Up to $1000 for a kayak setup - which side imaging unit?

[jimanchower]

I picked up an Old Town Autopilot 120 and I'm looking to upgrade from my Garmin Striker 4. Custom mapping is important to me, and I want to get the benefits of side imaging. A 7" screen seems like the sweet spot. I'd like to buy new, and I'm not married to one brand or another. A MSRP of $700-900 is doable so I have some left over for mounts and wiring. What's my best bet? Thanks!

[casts_by_fly]

Helix 7, G3 or G4 MSI.  great imaging.  The boat is designed for the Humminbird transducers and they tuck up tight to the hull (if you flip the mount upside down).  If you have no plans for live imaging, then the 7 is great.  The next biggest unit that has side imaging is the 9 which runs nearer $1500 retail (though there are specials and rebates to get that down).  The 9 has even better side imaging because the transducer is twice as powerful (but also twice as big and twice as power hungry).  

 

The G4 vs the G4N is a $200 swing and you won't need the N.  $949 vs $749

 

Add a zero lines card for custom mapping.  The built in will map about 150 acres.  The zero lines will do all of the lakes in your area.  The zero lines is $100 for an empty SD card which sucks, but that's the only way.

 

I used the yak attach quick lock mount for easy release.  I take mine off the boat every time I load it into the truck bed.  The yak attack mount is great for that.  If you sit to fish then you'll have no problems there.  It track mounts and is sturdy enough as it comes from the factory.  If you plan to leave the FF mounted while you drive then a ram mount is the way to go.  $50

 

I fished the G3 helix 7 MSI for the first two years I had the autopilot and it was great.  I upgraded to the 9 MSI with mega live this season and its also great.  Much bigger, power hungry, more to think about, but a significant step up in every way.

 

You shouldn't need any extra wiring unless you're mounting the battery in the very front or back.  Mine is under the seat and I ran the wires from the FF through the thru-hull mounts and back through the hull.  I added an inline fuse at the time which is recommended.

[DaubsNU1]

I had a Garmin Echomap 7sv with GT 54 transducer on my old tin boat. Mated it to my trolling motor...it did fine and got me in to the side-imaging world.

 

When I got new Lund, opted for the Helix MEGA SI+...my brother had been running Humninbird.

 

I am VERY happy with this choice. Side imaging in the Helix seems much better than the Garmin.

[jimanchower]

@casts_by_fly you convinced me. I ordered the Helix 7 G4 MSI from Omnia. The "$50 off $200" code is still active, plus I'll get $70 in Omnia rewards, plus I had $50 in "Shop" cash. Takes the sting out of having to spend another $100 on an SD card.

 

I have the YakAttack quick lock (FFP-1005) for my Garmin but I don't see a way to switch out just the plate, so I guess I'm in the market. I do like the quick release functionality but I also stand to fish most of the time. Is the Ram mount the way to go, then?

 

edit: I'm going to have to upgrade from my 4.4ah Nocqua battery too, aren't I?

edit2: ordered the YakAttack mount, Zero Lines SD card, and a 20ah Nocqua battery

[casts_by_fly]

A 20 AH is a good choice for that one. 
 

I stand to fish also. On the helix 7 I added an extra arm length for standing and could push the buttons by just barely bending down. 

[Seafury]

Garmin allday every day.

Nothing else compares.

 

I researched this topic for months before deciding on my first fish finder.

Garmin invented fish finders, and GPS navigation, everyone else is STILL playing catch up with their terrible images and trash live sonar.

 

I have an OT 120 sportsman PDL with a Garmin 93SV (so I can add livescope someday)

Mounted with Yakattack gear and transducer on a yakattack switchblade mount that goes over the side as using the bottom hull mount is suicide if you fish rocky bottoms, rivers and creeks like I do, or if you beach your yak, or forgot to pull that thing up one time.

No thanks!

Transducers cost a fortune!

 

I don't use the cell block battery mount as that adds way too much weight to the side of the boat with my already way heavy 93SV mounted.

My 18ah Lifep04 amazon battery is in a plastic ammo box placed in the front sealed hatch.

The 93SV has everything any boat needs, chart plotter, excellent fish finder, depth, temp, very accurate GPS, mapping, preloaded maps, removeable SD cards, and is the cheapest unit that can be upgraded to livescope (the BEST active sonar hands down)

 

I saved up my money and bought my 93SV on black Friday and got the older GT54 transducer to save more money.

It's plenty good for my needs.

 

I wouldn't use another brand if you gave them to me for free, not worth wasting my time on the water with inferior electronics.

Fishing time is precious and short, don't compromise if you can afford it.

Also, livescope is a huge game changer and worth it alone for that upgrade option.

[5by3]

Picked up the Helix 7 G4 Mega DI/SI and mounted on my old town pdl 106 and have been very happy with the performance. The images are very clear. 
 

I use the Navarre scupper mount which neatly tucks it up under the hull and provides fairly good protection. I am still very careful not to scratch the transducer when loading/unloading or beaching my kayak. If you drag your yak a lot, the side arm mount might be a better option.

 

I run mine with an 18 amp hour lithium I picked up on Amazon for around $40-50. I’ve ran my unit on pretty much full settings for two full 8-hour days without charging.
 

I have my unit mounted on the side rail with the ram ball mount. 

[Boomstick]

I currently have the Garmin Echomap 93sv with the GT54UHD transducer. You should be able to get a package deal on the older model at least with the newer improved GT56UHD transducer in your price range, and maybe the newer Echomap 2 in the spring. The newer transducer will get more distance in sidevu, maybe 100 ft out side to side where on the GT534UHD it gets dark after 65 feet or so.

 

What I like about Garmin is they have a really easy to use interface and they don't require a whole lot of tweaking going lake to lake with clarity changes.

 

I would also consider Hummingbird simply because they still have the best imaging although Garmin has made great strides recently to lessen the gap. But their interface is like something out of the 1980s. As a software developer, it drives me nuts that they can't figure that out.

 

In my opinion, I would either go with Hummingbird or Garmin for these reasons. At the end of the day, it's what's most important to you.

 

[Koz]

I have the Humminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4 and it runs all day on my 10Ah lithium battery.

 

I moved my CellBlok off the rail and put it behind my seat. It was fine on the rail, but with the head unit mounted on it the height could be intrusive since my seat is not raised. 

 

Lately I have not been happy with the detail of the base maps so I just purchased the Lakemaster Premium SD card for my region.

[Darth-Baiter]

that is one heck of an upgrade!!!  wow!!!  nicely done.