Sonar/chartplotter recommendations?

[Tjames09]

Ill be in the market for one of these over the winter coming into spring for next year. Wondering any recommendations for what to look for. There is a ton of models at Bass Pro ranging wildly in price.

[GBW]

The biggest question back is the price range you are trying to keep it in?

[Tjames09]

The biggest question back is the price range you are trying to keep it in?

 

Of course, I was trying to stay mid range. Somewhere $500-$700. Not looking at anything over $1000 really.

[GBW]

you should get a lot of replies but after being in a few buddies boats I say look at the Lowrance line. Yeah I just got a "bird" but mine isn't a GPS unit and it's for the ice season and was an Ins. thing... I found looking at the screen on the Lowrance (HDS) vs Helix (bird) in ecmilly's boat I found the HDS easier to read and it was spot on!

[GBW]

I know it's out of the $ range I'm sure based on the budget for what ecmilly has but I said my reply based on products out there that I have used on the higher end.

[porkpie]

I've owned all major brands at some point, and they all have pluses and minuses. If it where my money I'd look at a hummingbird helix or s raymarine dragonfly. You'll get lots of responses though. Everyone has their favorites.

[mike rousseau]

If your not very experienced Humminbird is really user friendly and easy to learn with

 

If your great with sonar (I'm assuming your not or you wouldn't have asked this question) Lawrance is a good option

 

I run humminbirds on my boat and love em... I consider myself pretty good with electronics and my Humminbird units do everything I want my electronics to do for me

 

There are some great deals out there right now on the discontinued Humminbird models now that helix and onix are out

[Roe Bag]

If your not very experienced Humminbird is really user friendly and easy to learn with

 

I agree. I have the Helix 7 DI with the Navionics + card.

Short learning curve. Excellent results.

[Old Ironmaker]

Hummingbird for your price range, Garmin when you are getting into above 800 bucks a unit for the same screen size. Just be prepared to shell out for a new one after 4 years. I know someone is going to say they have had a 600 buck HB for 6 years etc. My 4 year old HB GPS HD combo is not as sensitive as it was when new but for the fishing I do I will use it until it dies. My colour Garmin lasted 15 years but they are not made to last today and sellers admit that. I have to laugh when my Mom called a few years ago to say their new Microwave went for a crap. " It was only 15 years old Son!!!" And I get pissed when some kid at Leons tells me that my 5 year old(to me that's new) big screen TV doesn't owe me a thing it's so old.

[Tjames09]

any comparison between the helix 7 and elite 7? or hook 7?

[BillM]

In that price range you'll get more bang for you buck in the used market.

[JoshS]

Unless you're super technical I think all brands will do just fine. Think about what features you want then shop around for a sale or used unit. You can't go wrong with either humminbird or lowrance. If you can make it out to Woodstock, Angling Outfitters and the owner Jocelyn is the best fishfinder resource in ON and will take the time to help answer your questions and setup your unit for you. Plus he usually has some good deals on used units and can ship to you if needed.

[adempsey]

Definitely take a look at the Raymarine Dragonfly series. If I was in the market, i'd give them some solid consideration.

 

http://www.raymarine.com/view/?id=11198

[Sterling]

The absolute best value you'll get is with a t-box and tablet with navionics app.

 

What you need;

1. A samsung or apple tablet with GPS (preferably) $200

2. A t-box $200

3. (optional) accessories like a tablet case, bracket, charger, etc.

 

For $400 you get a plotter, full bathymetric maps, and most importantly, the ability to generate bathymetric maps for any body of water on the spot, charted or not (fantastic for mapping backwater lakes, or your favorite bay on lake X). If I'm not mistaken, this is a feature only available on Humminbird Onix units, which run $2000.

 

Interestingly Raymarine came out with a similar unit called the "wi-fish". It does the same as the t-box but with CHIRP technology. I'd love to try it out one day.

Edited September 18, 2016 by Sterling

[Sinker]

^ all that and still no depth finder? Mo thanks. Id rather have a simple depth finder than navionics on a tablet. What do you do if it rains?

 

Im a lowrance guy thru and thru. Never had one let me down. I still have the first one i ever bought and it works as good now as it did then.

 

Its all personal preference and price. They all work. You dont need anything fancy.

 

Elite 5 or 7, or hds 5 or 7 are great bang for your buck. Cant go wrong.

 

S.

[Bondar]

Don't buy a Lowrance elite, processor is so slow loses GPS while driving,

[John Bacon]

Don't buy a Lowrance elite, processor is so slow loses GPS while driving,

 

Is that the old Elite which are now Hooks; or the new Elite? I am interested in the Elite 7 TDI because it is the non-HDS unit that can control an Xi5

[ichan]

only 2 things to consider

1. will u ever add another unit on the boat, because some units will network with each other and some will not

2. do you want side imaging, si units cost a little bid more

once you answer these 2 questions go buy the biggest screen you can

[Bondar]

Is that the old Elite which are now Hooks; or the new Elite? I am interested in the Elite 7 TDI because it is the non-HDS unit that can control an Xi5

Mine is a Elite 7 chirp

[porkpie]

Your not the first guy I've heard that from about the older elite series. However it's the only lowrance unit I've ever heard that complaint about. Two of my good fishing buds run the HDS on their boats and love em!

[John Bacon]

Mine is a Elite 7 chirp

 

Thanks, does it look like the one in the first link below; or like the 2nd link?

 

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/Fishfinder-Chartplotter/elite-7-ti-en-us.aspx

 

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/Fishfinder-Chartplotter/Elite-7-CHIRP-en-us.aspx

 

https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Hook+7

[Bondar]

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/Fishfinder-Chartplotter/Elite-7-CHIRP-en-us.aspx

 

It's that one, I only use it on the front of my boat my HDS 8 has been great with no issues

[Sterling]

^ all that and still no depth finder? Mo thanks. Id rather have a simple depth finder than navionics on a tablet. What do you do if it rains?

 

Im a lowrance guy thru and thru. Never had one let me down. I still have the first one i ever bought and it works as good now as it did then.

 

Its all personal preference and price. They all work. You dont need anything fancy.

 

Elite 5 or 7, or hds 5 or 7 are great bang for your buck. Cant go wrong.

 

S.

 

Course it has a depth finder ya silly goose, how do you think it generates them sweet bathymetric maps?

 

$20 waterproof case for the tablet and you're golden.

 

The Elite and HDS are nice units, but if we're comparing dollar for dollar, there's no competition. The HDS;

 

1. Smaller screen.

2. Can't generate map on the spot.

3. Have to pay for maps.

 

On the plus side;

 

1. It has side scanning.

2. Structure scan, built in CHIRP, etc.

[Tjames09]

only 2 things to consider

1. will u ever add another unit on the boat, because some units will network with each other and some will not

2. do you want side imaging, si units cost a little bid more

once you answer these 2 questions go buy the biggest screen you can

 

Just one unit. How useful is the SI? Ive seen it online but cant determine its usefulness for me.

 

These are the three im thinking about:

 

http://www.basspro.com/Lowrance-Hook7-Fishfinder/Chartplotter/product/2258405/

 

http://www.basspro.com/Garmin-Striker-7-SV-Fishfinder/product/1509231248/

 

http://www.basspro.com/Humminbird-HELIX-7-DI-GPS-Fishfinder-and-Chartplotter/product/1506251145/

[JoshS]

 

Course it has a depth finder ya silly goose, how do you think it generates them sweet bathymetric maps?

 

$20 waterproof case for the tablet and you're golden.

 

The Elite and HDS are nice units, but if we're comparing dollar for dollar, there's no competition. The HDS;

 

1. Smaller screen.

2. Can't generate map on the spot.

3. Have to pay for maps.

 

On the plus side;

 

1. It has side scanning.

2. Structure scan, built in CHIRP, etc.

 

I can see battery power being an issue with a tablet. I bring my ipad sometimes for a second GPS screen but am constantly putting it to sleep and restarting it to save the batt. Can't keep it running all day.

 

Tjames, you should call Angling outfitter's and talk to Jocelyn. He'll answer all your fishfinder q's over the phone with no obligation... He's been very helpful for me and I've actually never bought a unit there...but will my next one. They have better prices than BPS (there are much better fishing retailers IMO!), and will price match. But it's the service that makes it worth it and fact they will setup your unit for you - not an easy task for beginner. Support the smaller stores. I barely know the store and have only been in there once, so do not consider this a plug, they've just been super helpful helping me setup my unit properly and answering questions that I feel obliged to say something.

 

I love sidescan, it's a great tool to find structure. When you're circling around looking for that hump you see on your charts or mapping a weedline, sidescan is a great help. If you can extend the extra cash, go for it. If not, not a big deal, sonar plus GPS is all you need.