998 or HDS 8 ??

[slabdaddy]

Going to buy one or the other in the next week or so and was looking for some expert advise. The 998 is some cheaper but I've always had lowrance finders. I'm sure they're both good but would like to hear from people that already have experience with them. Does the 998 just have one transducer where the HDS 8 needs two and do both units have internal gps or do they need external antenna? Not looking for a bashing just your experiences and preference for one of these units.

[wilbur]

The HDS needs 2 transducers and a blackbox No antenna unless you prefer external. 998 one TD and external gps thaT comes with it

[Fisherman_Wantabe]

I'm simple, so it's not hard for me HB 998 not as much wiring. Just my 2 :D

[baitman]

go with the bird, with the 8 you gotta but the side scan, plus heres the biggy, you can get the bird fixed years down the road. lowrance wont fix them after a new model comes out. Even then their customers service is the worse

[Cane Pole]

go with the bird, with the 8 you gotta but the side scan, plus heres the biggy, you can get the bird fixed years down the road. lowrance wont fix them after a new model comes out. Even then their customers service is the worse

I would call this speculation, not fact.

[jaxsprat]

I would call this speculation, not fact.

Well maybe yes & maybe no...I know several people who have had problems with a Lowrance, In every case they were told by Lowrance that Lowrance does not support a unit that is more than 3 years old, that Lowrance would give them 200-400 (depending on present model) credit towards a new unit. So a couple hundred or so off a $800-2000 unit? Yes this has been past practice, but is it going to change or stay this way for years to come?? I don't know, & I don't know if Hb policy of support going to stay same either? I will tell you I am not spending $2000 every 3-4 years on a new unit.

[rockmike]

I have a 997 on one boat and a HDS8 on another, and I like the HDS 8 best, probably. I have two connected by Ethernet cable and I like the way they share data and that I can view SI on both units. The GPS will track at speeds below .6 mph. The 997 is more user friendly, and probably more durable. HB customer service is great---read a lot of horror stories about Lowrance CS, but I've not experienced it.

[beagle man]

I'm with cane pole and rockmike on this, when someone ask me about humminbird or lowrance i just tell them to keep researching. do not like to slam, i never had any issues with lowrance customer service so far, the picture on the lowrance is a lot clearer than the humminbirds i had, the two guys i sold the humminbirds to still speak to me so they are happy.

[klight1122]

I like my two Lowrance HD's.

[CrappieCrazed]

I have the hb 997 and my uncle has the hds 8 with structure scan. It would be a coin toss when it comes to performance but for me the decision would be easy if you like "simple", which would be the hbird. Im not very electroncs savy and have a hard time navigating from screen to screen blah blah blah with the lowrance. The performance is just as good though performance wise in my opinion. hb is going to be cheaper screen size to screen size though.....