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I am looking to buy a fish finder for our boat. We were planning on getting a hummingbird 5 si. However, bass pro has a sale on the garmin 74sv, that would end up being cheaper and with free maps. Is the technology and mapping of either one better and how does the mapping do on the big 4?
Garmin maps and gps are crap, get the Bird.
Take some advice that I didn't heed when I bought my first Bird Helix 5 2 years ago. Go with the biggest screen you can afford!! Definitely the Bird, and at least a Helix 7. If not, you'll regret it later, like I did!! jmho
Yep...and a 9 is even better
Sounds like I need to get he hummingbird and a 7 too. Luckily bass pro has it on sale also. Does anybody know the cheapest place to get a fishfinder installed?
I live in the Memphis area by the way
Install it yourself if your able, it's not that hard and plenty of folks around here willing to help anyone out. I would also recommend the humminbird as well for the lakemaster map card. My only suggestion would be on the Helix 7 SI go ahead and pony up for the HD transducer. I had the Helix 7 SI and was not pleased with the clarity of the side imaging. The DI and Sonar worked great, there are some that will argue the HD won't make any difference with the 7 cause of the limited processor power. I researched it quite a bit and you will get a slightly clearer picture due to the thinner beam on SI. If this will be your only unit and the one you will use it for a long while I would also try to get the Helix 9 SI if it was at all possible, check with Brian at BBG Marine think I overheard someone the other day say he had a sale going on the Helix 9 SI Gen1 :twocents
I would say Big River Marine who posts on this site can install it for youQuote:
Originally Posted by redwolfcrappie
We install them everyday. Give me a shout. Quality work doesn’t come cheap though. You can find cheap, but you usually get what ya pay for. We are very competitive for C.C members however.Quote:
Originally Posted by redwolfcrappie
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I got rid of a Hummingbird 5 Chirp SI and replaced it with a Garmin 73SV. I fish for fun, and couldn't stand Hummingbird's interface. Garmin's interface is dead easy. Definitely invest in as big a screen as you can.
Just watch Hank Parker he was hummingbird got more money went Garmin got another raise went back hummingbird!!!!! I have Lowrance on big boats and hummingbird on small boat!!!!!
Haven't seen many high dollar boats with hummingbird usually Lowrance and Raymarine!!
Would love the new hummingbird deluxe side image unit just can't cough up the 6k fee the model i need!!!!
Like Snubbys said in post #7.....check w/ Brian@BBG Marine. It will probably be cheaper, especially after you pay that almost 10% Memphis sales tax at Bass Pro, and that's a pretty good chunk of change!jmo
Hodges Marine always has real cheap prices. I've never found a real buy at BP.
Looks like Hodges marine has it for 610 and bass pro would be about 600. Also, I think academy sports does price match and beats competitor’s prices by 5 percent so hopefully that will work out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boatbottom
Have you LOOKED at KVD's Boat ???? it is not chump change by no means !!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by sharphook
I have seen a ton of hi dollar rigs running BirdsQuote:
Originally Posted by strmwalker
John,Quote:
Originally Posted by Rees Guide
I have too !!! I was using KVD for a example !!! to me the Lowrance and Humminbird don't fit in my way of Fishing I got rid of all my Humminbirds and went to Garmin !!! it works for ME !!!
that said HUMMINBIRD has lowrance and raymarine beat hands down !!!
I would switch to Garmin if the maps weren't weak and the gps, use maps way more than I use anything else, drive with em, fish by them and so on.
I have Humminbird Solix units and I love them. I'm sure there are other great units out there but I really like the mega Imaging on the Solix units.
Humminbird just released a true Low Q chirp transducer offering for Helix Mega units and Solix units. This should really enhance DI which was Humminbirds weakness in the past.
Thanks for all the advice. I ended up buying the helix 7 from Hodges marine. It ended up being a lot cheaper because of the taxes. I also purchased a ram mount and the lake master plus for the southeast. Now I’ve just got to get it installed! Does anybody think it was worth it for me to pay the extra for the lakemaster plus?
I have the Lakemaster Plus cards not sure they are worth the extra $ compared to the standard card. Be sure and update your unit to the new base maps if it didn't come pre loaded with them from the factory. Base map is a big improvement on lakes not currently covered by Lakemaster or Navionics. You get some contour detail still not close to the cards but a huge improvement over the old pre loaded lake maps.
Check with Brian at BBG Marine.com.....he is usally cheaper than anybody even after shipping charges.
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https://www.russellmarineproducts.com
https://www.mygreenoutdoors.com
Bass Boat Electronics – Online Marine Electronics Shop
https://www.hodgesmarine.com/Default...jqeniramsegdoh
Fish Finders, Boat Sonar, GPS Combo, Fish Hunt Boat Gear Accessories
http://bbgmarine.com
Here is a list of good dealers selling electronics at very good prices. My feeling is that Brian at BBG marine is a sponsor on here and in most cases he will meet or beat the other guys pricing. That being said these are some sites for quick reference on about anything you might be interested in. These folks are going to beat the pricing on any big box store even if they have it on sale by virtue of the sales tax. That alone will save you 40-50 dollars plus. And if the box store is getting a discount or rebate so they can put something on sale these guys are to.