Which Fish Finder

[mchljrdn]

Where is the "value" point in fish finders these days?  I'm looking to purchase one and I don't want to waste money.   Anybody really happy with their purchase?  I'd rather buy once, cry once.  I'm a casual fisherman - get out about twice a month.  Thanks for taking time to help!

[Fin S]

It's going to vary by person, of course. For me, the sweet spot is around $1,000-$1,400. That usually gets you a 9" or 10" screen and side view. I have two Garmin EchoMap 93sv units that I'm pretty happy with. More money will get you a bigger screen and higher resolution graphics, but I prefer to put that extra money in rods/reels.

[Dens228]

I have a Garmin Echomap UHD 73sv that I'm very happy with.  Switched from Lowrance.   My only regret is I didn't get the 9 inch screen. 

[Boomstick]

I picked up a Garmin EchoMap UHD 93sv for my kayak, it's really easy to use and I don't have to make too many changes going lake to lake. The imaging is pretty decent, I'm all all around happy with it.

On 9/8/2020 at 9:03 AM, Dens228 said:

I have a Garmin Echomap UHD 73sv that I'm very happy with.  Switched from Lowrance.   My only regret is I didn't get the 9 inch screen. 

If you aren't aware, the 73sv has the same number of pixels and it's cheaper just a smaller screen - I got the 9" simply because the larger screens are better with sun glare and I have horrible vision when sun glare is involved. The same is true with most brands as well.

[Guitarfish]

I think you guys are brave to use expensive electronics on a kayak.  The saying about 'not if but when' you'll capsize would keep me going cheap.

[Dens228]

3 hours ago, Boomstick said:

I picked up a Garmin EchoMap UHD 93sv for my kayak, it's really easy to use and I don't have to make too many changes going lake to lake. The imaging is pretty decent, I'm all all around happy with it.

If you aren't aware, the 73sv has the same number of pixels and it's cheaper just a smaller screen - I got the 9" simply because the larger screens are better with sun glare and I have horrible vision when sun glare is involved. The same is true with most brands as well.

I'd want the 93 for the larger screen.

1 hour ago, Guitarfish said:

I think you guys are brave to use expensive electronics on a kayak.  The saying about 'not if but when' you'll capsize would keep me going cheap.

Fifth year in a kayak and I've never even been close to flipping it. And I go out about five days a week in all sorts of weather.  

[Smalls]

11 hours ago, Guitarfish said:

I think you guys are brave to use expensive electronics on a kayak.  The saying about 'not if but when' you'll capsize would keep me going cheap.

Most, if not all recent graphs are at least IPX6 rated, so a short dunk shouldn't be an issue. 

 

I've taken some pretty big wakes over my bow and my graph was fine. Like Dens228, I've yet to come close to flipping. 

[Boomstick]

On 9/15/2020 at 10:39 AM, Guitarfish said:

I think you guys are brave to use expensive electronics on a kayak.  The saying about 'not if but when' you'll capsize would keep me going cheap.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to flip a Bonafide SS127? My fat ass hasn't been able to do it yet

[J Francho]

On 9/15/2020 at 10:39 AM, Guitarfish said:

I think you guys are brave to use expensive electronics on a kayak.  The saying about 'not if but when' you'll capsize would keep me going cheap.

They're waterproof, and attached.  The graph would be my LAST worry if I somehow managed to flip.

[Dens228]

43 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

Do you have any idea how hard it is to flip a Bonafide SS127? My fat ass hasn't been able to do it yet

I'm in the same kayak.  I'm 240 and can stand on one side to pee over the side without even thinking about it tipping. 

[moguy1973]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

They're waterproof, and attached.  The graph would be my LAST worry if I somehow managed to flip.

And, I'm not sure if all manufacturers do but, my Garmin echomap even floats.  Don't ask me how I know this ?

[J Francho]

I didn't know that!

56 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

Don't ask me how I know this ?

LOL, experience is the best teacher.

 

[king fisher]

A fish finder will survive a quick dunking. I never thought I would flip my Kayak.  In Salt water I would tie most of my gear down, but in fresh water I never bothered.  I even took my kayak out through heavy surf with no issues.  Then one day on a lake I had been fishing all day in 20 mph. winds, getting wet but never worried about tipping.  After all I reasoned, I had been in a lot rougher seas and wind on the ocean.  While drifting with the wind casting at a flooded fence line, I hit a fence post just under the surface.  Before I realized what happened I'm trying to save all my rods and gear.  I didn't loose any rods, but did loose three boxes of tackle boxes.  Like I told a friend who had just flipped his plane over on a gravel bar in Alaska.  There are only two kinds, those that have and those that will.

[Guitarfish]

Knew I heard that somewhere, lol.  Bummer you lost your tackle.