Help choosing lowrance

[FIN]

AS always I can't make up my mind. Its time for a new FF as I'm planning to do some night fishing.
I've had an eagle and HB never lowrance. The 727 with the wideside ducer was interesting but I didn't like the screen. I'll be at BP next week I'm gona get a lowrance. Since it will be my first color FF it will certainly be an upgrade. I'd like to keep my price at $650 or less. BP has a couple on sale older models, thats why I'd like to get you feedback on the choices.
1) HDS-5x $399
2) Elite-5x DSI $399
3) Elite-5 Fishfinder/GPS Chartplotter $550
4) HDS-5x Gen2 Fishfinder $550
5) Elite-5 DSI Color Fishfinder/Chartplotter $600
6) HDS-5 Gen2 Fishfinder/GPS Chartplotter $700 This is only $50 more. Is it worth it and that much better than the others?
Thanks
Fin

[Cane Pole]

If you want me to do the pickin', you better dig a little deeper in the well. You might find the bottom of things. Good luck.

The Oak Ridge Boys - Dig A Little Deeper - YouTube

[mduncan62]

You'll be able to decide when you see them. Just look at all the units you mentioned. Let the salesman wow you, then play around with the unit.

You'll do fine.

[Barnacle Bill]

After you decide what you want check with Brian for a lot better price than BPS. http://www.crappie.com/crappie/membe...1329-00-a.html I bought my Elite 5 DSI from him and am very satisfied.

[rnvinc]

You might think about possible future plans...

The HDS units upgrade nicely with addon components...

The Elites are plug and play...

Rickie

[FIN]

Thanks that's the kind of info I needed.
I'll look closer at HDS.

You might think about possible future plans...

The HDS units upgrade nicely with addon components...

The Elites are plug and play...

Rickie

[mduncan62]

Ricky is right. With the list of units you gave, it's hard to even guess what your requirements are. HDS is a very expandable system, I have it, and would recommend it to anyone.

[crappiemax]

Yep, before buying talk to Brian @ BBG Marine. Not only does he have good prices, he's very knowlegable.

[CrappiePappy]

FIN ... if you've had a Eagle brand depthfinder, then you HAVE had a Lowrance. Eagle is basically just the low end Lowrance unit series +/-

If you're going to be stationary most of the time, you can ditch the DSI units ... their picture quality & rendering is dependant upon constant movement. You'll want something that has 2d capability, if you plan on keeping the depthfinder running during stationary fishing.

If you haven't already done so ... read thru my sticky post about the Elite 5DSI, at the top of the page. It has some charts & info that will explain the differences in 2d & DSI cone shapes/angles, as well as other info that may possibly help you decide which features a unit must have in order to benefit you in the ways you fish (& intend to use the unit).

Where you intend to mount the unit will also come into play. Down Image units don't distort as bad as Side Image units, when mounted on the trolling motor ... but, they can distort if the trolling motor is turned. It's the nature of the shape of the sonar cone of a DSI unit, which is more of a fan shaped (flattened oval) deal than the cone shaped circle of a 2d unit.

... cp

[justinp61]

HDS would be my choice, I've had a Elite-5 DSI and was not in the least impressed. The HDS has 2D, a better GPS and with a structure scan the down scan image is much, much better. Buy the biggest unit you can afford, and yes you can save money buying from BBG marine or BOE marine.