How would you setup a new boat with electronics? Garmin, humminbird, Lowrance...?

[clemsondds]

If you were building a bass/bay boat with room for two 12" units at the helm...which setup would you go with? Garmin, Lowrance, Humminbird...? I have always ran humminbird since I do more bass fishing but am leaning toward garmin. Recently I have read about quite a few quality control issues with Garmin, but maybe that's everyone these days. Was thinking about running two units at the helm and one or two (livescope and mapping) at the bow. Really just looking for your favorite setup and why. I know there's a lot of variables that go into selecting a setup and a lot are specific to the needs of boater, but just thought it would be interesting to hear what your favorite is and why. If money wasn't an issue and you were just setting up your dream boat (within reason lol). Will probably have the new Garmin Kraken trolling motor and raptor anchors.
Thanks!

[Tennessee Boy]

I have three Humminbird Solix.  I wouldn’t say I’m a fan as I’ve found them to be very buggy.  I’m a retired software developer and I worked for some companies during my career that insisted on releasing a product on schedule even if it wasn’t ready.   Humminbird reminds me of some of those companies.   Eventually they fix the bugs in future updates.  I stick with Humminbird because they are the only company that offers live sonar and 360 imaging.   MEGA live is not as good as the live sonar offered by Garmin and Lowrance but having 360 imaging makes up for that in my opinion.   Also,  LakeMaster maps are second to none for the lakes I fish.

[TOXIC]

To get the full range of functions, match electronics to your trolling motor of preference. Some have features that only work with certain trollers.  Only exception I can think of is the new Power Pole Move troller.  If it doesn’t matter then each manufacturer is better known for some functions.  You need to choose which style of fishing you are going to use the most and finally, you see a lot of the pros with mismatched manufacturers.  There’s a reason for that.  Like I said, some do things better than others. 

[clemsondds]

  On 11/15/2023 at 2:51 PM, TOXIC said:

To get the full range of functions, match electronics to your trolling motor of preference. Some have features that only work with certain trollers.  Only exception I can think of is the new Power Pole Move troller.  If it doesn’t matter then each manufacturer is better known for some functions.  You need to choose which style of fishing you are going to use the most and finally, you see a lot of the pros with mismatched manufacturers.  There’s a reason for that.  Like I said, some do things better than others. 

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Right...so what would you do if you were building a boat?  That's what I want to know. Your style of fishing and all...

[casts_by_fly]

my answer was going to be similar to Toxic's and TB's.  It depends what you want to fish and how.  Since you specificed what would I do, then that's easy.  I already run a Helix 9 because I think the HBird side imaging is the best going.  if money is no object, I'd have two at the helm and a pair at the bow.  The two at the helm would be for side imaging and maps.  SI would turn into motor settings at speed for any length of run.  Up front I'd have 360 and megalive (possibly split with Navi on one screen, depending how I was fishing).  At the moment, I use a helix 9 for all but the 360 (which I don't have).  When I sit down I have a preset for side imaging and one for SI/2D/Nav.  When I stand up to fish I swap into live mode.  Its easy enough to swap, but if you're putting one together new then just have dedicated screens (more or less).

 

I'd stick with Hbird because of the SI.  Garmin probably has better live imaging, but megalive is still good.  

[A-Jay]

I prefer one unit at the console & one at the bow.

A-Jay

[gim]

  On 11/15/2023 at 2:51 PM, TOXIC said:

To get the full range of functions, match electronics to your trolling motor of preference.

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What he said

 

Just pick one and go from there.

[Jig Man]

If I were depending on ffs then Garmin would be my way.  If side scan is most important then Humminbird.

 

I don’t have any current experience with Lowrance so I wouldn’t go that way without research.  When I had them 2d was the best available.

 

I am running a one boat Humminbird network with 3 Solix, Minn Kota trolling motor and Mega live.

[WRB]

Garmin TM, then Garmin electronics makes life easier to net work and customer service support.

I always ran Lowrance but they are a different company today.

If you are using in salt water research that, corrosion is a electronic killer.

Tom

[GaryH]

I run 2 birds on the bow. 1- mega live & the other mega 360

on the console 2 - birds 1 for mapping and the other for side imaging. Ultrex for TM. If I was building a new rig probably the same setup only because of familiarity. 

 

 

[Siebert Outdoors]

I've run Lowrance for years.  I know how they functions and they have always worked for me. I run duals.

[clemsondds]

I think my biggest challenge will be deciding what to do at the bow.  This will be for a bay boat so I will have to design most of it myself.  Will have a garmin kraken trolling motor most likely.  Last boat I felt like I was always battling with cords (various transducers) so want to make this as clean as possible.  So trying to decide what's the best way to do that while also getting whatever tech I need.  Has there been progress in having livescope and mega360 together and having it work and look clean?  

[Tennessee Boy]

  On 11/17/2023 at 3:03 PM, clemsondds said:

Has there been progress in having livescope and mega360 together and having it work and look clean?

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Are you referring to Garmin Livescope or are you using “livescope” as a generic term for live sonar?   Mega Live and Mega 360 work fine together.  Does it look clean?  The wiring around my trolling motor hasn’t looked clean in decades.

[clemsondds]

  On 11/17/2023 at 3:44 PM, Tennessee Boy said:

Are you referring to Garmin Livescope or are you using “livescope” as a generic term for live sonar?   Mega Live and Mega 360 work fine together.  Does it look clean?  The wiring around my trolling motor hasn’t looked clean in decades.

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I was referring to Garmin livescope.  LOL yeh, I hate clutter and all those wires gives me anxiety.  But if the 360 is worth it, I'll try to make it work.  

[Tennessee Boy]

Livescope and 360 might not get along if they use the same frequencies.  I can’t say.   360 mounts well on the Minn Kota Ultrex.  There are other mounting options other than the trolling motor but they are kind of messy in my opinion.

[gim]

  On 11/15/2023 at 9:49 PM, Siebert Outdoors said:

I've run Lowrance for years.  I know how they functions and they have always worked for me.

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I've used Lowrance since 2001.  I've become so familiar with their operating system it would be very difficult for me to go to another brand now.  I've got 20+ years of waypoints piled up in my graphs. That information is priceless to me.

 

Do you have a Lowrance Ghost bow mount on that setup?

[Siebert Outdoors]

I sure do. I really like it. It has a ton of power and I have yet to even get close to running my batteries down. 

[Woody B]

I have 2 Lowrance units at the console and 1 on the bow.   One on the console is for maps, the other I use for various sonar functions.  The bow unit has Active Target on it 99% of the time.  Screen size, and space available is important.  My console units are 9" and 7".  The bow unit in 9".   Bigger screens would be "in the way" when going down the lake at times with my boat/set up.   I haven't been in a boat with modern Garmin stuff.  I have been in a boat with 'birds, with Mega Live and Mega 360.   I loved the Mega 360 but don't want to clutter up my bow anymore.  The Mega Live didn't have the resolution or clarity that my Active Target has.   The 'bird guy even helped me with the settings on my Active Target, as I had just got it when we were looking at each others units.   

 

Everyone is going to have their own preferences.  My Lowrance stuff works, and I'm familiar with the interface so I'll be sticking with them.   My Motorguide Trolling motor interfaces with my Lowrance units.   If you get a chance before making a decision get in some boats and look at different brands and types.   You're welcome to get in my boat and look at my stuff in action, but I'm a few hours away.   Go hang out at a ramp and talk to some people about their electronics.  I've had several people look at my stuff.  Some went with Lowrance units, some went with other brands.  

[padon]

i run an ultrex . hummingbird helix 10 side  and down and helix 9 for maps at the console. helix 10 360 on the bow and will probably add garmin livescope at the bow. i like the birds because im familiar with them and they network with the ultrex. i also think lakemaster has the best maps for my main lakes. im going garmin for the live because i just think they have the best live going