Advice please

I am looking at depth finders for the front of my boat. I have a hb 570 in the middle of boat now, I use it motoring then spin it around to use on the front. I have to turn around to see it, and the xducer is on the transom. Not ideal but i make it work. I'd like to have a unit on trolling motor, maybe di, gps with mapping. I have a handheld gps that I use now. The gps on fish finder would be more for mapping. My question is do I need a unit with 2d sonar or will di only be fine. The one I've found on sale is the lowrance elite 5 dsi, it has gps, mapping and di but no 2d sonar. Thoughts will be appreciated.

I have a cheap HB on the stern I use while running around but my main unit is the Elite 5 DSI that you are considering. I does everything I need it to do plus a lot more I haven't learned yet. We have an excellent thread going on about it that will give you a lot of info on it. http://www.crappie.com/crappie/fishi...rtplotter.html

Your choice or 2d or DI (or both) on the bow will be a lot dependent on how you plan to use your sonar at that station...

If you traverse over and past structure/fish... Then either sonar will "paint" a descernable image on the display as the sonar beam passes over and past the structure/fish...

If you sit motionless on top of structure/fish... Then the "cone shape 2d" sonar beam...might be easier to keep that structure/fish in the echo return area than the "thin slice DI" sonar beam..

Some find DI as a replacement for 2d..
Some find DI as a compliment to 2d...

Your style of use at that station will dictate which sonar beam "shape" (cone or slice) will best work for you...

Rickie

for me I wanted the DI and the 2d, I just like to compare what each is showing with the other

I have found that sometimes one will show something and the other wont ....... and yes I understand that has to do with cone coverage, but I need all the help findin fish I can get at times

untill you learn all that DI is telling you you might want to keep your old unit hooked up to compare images to

just my thoughts sir