another 1.5k USD on top of the fishfinder itself. 

With all my research, I did not understand that. So was very happy to learn that.

He also walked me a bit through the different modesl (Hummingbird Helix, Lowrance Elite, Garmin Echomap and Raymarine Element).

He said that for his money he would go with the ECHOMAP™ UHD 93sv and the GT54UHD-TM Transducer which I could get for 999 USD (+ tax) or the Ray Marine Element with HV-100 Transom-Mount Transducer for 1050USD.

Would power it with this: NOCQUA Pro Power Kit Battery Pack 10.0 Ah

What do you guys think on the guy's input and the options?

 

Leaning towards the Garmin as of now.

 

Thanks all and Happy 2020!!!

[Hook2Jaw]

I don't know the specifics on upgrading transducer models with the units themselves, all I can tell you is I've seen fish fins using my Humminbird Helix 7 MSI G3.  I have a friend who used to use a Garmin Echomap, his terminals got destroyed by saltwater and he was not very pleased with the image quality.

 

From personal experience, I can tell you my Helix and the base transducer can give you awesome imaging.

[freelancer27]

5 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I don't know the specifics on upgrading transducer models with the units themselves, all I can tell you is I've seen fish fins using my Humminbird Helix 7 MSI G3.  I have a friend who used to use a Garmin Echomap, his terminals got destroyed by saltwater and he was not very pleased with the image quality.

 

From personal experience, I can tell you my Helix and the base transducer can give you awesome imaging.

The guy at Westmarine said that the imaging was more or less the same between all these units, since they were using the same kind of transducer (made by the same company). He also mentioned that the Hummingbird's connectors were a bit too wiggly and prone to let in water.

[Hook2Jaw]

1 minute ago, freelancer27 said:

The guy at Westmarine said that the imaging was more or less the same between all these units, since they were using the same kind of transducer (made by the same company). He also mentioned that the Hummingbird's connectors were a bit too wiggly and prone to let in water.

My connections are not wiggly or prone to water intrusion, and Humminbird Mega Imaging operates at megahertz levels of frequency -- I have two friends, one who switched from Garmin to Humminbird, and another who switched from Lowrance.  Those two persons would tell you that the Humminbird has better imaging than the units from other brands in the same price range.

[freelancer27]

15 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

My connections are not wiggly or prone to water intrusion, and Humminbird Mega Imaging operates at megahertz levels of frequency -- I have two friends, one who switched from Garmin to Humminbird, and another who switched from Lowrance.  Those two persons would tell you that the Humminbird has better imaging than the units from other brands in the same price range.

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

Guess, I will have to go back to the store and play a bit more with the units. In the demos I have not seen too big of a difference between the units tbh. The touch screen of the Garmin is nice (not sure how that would behave with some water/ rain on it though). The Hummingbird's UIX is a bit more confusing to me at the start. The Garmin looks simpler, but also a bit less appealing.

 

[freelancer27]

Was at Westmarine today again and played with all their Fish Finder for about 1h.

Here my latest take:

* Hummingbird:
+ Slightly better side imaging than Lowrance
- Completely confusing User Interface
- Unit (Helix series) just felt and looked cheap

* Raymarine Element
+ Great build quality
+ 3d scan included in base transducer
- some limitations in setting up custom graph combinations

- side and down imaging did not feel as detailed as Humming bird or Lowrance

* Lowrance Elite
+ Decent build quality
+ Touch screen was good
+ UX is the best amongst all units
+ Decent side imaging (behind the Hummingbird) and great down imaging
- Heard some stories that the Lowrance were prone to break

* Garmin Echomaps
+ Good touch screen
+ Good UX
- Graphs looked a bit less detailed than all the above


The guy at WestMarine said that they were going to LA to get trained on the new Lowrance units that will come out in March.

Right now I am torn between the Lowrance (because of the best UX) and the Raymarine (because it has the 3D scan). Will probably wait till I have more info on what Lowrance is coming out with soon.

Cheers.

[jw90]

I'm in the same boat as you. Looking for a nice unit for my PA12. Really want to take advantage of the guardian system.  Was most interested in a Hummingbird Helix or Garmin. As far as mounting the transducer to the guardian system, Hobie has a page with some templates you can print out and trace/cut/drill. From their website: Support > Product Support > Choose your kayak > under manuals/parts guide choose transducer mounting templates for Hobie guardian. They only have a couple lowrance, ray marine, and one for hummingbird. 

[freelancer27]

30 minutes ago, jw90 said:

I'm in the same boat as you. Looking for a nice unit for my PA12. Really want to take advantage of the guardian system.  Was most interested in a Hummingbird Helix or Garmin. As far as mounting the transducer to the guardian system, Hobie has a page with some templates you can print out and trace/cut/drill. From their website: Support > Product Support > Choose your kayak > under manuals/parts guide choose transducer mounting templates for Hobie guardian. They only have a couple lowrance, ray marine, and one for hummingbird. 

Cool, that should come in handy! Thanks a lot for sharing!

What are you going with and why?

[jw90]

I was thinking of the helix 9. Want something with a good size screen. The mega imaging looks amazing and I like the maps and different features that hummingbird has. I do look at Garmin a lot though, but most likely will end up going with hummingbird. Both look amazing though.

[freelancer27]

8 minutes ago, jw90 said:

I was thinking of the helix 9. Want something with a good size screen. The mega imaging looks amazing and I like the maps and different features that hummingbird has. I do look at Garmin a lot though, but most likely will end up going with hummingbird. Both look amazing though.

Have you played with the Helix 9 in store? I did and the user interface was super confusing to say the least. The build quality and the cable connectors in the back were also fairly poor for such an expensive unit.

I think I am almost decided on the Raymarine 9.

+ Has almost as good side and down imaging as the Helix
++ Has 3D scan by default in the included transducer
+ is super robust build
+ Super bright display
+ I hear a lot of good things about the Raymarine customer service, compared to others (especially Lowrance)

Only thing that I am not super happy about (not sure what impact this would have) is the missing touch screen.

I found the Raymarine for 899 USD shipped. 

[jw90]

I've messed around with most brands in the store. Hummingbird definitely isn't as user-friendly as the other brands, but I think once you turn off some of the screen options you don't want and configure your presets, it wouldn't be too bad. I haven't checked out the connections in the back though. 

[Hawkeye21]

I bought myself a new fish finder for Christmas and decided on the Garmin 73sv after looking the last few years.  I haven't used it on the water yet but I've enjoyed messing around with it in my garage.  The touch screen is nice and everything is easy to use.  I like how the unit pops out of the mount easy so it can be stored without messing with unhooking any cables.  The compatibility with Panotpics was also a selling feature for me in case I decide to upgrade to it some day.  After looking for a long time I was able to find a brand new unit on eBay for $469 and also got 10%.  After tax I think I spent a total of about $449 on it.  Pretty sweet deal.

[freelancer27]

26 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I bought myself a new fish finder for Christmas and decided on the Garmin 73sv after looking the last few years.  I haven't used it on the water yet but I've enjoyed messing around with it in my garage.  The touch screen is nice and everything is easy to use.  I like how the unit pops out of the mount easy so it can be stored without messing with unhooking any cables.  The compatibility with Panotpics was also a selling feature for me in case I decide to upgrade to it some day.  After looking for a long time I was able to find a brand new unit on eBay for $469 and also got 10%.  After tax I think I spent a total of about $449 on it.  Pretty sweet deal.

Nice. Sounds like a good deal! 

The reasons why I am probably staying away from Garmin are:

* No real down scan (they stich side scan together, which does not always give an accurate picture)

* The overall picture quality was inferior in my opinion comparing to the others

* I will most likely not upgrade to panoptic (so no motivation for me)

 

Different horses for different courses I think

[Dens228]

2 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Nice. Sounds like a good deal! 

The reasons why I am probably staying away from Garmin are:

* No real down scan (they stich side scan together, which does not always give an accurate picture)

* The overall picture quality was inferior in my opinion comparing to the others

* I will most likely not upgrade to panoptic (so no motivation for me)

 

Different horses for different courses I think

I wasn't aware of the no real down scan concern.  I just did a little research and am quoting this from another forum.  

 

So after a lot of reading about this, here is what I have learned. The GT transducers all have a dedicated down viewing crystal. The CV (clear vu) transducers do not, they use the side ducer and software stitching (as explained in the video). If anyone is concerned about not having a dedicated crystal, they can purchase a GT transducer and it will work fine. In fact, from what I’ve read, a lot of CV owners are now contacting Garmin to try and replace their CV transducers. The lawsuit does not prohibit Garmin from selling the GT transducer separate, only from bundling it with the unit. Check your ducer. If it’s the GT model you are good.

[freelancer27]

5 hours ago, Dens228 said:

I wasn't aware of the no real down scan concern.  I just did a little research and am quoting this from another forum.  

 

So after a lot of reading about this, here is what I have learned. The GT transducers all have a dedicated down viewing crystal. The CV (clear vu) transducers do not, they use the side ducer and software stitching (as explained in the video). If anyone is concerned about not having a dedicated crystal, they can purchase a GT transducer and it will work fine. In fact, from what I’ve read, a lot of CV owners are now contacting Garmin to try and replace their CV transducers. The lawsuit does not prohibit Garmin from selling the GT transducer separate, only from bundling it with the unit. Check your ducer. If it’s the GT model you are good.

Good to know! Thanks for the clarification!

[Hawkeye21]

On 1/4/2020 at 1:32 PM, Dens228 said:

I wasn't aware of the no real down scan concern.  I just did a little research and am quoting this from another forum.  

 

So after a lot of reading about this, here is what I have learned. The GT transducers all have a dedicated down viewing crystal. The CV (clear vu) transducers do not, they use the side ducer and software stitching (as explained in the video). If anyone is concerned about not having a dedicated crystal, they can purchase a GT transducer and it will work fine. In fact, from what I’ve read, a lot of CV owners are now contacting Garmin to try and replace their CV transducers. The lawsuit does not prohibit Garmin from selling the GT transducer separate, only from bundling it with the unit. Check your ducer. If it’s the GT model you are good.

I made sure I purchased the GT transducer.