Kayak Graph Size

[Koz]

What size head units are you running on your kayaks? I have. Helix 7 with the Lakemaster card that I use for maps. Then I have a 9” Garmin for FFS and DI and SI.

 

The Garmin unit is currently on my homemade center console that sits just an inch or so off the deck. While that keeps the unit from interfering with my fishing, by the end of day my neck is sore. My old eyes also have some difficulty seeing all of the details.

 

I’m thinking of going to a 10” or 12” unit, but before dropping money on that I’m going to raise my graph mount. For $79 I bought the one from Dugout Bait & Tackle and it should arrive in a few days. I just hope it doesn’t interfere with my fishing, especially since I sit and fish.

 

So, what size units are you using and did you mount it on a center console? 

[CountryboyinDC]

I thought a 7" graph (I have a Lowrance HDS Carbon) was big medicine.  Of course I'm just running side scan, and 90% of the time just regular sonar or down scan.  I run mine on the gunwale on top of a YakAttack Cellblock; I don't have a center console.  I've no experience with the kayak you have, so I don't know how much in the way a big graph would be.  You really wouldn't want to flip with one or two of those on your kayak, though. 

[Choporoz]

I have 9" mounted just outside my right knee.  No FFS.  Most often sidescan across top, with bottom half split btwn map and downscan.

[Koz]

22 minutes ago, CountryboyinDC said:

I thought a 7" graph (I have a Lowrance HDS Carbon) was big medicine.  Of course I'm just running side scan, and 90% of the time just regular sonar or down scan.  I run mine on the gunwale on top of a YakAttack Cellblock; I don't have a center console.  I've no experience with the kayak you have, so I don't know how much in the way a big graph would be.  You really wouldn't want to flip with one or two of those on your kayak, though. 

It would take a whale or incredibly nautical conditions to tip this thing over. I can stand on the gunnel and it won’t tip over.

[Koz]

38 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I have 9" mounted just outside my right knee.  No FFS.  Most often sidescan across top, with bottom half split btwn map and downscan.

You must be young and have good eyesight 😀

 

There are a few small lakes that I fish where Garmin has mapping available but Humminbird doesn’t. I that case I sometimes run a side by side split screen with a 33% window for mapping and the larger panel for FFS or side scan. 

[JayMac89]

I just got the garmin 93sv. Used it for the first time this weekend. So not much input. But I will say this, I think 9in is the perfect size. I have mine mounted on my left side, maybe half way down the track. It's big enough for me to see comfortably but not too big that it gets in the way. 

 

Did your garmin not come with the little swively arm thing? Mine came with a mount with 2 "joints" and then another knob that can tilt the actual unit. I'd imagine if you had it mounted there you could get some play in the unit. Raise it up, bring it closer to your face, yada yada. 

 

No disrespect intended, but iv seen you mention "old eyes" more than once. At least I'm pretty sure it was you. I personally think you'd get more benefit from being able move the unit up to a "viewing position" then back down to a "fishing position" as opposed to an extra inch. 

[FryDog62]

I had 3 ten inch screens on my bass boat, and when I switched to the kayak I went with 2 nine inchers.  Seems plenty big to me since it’s right in front of me, but my eyes are still pretty good. 
 

Yes, I built an all aluminum center bridge and really like it.  I run a Helix with 360 Imaging, and a Garmin 93 with Livescope+  Couldn’t be happier with the whole set up this season 👍

[casts_by_fly]

Single 9 for me. Used to be a single 7. Mine is on the yak attack quick release and has two arms worth of extension. On top of that and the mounting bracket I can be standing and just about touch it with my hand without bending over. I stand full time and thigh height is about enough for ffs 

[Koz]

10 hours ago, JayMac89 said:

I just got the garmin 93sv. Used it for the first time this weekend. So not much input. But I will say this, I think 9in is the perfect size. I have mine mounted on my left side, maybe half way down the track. It's big enough for me to see comfortably but not too big that it gets in the way. 

 

Did your garmin not come with the little swively arm thing? Mine came with a mount with 2 "joints" and then another knob that can tilt the actual unit. I'd imagine if you had it mounted there you could get some play in the unit. Raise it up, bring it closer to your face, yada yada. 

 

No disrespect intended, but iv seen you mention "old eyes" more than once. At least I'm pretty sure it was you. I personally think you'd get more benefit from being able move the unit up to a "viewing position" then back down to a "fishing position" as opposed to an extra inch. 

On my Seastream pedal drive I had the unit close to my seat. However, the AP 120 does not have tracks close to the seat as there are tool bins and cup holders near the cockpit and I don’t want to cover those up.

 

I’m going to try the raised center position for now, but ultimately I think I will end up using augmented reality glasses. The only thing holding me back from doing that now is finding a quality pair of non-bulky AR glasses that also allow for prescription lens inserts.

 

Also, because I wear progressive lenses I always have to find the sweet spot where whatever I am looking at is in focus. I HATE wearing glasses. My eyesight was fine until I hit my late 40’s and it’s been downhill ever since.

[gim]

2 hours ago, Koz said:

My eyesight was fine until I hit my late 40’s and it’s been downhill ever since.

 

Mine went downhill in middle school.

 

That problem can be fixed, permanently.  Corrective laser surgery is safe, effective, and often covered by health insurance.  I had it done in 2006 and said goodbye to contacts and eyeglasses forever.

[RAM3139]

Center mounted 7" garmin.  Its usually set up split between 2D and downscan, occasionally switched over to the map.  Plenty big enough for me.  Granted for almost 15 years I was running a black and white 3.8", so this seems like a huge upgrade still.

[Koz]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

 

Mine went downhill in middle school.

 

That problem can be fixed, permanently.  Corrective laser surgery is safe, effective, and often covered by health insurance.  I had it done in 2006 and said goodbye to contacts and eyeglasses forever.

Unfortunately, my major eyesight issue cannot be corrected with surgery.

[Bankc]

Single 5" screen, and it's off to the side.  And I have terrible eyesight.  Though, my eyesight is pretty good with my glasses, so I don't guess that actually counts as bad eyesight. 

 

I honestly don't know how you all fish around those big screens.  Especially center mounted ones.  It seems like it would always be in the way.  Between casting, standing and unhooking fish, I'm always occupying that space.  Even my tiny side mounted screen and transducer gets in my way occasionally.  But I guess we all develop different workflows, because I see a lot of people doing it, so it must be workable. 

[Koz]

1 hour ago, Bankc said:

Single 5" screen, and it's off to the side.  And I have terrible eyesight.  Though, my eyesight is pretty good with my glasses, so I don't guess that actually counts as bad eyesight. 

 

I honestly don't know how you all fish around those big screens.  Especially center mounted ones.  

That’s why I custom built a u-shaped one to sit close to the deck. But it’s a little too far away and my neck gets sore from looking down. I also have to stretch and reach when I change screens or mark waypoints. I thought I would give it a try.

 

The Dugout bar is only $79 it’s worth trying out. The Sasquatch bar is twice the price if you can even find one.  Kristine Fischer uses the Dugout bar and she probably wouldn’t use it if it was junk.

[FryDog62]

8 hours ago, Bankc said:

I honestly don't know how you all fish around those big screens.  Especially center mounted ones.  It seems like it would always be in the way.  Between casting, standing and unhooking fish, I'm always occupying that space.  Even my tiny side mounted screen and transducer gets in my way occasionally.  But I guess we all develop different workflows, because I see a lot of people doing it, so it must be workable. 

Wow, crazy how we all fish differently I guess, but that’s exactly why I went with the center mount - to get the screens out of the way and down lower. The first year I had a side mount on the gunnel, and I would constantly hit it when casting, jerking, skipping, flipping, and netting fish - all the things you do off to the side of the kayak.  
 

Plus now the graphs are solidly mounted so they don’t wobble at all.  I can leave them on when trailering, one less thing to tear down before transporting. The boat cover fits right over everything..

[Koz]

My new Dugout Dashboard Graph Mount arrived today and I installed it on my AP120. I can't wait to get it on the water. Here's another thread with the details:

 

 

[RAM3139]

On 8/14/2024 at 10:26 AM, Bankc said:

Single 5" screen, and it's off to the side.  And I have terrible eyesight.  Though, my eyesight is pretty good with my glasses, so I don't guess that actually counts as bad eyesight. 

 

I honestly don't know how you all fish around those big screens.  Especially center mounted ones.  It seems like it would always be in the way.  Between casting, standing and unhooking fish, I'm always occupying that space.  Even my tiny side mounted screen and transducer gets in my way occasionally.  But I guess we all develop different workflows, because I see a lot of people doing it, so it must be workable. 

Interesting how much difference there is in preference for setup.  I'm of the mind that the less stuff in front of me, the better.  And I much prefer things to be in center and low vs off to the side.  My 7" center mount doesn't get in the way, but I feel if I had even a small screen off to the side it would be in the way all the time.  When I see the "fully rigged" builds, I can't imagine fishing around all that stuff.  To each their own though.

[Motoboss]

I use a Garmin Striker 4 (4.3 inch screen) in a portable case on my canoe 😉

[Koz]

2 hours ago, RAM3139 said:

Interesting how much difference there is in preference for setup.  I'm of the mind that the less stuff in front of me, the better.  And I much prefer things to be in center and low vs off to the side.  My 7" center mount doesn't get in the way, but I feel if I had even a small screen off to the side it would be in the way all the time.  When I see the "fully rigged" builds, I can't imagine fishing around all that stuff.  To each their own though.

I initially thought the center bar console would be a hindrance. I was completely wrong.

 

I fished with it today for the first time and it was fantastic. It didn’t interfere with fishing or landing fish.