Looking for a fish finder for my new 2019 Hobie PA14

[Dens228]

After spending way too much time looking at the Lowrance Elite 7 Ti2 and the Garmin Echomap UHD 73 sv side my side I pulled the trigger on the Garmin.  

The imaging seemed a little crisper and the transducer is a little smaller.

I really wanted the Fish Reveal of the Lowrance but it wasn't enough to overcome the Garmin.  
Now I just need the water to be ice free.........lol

[jaimeastin]

13 hours ago, Dens228 said:

After spending way too much time looking at the Lowrance Elite 7 Ti2 and the Garmin Echomap UHD 73 sv side my side I pulled the trigger on the Garmin.  

The imaging seemed a little crisper and the transducer is a little smaller.

I really wanted the Fish Reveal of the Lowrance but it wasn't enough to overcome the Garmin.  
Now I just need the water to be ice free.........lol

Great choice.  You can always add panoptics one day... Maybe Garmin will make their own fish reveal.  Even just and overlay would be nice.  

 

Garmin has the best user interface to me... The touchscreens are actually useful and not just an afterthought like with other devices.  I think mega is beautiful, but I just wasn't impressed with the units.  I have livescope and upgraded to the UHD transducer.  It's not mega, but it is still very good 

[Dens228]

9 hours ago, jaimeastin said:

Great choice.  You can always add panoptics one day... Maybe Garmin will make their own fish reveal.  Even just and overlay would be nice.  

 

Garmin has the best user interface to me... The touchscreens are actually useful and not just an afterthought like with other devices.  I think mega is beautiful, but I just wasn't impressed with the units.  I have livescope and upgraded to the UHD transducer.  It's not mega, but it is still very good 

Now I just need to get good at reading the sidescan!

 

[jaimeastin]

1 hour ago, Dens228 said:

Now I just need to get good at reading the sidescan!

 

Get out there and play with it... Yep, no fishing, just messing with it.  Do it every season so you learn in different conditions what settings to change

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, jaimeastin said:

Get out there and play with it... Yep, no fishing, just messing with it.  Do it every season so you learn in different conditions what settings to change

As soon as I won't be skating my kayak on top of the ice!

[freelancer27]

Looked loong and strong at the Garmins, but I feel that they are last in terms of picture quality (at least what I have seen at the WestMarine demo units). I agree that touch screen is super helpful on the water when one wants to operate a unit very fast. 

My current ordered list is:

1. Raymarine Element 9HV (best combo of usability, picture quality, features and build quality)
2. Lowrance Elite Ti 9 (great usability, a bit behind in picture quality behind Hummingbird Helix and Raymarine Element)
3. Hummingbird Helix (best picture quality. Felt the usability was the worst and the build quality as well)
4. Garmin Echomap (good build quality, good usability and build. Poor picture quality)

Waiting for some sales on the Raymarine or Lowrance and then will probably pull the trigger on one of the two.
 

[jaimeastin]

1 hour ago, freelancer27 said:

Looked loong and strong at the Garmins, but I feel that they are last in terms of picture quality (at least what I have seen at the WestMarine demo units). I agree that touch screen is super helpful on the water when one wants to operate a unit very fast. 

My current ordered list is:

1. Raymarine Element 9HV (best combo of usability, picture quality, features and build quality)
2. Lowrance Elite Ti 9 (great usability, a bit behind in picture quality behind Hummingbird Helix and Raymarine Element)
3. Hummingbird Helix (best picture quality. Felt the usability was the worst and the build quality as well)
4. Garmin Echomap (good build quality, good usability and build. Poor picture quality)

Waiting for some sales on the Raymarine or Lowrance and then will probably pull the trigger on one of the two.
 

Garmin is not the best with pictures.. I showed what you get with their best package.  Hummingbird's Mega is the best picture out there, but I do not like the interface at all.  Nothing beats livescope in action.  Garmin has done me well with customer service and they product quality.  With all that said, I still use my monochrome Garmin echo 150, 200 , striker 43cv, and the this super terrible lowrance color unit.  There is only so much I really need from the fish finder.  

 

Everyone has different opinions and we all catch fish.  Keep on trying our units and get the one that fits you the most.

[Boomstick]

I'm starting to look at fish finders as well for a kayak I'm planning to buy and rig out and I am likely going with a Garmin Echomap 74sv or 94sv or the largest that I feel I can comfortably fit really. I chose the Garmin because it doesn't break the bank too badly and I have always found them extremely easy to use. The picture quality isn't the best, but I imagine that won't be too much of an issue to be honest, also I can afford a 9" where I would be looking at a Raymarine Element 7HV or a Lawrence HDS 5 for the same price, and the larger screen should help with my inability to see anything in the sun.

[freelancer27]

1 hour ago, Boomstick said:

I'm starting to look at fish finders as well for a kayak I'm planning to buy and rig out and I am likely going with a Garmin Echomap 74sv or 94sv or the largest that I feel I can comfortably fit really. I chose the Garmin because it doesn't break the bank too badly and I have always found them extremely easy to use. The picture quality isn't the best, but I imagine that won't be too much of an issue to be honest, also I can afford a 9" where I would be looking at a Raymarine Element 7HV or a Lawrence HDS 5 for the same price, and the larger screen should help with my inability to see anything in the sun.

I would highly suggest to go into a WestMarine (or similar) and check out the units out in person. The Garmin is solid, but I feel that if one does not use the Panoptix, there are better options (for the same price) available. 

[Boomstick]

3 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

I would highly suggest to go into a WestMarine (or similar) and check out the units out in person. The Garmin is solid, but I feel that if one does not use the Panoptix, there are better options (for the same price) available. 

I have, which is why I like the Garmin. I thought it was cake to use.

[freelancer27]

2 hours ago, Boomstick said:

I have, which is why I like the Garmin. I thought it was cake to use.

Have you compared it to the Lowrance (touch) or Raymarine Element (non-touch)? What makes you favor the Garmin?

[Boomstick]

3 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Have you compared it to the Lowrance (touch) or Raymarine Element (non-touch)? What makes you favor the Garmin?

I liked the interface of the Garmin. I could sit down and figure it out without having to read the manual or waste any time. Even my kids could figure out how to use it in the same amount of time. The other model I was considering was the Lowrance HDS as well, but you know the price difference.

The one I did not get my hands on was a Raymarine Element, and I have heard good things about them, but at the same time I can get a Garmin for 60% the price too.

[freelancer27]

1 hour ago, Boomstick said:

I liked the interface of the Garmin. I could sit down and figure it out without having to read the manual or waste any time. Even my kids could figure out how to use it in the same amount of time. The other model I was considering was the Lowrance HDS as well, but you know the price difference.

The one I did not get my hands on was a Raymarine Element, and I have heard good things about them, but at the same time I can get a Garmin for 60% the price too.

Yeah,
Garmin, Lowrance and Raymarine have very easy to understand user interfaces. If the Raymarine Element had the touchscreen it would be the ultimate one. But even without touchscreen it feels like it is a pretty d**n good deal. 

The moments where a touch screen would be particularly helpful are:

* Quickly Setting a way point on a particular part of the screen
* Quickly scrolling through the past graphs (down, side imaging) 
* Quickly zooming in

Again, all of these can be done fairly well with other devices as well. Touch just makes it a bit easier and quicker.

 

[jaimeastin]

2 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Yeah,
Garmin, Lowrance and Raymarine have very easy to understand user interfaces. If the Raymarine Element had the touchscreen it would be the ultimate one. But even without touchscreen it feels like it is a pretty d**n good deal. 

The moments where a touch screen would be particularly helpful are:

* Quickly Setting a way point on a particular part of the screen
* Quickly scrolling through the past graphs (down, side imaging) 
* Quickly zooming in

Again, all of these can be done fairly well with other devices as well. Touch just makes it a bit easier and quicker.

 

I didn't think I would use touchscreen... Boy way I wrong.  I use it all the time... Not just with livescope.  I use it when I am patrolling on the console.  I will mark spots.  On the bow, I am marking spots and zooming in with livescope.  My bottoms are hardly used.

 

I disagree with one user that without panoptics, there are better.  I tested many units,even bout s lowrance unit that I thought I would used with my Garmin units.  The lowrance touch units were not as easy register touch.  Garmin had the best interface, no questions.  Lowrance feels cheaper.  Ray marine is just a lowrance unit for a different market.  I was never impressed with Ray marine.  

 

Garmin sells one of the very best value packages.  You can get a 9"screen for $600.  You keep saying that Garmin doesn't have the best picture, but I have get to regret the picture I get. I still catch fish. I still see the structure that I need to see to determine where I want to fish. Down and side imaging only let's see sea structure... It is d traditional that gives you some of the very best information. Seriously, if it's not lifescope, you're not going to be wasting that much time on the sonar while you're fishing.

 

Livecope is the only thing add truly encourages you to watch the screen so much. I try not to do it as it sometimes unfair, but it's just so amazing to see in action. Otherwise all the fish finders do the same. hummingbird has some of the best imaging, but the interface lacks intuitive precision. a screen so nice yet lacks touch or any intuitive actions to get in and get out. Lawrence is not as easy either. could not believe the men you have to go through to get the basic actions that you just get out of garmin.

[freelancer27]

1 hour ago, jaimeastin said:

I didn't think I would use touchscreen... Boy way I wrong.  I use it all the time... Not just with livescope.  I use it when I am patrolling on the console.  I will mark spots.  On the bow, I am marking spots and zooming in with livescope.  My bottoms are hardly used.

 

I disagree with one user that without panoptics, there are better.  I tested many units,even bout s lowrance unit that I thought I would used with my Garmin units.  The lowrance touch units were not as easy register touch.  Garmin had the best interface, no questions.  Lowrance feels cheaper.  Ray marine is just a lowrance unit for a different market.  I was never impressed with Ray marine.  

 

Garmin sells one of the very best value packages.  You can get a 9"screen for $600.  You keep saying that Garmin doesn't have the best picture, but I have get to regret the picture I get. I still catch fish. I still see the structure that I need to see to determine where I want to fish. Down and side imaging only let's see sea structure... It is d traditional that gives you some of the very best information. Seriously, if it's not lifescope, you're not going to be wasting that much time on the sonar while you're fishing.

 

Livecope is the only thing add truly encourages you to watch the screen so much. I try not to do it as it sometimes unfair, but it's just so amazing to see in action. Otherwise all the fish finders do the same. hummingbird has some of the best imaging, but the interface lacks intuitive precision. a screen so nice yet lacks touch or any intuitive actions to get in and get out. Lawrence is not as easy either. could not believe the men you have to go through to get the basic actions that you just get out of garmin.

Which transducer are you using? Probably would not fit in the transducer slot of the Hobie..

[jaimeastin]

On 1/13/2020 at 9:24 PM, freelancer27 said:

Which transducer are you using? Probably would not fit in the transducer slot of the Hobie..

I am using one of the GT UHD transducers.  I just looked at the new Bass Pro Catalog. 

Garmin has the new EchoMap UHD units that come with the Ultra Hi-Res transducer without having to purchase the add-on like I did.  

 

Also, Lowrance has the new Hook Reveal.  The hook series now have fish reveal.  That s not bad.

 

That's the way it goes.. You wait, you get better.

[freelancer27]

45 minutes ago, jaimeastin said:

I am using one of the GT UHD transducers.  I just looked at the new Bass Pro Catalog. 

Garmin has the new EchoMap UHD units that come with the Ultra Hi-Res transducer without having to purchase the add-on like I did.  

 

Also, Lowrance has the new Hook Reveal.  The hook series now have fish reveal.  That s not bad.

 

That's the way it goes.. You wait, you get better.

Interesting. Though 1800 USD is a bit too rich for my taste for a Fish finder on a Kayak, plus the transducer would not fit the Hobie either.

Talked with a Lowrance guy about the new Hook Reveal. He said it does not have any significant features that the TI2 series would not have.

 

[Fishingmickey]

50 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

Interesting. Though 1800 USD is a bit too rich for my taste for a Fish finder on a Kayak, plus the transducer would not fit the Hobie either.

Talked with a Lowrance guy about the new Hook Reveal. He said it does not have any significant features that the TI2 series would not have.

 

The Garmin 93sv Echomap UHD w/transducer retails for 1049.

FM

[freelancer27]

41 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

The Garmin 93sv Echomap UHD w/transducer retails for 1049.

FM

Do these have the Ultra Hi-Res transducer?

[jaimeastin]

5 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Do these have the Ultra Hi-Res transducer?

Yes

[Fishingmickey]

17 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Do these have the Ultra Hi-Res transducer?

As Jamie said it does. It is also panoptix live scope capable. The GPS store has the 93SV UHD w/transducer with navonics maps and panaoptix in a bundle for just over 2K. If you bought them separately. It's 899 for the 93SV, 349 for the UHD Transducer and 1499 for Panoptix. 

[jaimeastin]

1 hour ago, Fishingmickey said:

As Jamie said it does. It is also panoptix live scope capable. The GPS store has the 93SV UHD w/transducer with navonics maps and panaoptix in a bundle for just over 2K. If you bought them separately. It's 899 for the 93SV, 349 for the UHD Transducer and 1499 for Panoptix. 

Not bad...

I paid $1200 for two 93SV, no UHD and the old g2, non navionics maps

I paid $390 for the GVC 20 blackbox and gt34 UHD, used on eBay.

I paid $1500 for livescope.

Only this I got out of the bunch is networking..one would still need to buy that.. 

 

Which buy the way I made my own networking package.  Many people have inquired about getting one.  I will have all the details this weekend or next week.  Saves well over $150 or move than going with Garmin.