What choice of Sonar should I Buy.....HELP on deciding!

Guy's, I'm really confused with all the new Depth Finders on the market today and after owing a 15 year old Eagle? unit on the console and a Lorance in-dash unit for years I'm wanting to up-grade to something new! I know the body's of water I fish and know how to get to my old fishing holes but thinking I'd like to buy a new fish finder for Spider fishing and actually be able to see a well defined Arch for fish!! Depths I normally fish are between 2' to 60' and I'm open to any brand?

Looking to buy a Console Unit and Front Unit / Trolling Motor Unit?

I would say that all the major brands like Lowrance, Humminbird(the brand I use), Garmin,etc. are all real good units as what I have read. The major thing is to buy the biggest screen unit that you can afford and with Side imaging(scan) and down imaging as you said that you fish 2' - 60' water. It would be best to also make sure that they can be linked together so when you are at one unit it will show you the other units data also.:twocents

I agree with Scrat, I like Garmin and Hummingbird, The new Helix line from Hummingbird is fine. Try to get at least a 7" screen.

I'd guess that the major brands are pretty similar in the quality of info presented on screen. So you need to go to some of the stores that sell these and do a test drive on them. Take your fishing partner and decide if one is better than another. Which is easier to use? Price may be a deciding factor for you, as there can be big cost differences. Take your time deciding, and then check with some of our member sponsors, because they may give you the best price. Some brands make you buy transducers separately from the head unit, so ask lots of questions. If you know someone with good electronics, ask them for a ride and get their opinion on what features they like/don't like. Just like Chevy/Ford, either will get you down the road.....some people demand one over the other and claim the 'other guy' is not as good. You'll get the same when you ask about electronics.

Call Brian at BBG Marine and explain what you're wanting to do and what you're willing to spend, he won't steer you wrong. As has already been mentioned, buy the largest screen you can afford, you'll regret it later if you don't.

I think all of the major manufacturer's offer some good stuff now. I just purchased a Humminbird Helix and I think it is absolutely great. The Helix line is a little more affordable than some of the others. There are some great deals on outgoing technology right now, too. I noticed some very attractive offers from Lowrance lately. The biggest difference will be in what features you want. You may have to pick the brand by that. I don't think you can go wrong with any major brand or unit. As stated, screen size is a BIG deal with side imaging. If you buy too small, you'll regret it. I went from a 7" to a 10" and it made a world of difference in seeing what the unit is drawing. I wouldn't want a SI unit with less than a 7"screen and if I could afford it, I'd have a 12"... just my opinion.

Lot of it depends on how much room you got. I didn't have room for a big screen unit up front, so I opted for two 7 inchers that are networked. Networking gives a lot of added options, especially Ethernet networked systems. Two 7s up front gives me more viewing options than one 12 and a lot less expensive. I have three gen 2 touch 7s networked on my boat and have more viewing options that a big screen tv.

3 x 7 = 21

ill 2nd brian at bbg,hes very helpful.the the big box stores may have several on display ,but the sales person are very limited to actual knoladge to the units.for me lowrance hds 7 touch works very well and does it all.happen to be lucky enough to have a lowrance pro-staff close by,he has helped me a lot.

Here is a third vote for Brian at BBG. I knew what I wanted, and he beat any and all prices! Very pleased!

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

Here is a third vote for Brian at BBG. I knew what I wanted, and he beat any and all prices! Very pleased!

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Oh, and it was a Lowrance Elite 7 TI with totalscan ducer. Still learning, but so far I love it!

Where they are manufactured made up my mind...

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Originally Posted by IceNitro

Where they are manufactured made up my mind...

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maybe assembled ,bet most parts are made overseas like everything else electrical rotfl

I have the Helix 10 SI and think its great. Have a friend with ray marine that he constantly complains about them saying the menus are too complicated. When he saw the side imaging of the Humminbird he was blown away.

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Originally Posted by blueball

maybe assembled ,bet most parts are made overseas like everything else electrical rotfl

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Key point is jobs in US! Thank God for people who support US based companies.I miss when Walmart carried only made in the USA products. I agree BBG is great and the Helix models are most options and bang for your buck. Humminbird has best CSR too!

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Originally Posted by IceNitro

Where they are manufactured made up my mind...

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Where are your computer and phone made?

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Originally Posted by crappielimits

Key point is jobs in US! Thank God for people who support US based companies.I miss when Walmart carried only made in the USA products. I agree BBG is great and the Helix models are most options and bang for your buck. Humminbird has best CSR too!

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I buy what I think works best for my situation.Had humminbird before lowrance and had some problems with a prostaff and told him I would buy one that would do what I wanted,hes not a prostaff anymore,lol.I try to buy USA also when I can,but some things are not for me,don't look where your poles are made,if i bought poles made in the USA I would have to get a second mortgage on the house,haha[emoji23]

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Originally Posted by crappielimits

Key point is jobs in US! Thank God for people who support US based companies.I miss when Walmart carried only made in the USA products. I agree BBG is great and the Helix models are most options and bang for your buck. Humminbird has best CSR too!

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Also bang for your buck I would suggest garmin,

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Originally Posted by crappielimits

Key point is jobs in US! Thank God for people who support US based companies.I miss when Walmart carried only made in the USA products. I agree BBG is great and the Helix models are most options and bang for your buck. Humminbird has best CSR too!

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I'm with crappielimits on this one .... It's just one of the factors to consider when weighing the plus and minus. If you don't buy the stuff made in the US, then pretty soon you won't have the option.....Not trying to throw a guilt trip on people who own other brands and have different priorities.

I used to refuse to buy a shirt that wasn't made in the US .... because they were better and didn't fall apart the 2nd time you washed them .... Now it's almost impossible to buy one unless you go online and buy Duluth or similar.

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Originally Posted by BobB

I'm with crappielimits on this one .... It's just one of the factors to consider when weighing the plus and minus. If you don't buy the stuff made in the US, then pretty soon you won't have the option.....Not trying to throw a guilt trip on people who own other brands and have different priorities.

I used to refuse to buy a shirt that wasn't made in the US .... because they were better and didn't fall apart the 2nd time you washed them .... Now it's almost impossible to buy one unless you go online and buy Duluth or similar.

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I agree also to an extent.Say you have a bait you catch 20 keeper crappie consistently that's made in China and you have one that's made in the USA and your lucky to get 2 keepers,would you not fish the better baits and sell them.I use what works for me and buy American when I can,lol

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Originally Posted by blueball

I agree also to an extent.Say you have a bait you catch 20 keeper crappie consistently that's made in China and you have one that's made in the USA and your lucky to get 2 keepers,would you not fish the better baits and sell them.I use what works for me and buy American when I can,lol

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I don't think your analogy applies in this case.....I'm not saying to buy US made just because it's US made .... All this stuff is good and will help catch more fish now days.

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Originally Posted by BobB

I don't think your analogy applies in this case.....I'm not saying to buy US made just because it's US made .... All this stuff is good and will help catch more fish now days.

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But my analogy does in my case,there both good.When I switched to lowrance it was because of the humminbird donut problem and the lowrance was the better product at the time.Another reason was the readout information(temp,depth,etc) taking up a lot of screen space.I had 2 997 birds before I switched in 2009.Usually when someone local asks me which one is better I tell them if your not gonna learn how to use it neither.If your gonna learn how to use it get the biggest screen you can afford,there's been a lot of days in the last couple years scanning has made a slow day productive[emoji2]

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Those were 2 issues they took too long to fix .... but they have resolved both now....They have came a long ways since the 997.....but so have the others. It's great to have the competition that keeps all of them on their toes.

I totally agree that you gotta put in the time learning to use whatever you have and get the biggest screen that you can squeeze into your budget. The screen brightness and pixel density of the Helix line is another big plus in that column also....The birds have an advantage with the 360 option, but have struggled with their 2D performance....I think Lowrance has finally caught up on the SI range issue with the Gen 3 3D scan....some brands are pretty weak with the mapping options .... just gotta do a lot of homework and make sure what you get is gonna fit the type of fishing you do.... You don't want to get a unit and then find out %&%*^, this thing doesn't have mapping worth a crap for the lakes I fish or travel to.

I think the best thing to do is go fishing with people who have various brands and see what fits best for you.....saves a lot of time and money experimenting on your own to find what works for you. I was considering leaving HB at one point and went fishing with a guide who had the latest and greatest other brand .... decided what I had was still fine.

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Originally Posted by BobB

Those were 2 issues they took too long to fix .... but they have resolved both now....They have came a long ways since the 997.....but so have the others. It's great to have the competition that keeps all of them on their toes.

I totally agree that you gotta put in the time learning to use whatever you have and get the biggest screen that you can squeeze into your budget. The screen brightness and pixel density of the Helix line is another big plus in that column also....The birds have an advantage with the 360 option, but have struggled with their 2D performance....I think Lowrance has finally caught up on the SI range issue with the Gen 3 3D scan....some brands are pretty weak with the mapping options .... just gotta do a lot of homework and make sure what you get is gonna fit the type of fishing you do.... You don't want to get a unit and then find out %&%*^, this thing doesn't have mapping worth a crap for the lakes I fish or travel to.

I think the best thing to do is go fishing with people who have various brands and see what fits best for you.....saves a lot of time and money experimenting on your own to find what works for you. I was considering leaving HB at one point and went fishing with a guide who had the latest and greatest other brand .... decided what I had was still fine.

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The si is clearer also in my opinion and sharing maps is a nice feature also,I have one navionics chip and can view it on all three units at the same time.hummibird could share maps too if they wanted to[emoji2]

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Oh and don't forget the trackball feature,you can scroll back and mark something that's already off the screen

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