Looking to replace a old eagle finder on my boat but dont know what unit to go with, ive been over all them probably 20 times but cant decide, way to many choices! Any advice or opinions would be great! thanks
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Looking to replace a old eagle finder on my boat but dont know what unit to go with, ive been over all them probably 20 times but cant decide, way to many choices! Any advice or opinions would be great! thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by zcarlon
ZC ... I'll tell you the same thing I tell most people trying to decide on a depth finder.
Figure out what your budget will allow as a maximum $$ amount. (done !!)
Figure out HOW you're going to fish, most of the time ... what methods or style.
Figure out what capabilities a depthfinder has to have, to make your style/methods of fishing become more productive (& therefore more fun).
Research the major brands, with your budget limit in mind, and find those units that have the needed capabilities for your style/methods.
The units that meet that criteria are the only ones you need be concerned about ... and any unit that's in that group AND has capabilities beyond any of the others, is your best bang for the buck.
No one can tell you "this unit is what you need ... it's the best thing going". Only you, armed with the information and following the guideline above, are going to be the one to decide. Stick to your $300 budget, and don't let sales people talk you into anything over that. When you decide on a unit, check the store prices (+gas cost) against online prices (+s/h). Check on both the Classifieds forums, on this site, too ... and compare prices against the other two.
... cp :kewl
With your budget in mind the first unit I would look at is the Garmin 500. Just straight 2d that you are used to
But supposed to be very accurate and sensitive plus color. Then the Lowrance Elite 4 series have a very bright clear display. Look at those and follow Pappys advice on how to make your decision.
I second that. Lowrance Elite 4 series are my favorite at your budget. elite 4x is a little over $200 and elite 4x dsi, I love it, under $200.Quote:
Originally Posted by cray
this is a great little unit, clear as a bell. With his budget the Elite4 with the gps comes into play. Once you start using the gps features you will be surpised how much it helps.Quote:
Originally Posted by mattlovefishing
Elite-4 - LOWRANCE | Marine Electronics
Elite 4 DSI, great unit for around 200
The HB 581i DI Combo would allow one to experience 2d, DI and GPS chartplotting all in 1 affordable unit...
http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/...jpg?1370266990
Internal GPS Combo
The 581i HD DI Combo features a high definition 16 level grayscale 640V x 320H, 5" display with 4000 watts PTP power output and GPS Chartplotting with built-in UniMap™.
*200kHz 28° 2d "cone shaped beam"
*455kHz 16° 2d "cone shaped beam"
*800kHz 45° DI "thin slice beam"
*455kHz 76° DI "thin slice beam"
*GPS Chartplotting
*SD card slot for Navionics map upgrade
MSRP $299.99
(The board sponsors can probably beat that price..)
Rickie
I agree with crappiepappy , when I started looking for a unit I read review after review on HB and lowrance and I went with HB because of the customer service , you can call them and they give you an answer with in 10 mins , ive called them while on the water and talked to an English speaking person , that made the difference to me.
hey thanks for all the advice guys! i was wondering how important gps was and if i would put it in use enough to had it. i have been looking at the elite 4 series pretty hard. Does anyone have any experience with the HB 581i DI unit? it looks nice and seems like its got quite a bit of features for the price range. Are the elite 4 series more clear or have any big advantages? thanks again for all the help!
GPS chartplotting is "the berries" for marking and returning to productive fishing spots...
It is also very effective for targeting depth oriented species like crappie by learning to interpret and use contour lines...
Rickie
I gotcha. How close to the same spot can you get when you set a waypoint on one of these units? will it put you right back on it or within feet?
I don't know about these other units, but my Lowrance Elite 5DSI takes me "dead on" to my waypoints. I manually installed about 100 waypoints from a website that provided the GPS coordinates of brush/pallets/stakebeds put out by the KDFWR. Then I took the unit to that lake & used the split screen (chart/sonar) to hunt down these "spots" ... just to see how accurate the unit was going to be. When lined up and moving towards the waypoint, and moving along under trolling motor power, I was able to put the boat icon right onto the waypoint icon (on the chart screen side) ... and the sonar image showed the planted cover coming on screen at the same time as the boat icon reached the waypoint icon. Dead on, every time !!Quote:
Originally Posted by zcarlon
Now, I will say this .... you can "drift" off of the waypoint/cover, and the boat icon may take a few seconds to show that you're away from it. But, that's what marker buoys are for ... to keep your spot marked, in the event of wind/wave action or the process of fishing or catching a fish should happen to cause you to move off your waypoint mark/spot. However, once you get experienced & proficient at using the GPS function & map chart of a unit ... you "may" not even need marker buoys.
Most civilian use GPS's have a accuracy range of ~3-15meters (~10-50ft) ~95% of the time. But, so far, my E5DSI GPS has been more accurate than the low end of that range.
... cp :kewl
alright thanks! ive been looking at that 581i hd di combo. some places (bass pro, cabelas, humminbird) shows the power output at 4000 watts ptp and 500 rms then other places has it showing 2400 watts ptp and 300 rms? does anyone have one or know what the true spec is?
I have to say the Huminbird 581 di is an amazing value. Learn to use it and you will catch more fish. I have way point saved at lakes all over N.C. and can get within 10 feet of a marked brush pile ditch, or whatever even If I haven't been there in a year. Just a good all around unit.
I believe that all of the DI model units are 4,000 watts PTP/500 watts RMS.Quote:
Originally Posted by zcarlon
For the money, I'd go with Color. Why go with a black and white unit if you don't have to. I'm currently looking at the elite-4 for my kayak, should be about perfect for that scenario. You can have all the Watts you want, but in typical fresh water situations it really isn't going to matter, IMO. Unless you are looking for returns in 100's of feet of water, it doesn't matter. If you are an ocean fisherman, you'd be looking at Lowrance, Simrad, furuno, or some of the other big names for big water.
well i found where i can buy a elite 5 dsi/chartplotter for around 370. Thinking about spending the extra to get it. I like the color screen and resolution better, just dont know if i like the idea of not having a standard sonar like the 581i hd di combo. Which would be a better option? Is the down imaging on both these about the same quaility? any input or advice would be great! thanks for all the help!
IMO, once you've used DI, 2D is a thing of the past. Run over a brush pile with 2d, and then DI. The DI/DS is going to show you the detail you need to make a decision. The 2d is going to show you a blob. I like to know if I'm looking at a cedar or a couple branches on a small tree. DI provides that clarity.Quote:
Originally Posted by zcarlon
Again, JMO. The free updates I've had on my lowrance units were free of bugs and problems. Maybe Kosmo can chime in on HB updates?
Whatever you choose, best of luck, and good fishing!
I agreeQuote:
Originally Posted by mduncan62
There are advantages and disadvantages in all forms of sonar technology...2d/DI/SI ....
I like to refer to the different sonar technologies as tools ....Each is really good at some things ...but not so good in others...
2d is really good at sitting on top of brush for vertical jiggin or dropshottin or dunkin minners with KY rigs .... Because the cone shaped sonar beam is more conducive in keeping the structure oriented in the beam so as to be able to show the structure in the 2d view... but conversely .... 2d is not so good at picking apart the structure from the fish...(the cartoon blob look) ....
DI is really good at picking apart the structure to see individual limbs or fish intermingled within the limbs because the thin slice DI beam gives excellent rendering of the structure into the DI image....but conversely... DI is not so good at being able sit motionless on top of structure because the DI beam must "pass over" the structure to be as to "stitch" the DI thin slices together to form what we interpret as a DI image...
Some find DI as a replacement for 2d .... Depending on what type or method of sonar use they depend on...
Some find DI as a compliment to 2d .... Depending on what type or method of sonar use they depend on...
Your choice of sonar technogies are completely dependent on your style of fishing and what you expect your sonar tools to do for you ....
Rickie
Thanks for all the great advice! Still trying to pick a unit. Got it narrowed down between the elite 5 dsi and the 581hd di combo. All the input has helped tons!
Garmin striker 4
Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk
No doubt, Lowrance all the way, I had a HB with 37 hours on the unit, (597 CI HD) called HB Support not happy with their service or response. Choose wisely :)
Figured some would have said the lowrance Helix series . Some will fit that price range . The down image with gps should be in that range . CALL BRIAN AT BBG MARINE (SITE SPONSOR ) He always has deals . I have bought a few trolling motors and depth/fish finders from him .