Fishfinders, what to buy, what to buy...?

[iwilfish]

I have always had a hand me down fishfinder (when I've had one) that was mostly just good for finding the bottom. I've decided to bite the bullet and get one that can actually do something for me. I can spend several hundred dollars, but less than a thousand. (actually I've got a cabelas visa and will be able to do most of the transaction on points) since I'm going through cabelas i've decided that Lowrance will work just fine for me. I really only do lake fishing and mostly on the olympic penisnsula. lake Sutherland is my favorite right now because it is only 20 minutes away, but I am planning on expanding my horizons. I'm trying to decide between the HDS 7 GEN 2 model or the Elite 7 HDI model. i'm not entirely sure I understand all the options of each but it seems to me that the biggest difference between the two besides a couple hundred dollars is the structure scan feature of the gen 2 series. If I get the elite 7 I can probably get it soon. if I decide to get the Gen2 model I have to keep saving for a while.

what I'm looking for is opinions. Is structure scan the only real difference between the two? Has anybody had either of these two models and what did you think of them. If it is a matter of no question, one is better to have than the other, I can wait. If I'm waiting to get something I don't really need then I don't want to (wait that is). Any help would be appreciated.

[angry john]

I am also looking for options and outfitting my yak with the 4 series models. The elite or one with DSI. I am guessing having all the bells and whistles is cool, but is the extra options worth it to you? I dont think i will be getting the DSI not because its another 50 bucks but because i also have to have a different phone. With the 50 i can get the map card. These new sonars are soooo good. Is the additional option something you have wanted, or will use a lot? A chart plotter is most important to me so thats where i am spending the extra cash.

[iwilfish]

thanks for the reply. I don't know if the extra option is what I will use; that's my problem. I'm hoping someone has used these models before that could tell me what they like about them.

thanks by the way to whichever moderator fixed my type-o on the title. you guys are unsung heroes. I appreciate all you do to keep the site operating properly.

[Amx]

You're welcome, that's why we're here.

As far as I'm concerned the down scan is mandatory. I thought about getting a 5, then decided to save more and get a 7, then decided to save more. I ended up getting a 10 and I use the downscan all the time, and never use the sonar/2D sonar. The side scan I use and need to spend more time using it, but it has found things in the lake I never knew were there.

Depending on how long it'll take you to save enough, I'd make sure I'd get what has the down scan and chart so I could set waypoints for features of/on the bottom to fish.

[iwilfish]

Thanks, Amx. I believe both models have the downscan. the elite doesn't have the side scan. (I think it is part of what they call structure scan) i also you can set waypoints on both models.

[iwilfish]

Amx, what is the significance of the title under the user names? mine used to say angler. is it how many posts you make?

[Amx]

Yup, something like that. Mike and Aaron can tell you at what mark they change.

[hewesbob]

I am getting ready to make my first major fish finder investment also. I refuse to shop at Cabelas but that's a story for another day. I was ready to buy a Hummingbird 856c then a charter boat captain friend of mine talked me into looking at Garmins. I fish all fresh water right now but we are planning on fishing salt now that I am retired. The Garmins seem to have everything that Lowrance and Hummingbird have plus they seem to have more plug ins on the back for things like radar, and the model I am looking at has a wireless option so you can upload or download to a hand held devise. Now with all that being said I wish I had a clue how to do any of it. I'm just hoping that an old dog can learn new tricks. My biggest problem now is that it does not come with a transducer. They recommend using a CHURP so I looked on the Garmin website and their transducers start at $89 to $2499 just for the transducer and 8 pin cable. In all my research I just win things like the 21596/a is better than the 21482/-6. How in the world am I supposed to figure out what is what? The fish finder/sonar/chart plotter/radar unit runs about $1600. If I spend that kind of cash I sure want the proper transducer. Any advise would be helpful.

[Amx]

And that is where a person needed to go to the Sportsman's Show the other week, to see and check out each unit. I'm sure I saw a Garmin booth and there were at least 4 people at the Lowrance booth helping people and showing the units and a depth finder class put on by Lowrance, but with info that can be used regardless of the brand.

The Portland Sportsman's Show is coming up, it might be a good idea to drive all the way down there for the class and looking into the booths. There is a thread with the dates and a coupon.


Later there is a Sportsman's Show in Spokane, but I don't know when, but it's soon.

Looking at the Lowrance web site last night between the 5 and 7, I'd go with the 7.

[iwilfish]

hewesbob, here is the address of some good info on how a transducer works and how to choose one. it helped me understand a little better. http://www.boatus.com/boattech/articles ... sducer.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. I just had a look at the Garmin choose a transducer pdf docuemnt. that is some seriously difficult to understand stuff. sounds like you need to go to the sport'smans show in spokane (that's where yur closest to isn't it) and ask some Q's. I thought a college education would have prepared me for anything, but that is alot of data.

[iwilfish]

hewesbob, I should have looked a your post closer be fore i replied. churp sonar stuff is beyond what I researched. I'm afraid even if i had the money I would go with the kind with fewer options just to avoid overloading my brain. that's not a recommendation to you by the way. just an acknowledgement of my limitations. maybe your charter boat friend who opened the can of worms could explain it.

[hewesbob]

Thanks for the input guys.I have an email into Garmin customer support, they say they will answer my questions with in 3 business days so I will wait, Its to cold to be out working on the boat right now any ways. I do think I will call captain Rick and pick his brain, besides its time to start talking to him about Westport bottom fishing, season is coming up fast. iwilfish keep us informed on what electronic you choose.

[kodacachers]

Hi Guys, If you are up for a drive, I'd suggest going down to portland this weekend and checking out the Portland Marine Electronics booth. I went to the the Puyallup sportsman's show and the boat show looking, primarily between the Garmin 740/741 and the Lowrance HDS 7. After hearing the reps talk (which was dizzying) I talked briefly with a guy from PME and he seemed to take a more practical approach based on budget and use (it was a bit awkward b/c the Garmin rep was standing right there with us). I'll likely go with the Lowrance primarily because once you add on all the hidden costs (like a transducers) it seems a better bang for the buck--but plan to take another look at the Garmin 740--its the older model and has closeout pricing. The Garmin 741 had the advantage of being able to eventually plug in radar, but don't think that's going to get used much on my 18 footer.

[iwilfish]

thanks kodacacher, that's good advice.
Hewesbob, i'll keep everyone in the loop you do the same. interested to see what you think of yours once you get it.

[buzzbob]

Have you looked at Furuno 1670f. US price is $500 plus $100 for transducer. Prices have been cut due to weak Yen (about 50%). HQ is in Camas, Wa. 2 features worth looking at are accu-fish and bottom discrimination. Units are bulletproof. Unit could seem complicated to use for a novice but not for experienced users. Had Lowrance for 20 years and they are great units but Furuno, which commercial fishermen use, are incredible units plus have 2 year warranty.

[AJ's Dad]

I've been looking for a new fish finder for my recent boat purchase to. Make sure you check with your dealer or online but I believe you need the gen 2 to be compatible with the structure scan if you add it later. I don't think the Elite 7 HDI will work with structure scan. Personally after a bunch of looking around, I plan to go with the Humminbird 899ci si combo. It has a 7" screen and comes with sonar, down scan and side scan, their version of structure scan. At Cabelas it's $999 I think that's the one for me.

[hewesfisher]

Spokane Boat show is going on right now through Sunday.

The Big Horn Sportsman show runs March 20 - 23. Even though the Big Horn show is primarily hunting related, there's some boating/fishing stuff there, just not as much as the boat show.

[iwilfish]

Thanks for the input guys
buzzbob: I would love to have a furuno. Even with the prices cut I would have have to wait for a while to get one as I have little actual cash, just points on my cabelas's visa.
AJ'sDad: I believe you are right about the structure scan. The elite series has (according to what I can glean from the website and discussions at the recent Puyallup sportsman's show) downscan (not structure scan) and some of the other features the Gen2 series has. I believe it has at least the capability of the insight system (although I haven't confirmed that) from what I think I am understanding it does most of the things the Gen2 series does except sidescan and the ability to generate your own maps from your own data.

Referring to your decision to get the humminbird 899ci si combo. why did you decide that's what you want or need? I haven't really considered humminbird yet. So I am interested in what piques your interest there.

[namaycush]

Cabelas sells the Furuno FCV 627 for $900 and it is a FF only.

[AJ's Dad]

Thanks for the input guys
buzzbob: I would love to have a furuno. Even with the prices cut I would have have to wait for a while to get one as I have little actual cash, just points on my cabelas's visa.
AJ'sDad: I believe you are right about the structure scan. The elite series has (according to what I can glean from the website and discussions at the recent Puyallup sportsman's show) downscan (not structure scan) and some of the other features the Gen2 series has. I believe it has at least the capability of the insight system (although I haven't confirmed that) from what I think I am understanding it does most of the things the Gen2 series does except sidescan and the ability to generate your own maps from your own data.

Referring to your decision to get the humminbird 899ci si combo. why did you decide that's what you want or need? I haven't really considered humminbird yet. So I am interested in what piques your interest there.

The Humminbird is an all in one unit with an internal GPS, no need to mount a puck on your boat, and the sidescan is built into the unit. With Lowrance I believe you need to buy a unit, then buy the structure scan to go with it. From what I have read on some forums, the Humminbird sidescan seems to work better in shallow water than the structurescan. I spend a lot of time in shalow water. I also had a Humminbird 797 with side scan on the boat I just sold and I really liked it.