Post by: metlhead on March 28, 2021, 04:08:42 PM
Post by: Stein on March 28, 2021, 04:12:59 PM
I'm happy with my Elite 7 for the price, but just bought a new transducer as the package one has significant limitations mainly due to the lower power.
Post by: HntnFsh on March 28, 2021, 05:32:50 PM
Post by: MADMAX on March 28, 2021, 05:34:17 PM
Post by: metlhead on March 28, 2021, 05:51:23 PM
Post by: Wetwoodshunter on March 28, 2021, 06:12:57 PM
Post by: bassquatch on March 28, 2021, 06:54:00 PM
I have a Lowrance HDS-8 on my Jon Boat I've been considering selling.
Post by: metlhead on March 28, 2021, 07:20:58 PM
Post by: fowl smacker on March 28, 2021, 07:59:43 PM
Post by: ASHQUACK on March 28, 2021, 08:04:40 PM
Post by: h2ofowlr on March 28, 2021, 08:30:22 PM
Raymarine Element HV would fit your bill and in my opinion blows Garmin and Lowrance units away with the imaging detail.
I moved away from Raymarine to Garmin. Way easier to use the Garmin and better graphics. Garmin all the way if you want a good system.
Post by: fowl smacker on March 28, 2021, 08:37:24 PM
That's funny, I'm opposite. Guess it's all personal preference.Raymarine Element HV would fit your bill and in my opinion blows Garmin and Lowrance units away with the imaging detail.
I moved away from Raymarine to Garmin. Way easier to use the Garmin and better graphics. Garmin all the way if you want a good system.
Post by: scotsman on March 28, 2021, 09:01:49 PM
Post by: MADMAX on March 28, 2021, 09:14:50 PM
They never turn them on
Can’t figure them out :chuckle:
Post by: GWP on March 28, 2021, 09:22:36 PM
Post by: Barbarossa13 on March 29, 2021, 06:44:44 AM
Post by: Stein on March 29, 2021, 08:52:55 AM
Garmin is much easier and more intuitive to use. Last thing you need on the water is, while marking a fish or location, is to try to remember which third level of which menu has the map you want. Lowrance drove me nuts.
Press the waypoint button twice. I think it's what you get used to, just like cell phones. I've been using Lowrance for probably 20 years now.
That said, they aren't the leader for higher end units for sure and my next unit will likely be something else but it also won't be at the same price range either.
Garmin makes great electronics outside marine stuff and I would heavily consider them as well but haven't used their units on a boat.
In the $800 range, the transducer is going to be the limiting factor regardless of the brand, especially if you use it deep and/or in salt. The head unit can only work with the information it gets back.
If I absolutely had to stick with $800, I would be really tempted to spend $250-300 on a higher power transducer and get the best screen I could for $500 knowing it's likely smaller or less features. That's for salt though, I don't know much about lake and river needs.
Post by: metlhead on March 30, 2021, 06:48:56 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on March 30, 2021, 07:25:11 PM
Do most units come with a low end/weak transducer?
They come with ducers that match up well with the unit they are paired with...meets the needs of most people.
You need to go to a larger airnar to get 600-1000 or more watts to really up the functionality of a head unit...if it can handle it...most base line lower price head units don't need that type of watts though.
Post by: Stein on March 30, 2021, 07:58:51 PM
I know the Elite 7 can power much more transducer than it comes with. I want to say the transducer is 200 Watts and it can power 500, but I might be wrong on that. I usually have trouble shooting bottom starting at 300 feet or so while trolling and it won't hold bottom up on a plane unless I'm in super clear water. I've remounted it more times than I care and got it better, but in deep salt it just isn't ideal. It also has trouble marking fish with big schools of bait or junky water.
For a lake, I'm sure it's great, I just don't really do that often enough to have much of an opinion. In fairness, it's not really marketed as a salt water tool with all the structure and side scan stuff. Yeah, it works and for $800 all in, I think it's a solid value.
If you are interested in going that route, I'll make you a deal on my transducer and you could just buy the screen. I'll have it off my boat in a week or two.
Post by: metlhead on March 30, 2021, 08:41:50 PM
Post by: metlhead on March 31, 2021, 07:39:45 AM
Post by: Bill W on March 31, 2021, 07:47:20 AM
Post by: Angry Perch on March 31, 2021, 08:54:42 AM
Post by: metlhead on March 31, 2021, 10:07:30 AM
Post by: Stein on March 31, 2021, 10:11:34 AM
Post by: metlhead on March 31, 2021, 11:49:07 AM
Post by: Badhabit on March 31, 2021, 02:12:17 PM
Post by: metlhead on March 31, 2021, 03:09:48 PM
Post by: dilleytech on April 01, 2021, 08:36:51 AM
Post by: CP on April 01, 2021, 08:48:07 AM
I really don’t think you can beat a garmin. The custom contour mapping you can do with it is priceless. No stock maps are never that accurate but with the garmin QuickDraw feature you can simply push a button and map out everything you fish while fishing. It really helps show you why some spots are better then others. And when it comes to trolling or sitting in small Channels know exactly what the bottom looks like around you is super helpful. Lowrance sucks. Avoid them
I've never used that feature. I'll have to figure out which button to push.
Post by: Bill W on April 01, 2021, 09:07:55 AM
I really don’t think you can beat a garmin. The custom contour mapping you can do with it is priceless. No stock maps are never that accurate but with the garmin QuickDraw feature you can simply push a button and map out everything you fish while fishing. It really helps show you why some spots are better then others. And when it comes to trolling or sitting in small Channels know exactly what the bottom looks like around you is super helpful. Lowrance sucks. Avoid them
Humminbird has autochart.
Post by: Stein on April 01, 2021, 09:33:18 AM
My hope was to find and map pillars that hold cabezon.
If you do want to use it, my suggestion is to leave the rods at home and map everything you want on the same trip when the water is flat, don't do some today and go back next weekend and try to fill it in. Also don't be pulling pots, running downriggers or anything else that might accidentally block the transducer, you want a perfectly clear view of the bottom without any bouncing, rocking, etc.