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| I have never had electronics on my boat and think I've decided to get something.
Looking at spending about 1500-2000. leaning towards structure scan or side imaging.
Have any of you used both Lawrence and Bird, if so what one do you like better.
I was thinking touchscreen. My only concern in researching both is there seems to be some issues with both like screens locking up, trouble finding signal, etc. I love to fish and don't want to spend time on the water trying to get my electronics to work when I could be fishing.
I currently run a 1988 bass tracking and was thinking that one unit at the console would be sufficient but was wondering if they are able to be turned to face the bow when running a trolling motor?
I hope i'm making the right decision in investing in electronics any encouragement will be appreciated. LOL. |
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Posts: 279
| Good electronics can make a huge difference. They are all about the same nowadays. Just like production with anything there will be some units with problems. Go to a store and play around with different models see for yourself what you do and do not like.
Touchscreen is a pricey option right now. 2200 is a low number for humminbird if Im not mistaken. Lowrance has a 7 that is a cheaper option. Garmin has a last year model 70sv for 600ish but you have to buy a module for side/down imaging for around 500ish. Looks to be a very nice touchscreen unit. If you get a ram mount or something equivalent you could turn the unit around.
I think if I had 2000 grand I would get two units either a hds8 and hds7. Or a 998hd (999)and a 858hd (859). That way you wouldn't have to turn anything around. Link them together so they share waypoints.
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| Thanks for the info.
I have played around at the stores many times and from that leaning more towards the Lawrence touch screen models.
I've read that Lawrence maps are more accurate than the Birds not sure if this is true. I have actually never fished in a boat that had side imaging so to be honest have no idea. I do use the Navionics app on my cell for ice fishing and I believe Lawrence uses Navionics maps as well.
Are the units easy to install or is this something you need to take to a boat dealer to have put in? |
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Posts: 279
| No way Lowarnce has more accurate maps. Its about half a dozen either way depending on the lakes you fish or your location. Lakemaster is now for humminbird only i believe which from my research is worlds above navionics chips for the same maps. Ive never had any problems with any of the chips I have used. The touch 9 would be what I would go with if you want lowrance. Shop around cause there are lots of places online that sell way cheaper than any stores I have seen.
I would say without a doubt the lowrance 2d sonar is 10x better than humminbird.
The units are very easy to install if you can do basic setup. Mount the transducer or transducers in lowrances case run the cable(s) to the console. Run the power cable either to a battery with a inline 3amp fuse on the positive line. Or run it to a fuse panel or switch if you have an empty spot. Very simple in my opinion. |
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Posts: 163
Location: NoDak | with 2g to spend I would suggest 2 units one on bow and one at console, now getting units with base maps you only need an upgraded map where you fish from, I have used the dash graph while fishing from the bow and it cost me a few fish. I am super impressed with how easy my hummingbird 959's work, and I had used many lowrance products including a hds and I am so happy that Ipilot link forced me to try hummingbird, I know that the bird graph works way better in my minnkota than my dads lowrances do in his minnkota. as far as chips go I love how bird and lakemaster has features like target depth highlight, so easy at a glance to see my location to my target area. |
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Posts: 62
Location: Northwest WI | There's a good post dated 12/31 regarding Humminbird products. I've been using boat electronics for 30 years, starting with very basic sonar units early on and now much more highly refined technology.
Early on I used H'bird products, then went to Lowrance, and am now back to H'Bird. I run linked 1198 and 997 units on one boat, and 897 and 597 units on another---and am very pleased with H'bird technology, quality, and customer service.
I use Navionics maps today with no issues.
The side scan was a major jump for me. I was introduced to this technology 10 years ago via the 897 noted above and was blown away at what I learned about waters I'd fished for years. Then I added downscan and learned even more.
You won't be disappointed adding this technology. Don't be afraid to look for used units, or in the Cabela's bargain cave. I've also had good luck buying products off this website---and generally speaking the fellows who sell products here represent their goods accurately. $2000 is a good budget and you should be able to outfit your rig with very capable sonar/GPS units on both the bow and console.
Regards,
Keith Whyte
Edited by KGW 1/12/2015 7:14 PM
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| This site is great.
Now im leaning towards 2 units. Do u guys have side imaging in the front or is the front just gps?
Sorry if you guys are beating a dead horse answering my questions but i appreciate the feedback. |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | You'll want your side imagining unit at the console. Drive around mark your waypoints with the side imagining. Then you'll have your units linked together to share waypoints so you can go up front hop on the troll and fish all you have marked with your console unit.
So the bow would be sonar/GPS |
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| Thanks.
Now I have a better idea what units to target. |
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Posts: 134
| disclaimer, i have never used birds. I purchased my terrova before the xi5 was out and use lowrance electronics.
I purchased my boat used two years ago with a single eagle 642iC at the console. I had an elite 4 that i used for different rigs. After one year of use with those electronics I decided to look into what was out there. I decided to purchase some used units (hds 10 & 8, gen 2) that i got a decent deal on. I ran them for about 3 months and then found a deal on lss-1 structure scan so i added it.
I thought long and hard about the initial investment... lots of $ to for an image of bottom of lake/structure. Touch screen vs existing soft keys, etc. At the end of the day i decided the used route with lss-1. It was considerably more power/technology than i ever had before cost less than the cost of a new touch 9. the addition of the lss1 allows the units to network, share 1 navionics chip, and display the structure scan on both units.
At the end of the day get what works best for you... the technology is incredible. i use a terrova bow mount and so i cant speak to the use of ipilot link, which i have heard good things about. in terms of one unit or two units, i guess that depends on your setup. Good luck |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | They all make great units buy the best you can afford.i went cheap on my first boat. I all ways said wish I would have bought bigger. This boat I have i went all out bought 2 1198 si. very happy with them. I don't know any one with big units that say wish I bought the smaller units |
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| I have the old 88 bass tracker paid off it leaks, rides rough, and cant fish the big waters but I've put many muskies in it. The long term plan is to get my electronics and troller bought and upgrade the boat later on. But now that you bring up linked trollers, since that is in the plan I should make sure what I buy will be able to be linked later on. I just run a cable drive now but its only 55lb and on a windy day doesn't seem to have as much snort as I would like. So the Troller will have to wait until next year. |
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Posts: 134
| both bird and lowrance have what appear to viable options for linked trolling motors so at least you options going both ways. |
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Posts: 437
| ttrap - 1/12/2015 5:39 PM
No way Lowarnce has more accurate maps. Its about half a dozen either way depending on the lakes you fish or your location. Lakemaster is now for humminbird only i believe which from my research is worlds above navionics chips for the same maps. Ive never had any problems with any of the chips I have used. The touch 9 would be what I would go with if you want lowrance. Shop around cause there are lots of places online that sell way cheaper than any stores I have seen.
Most of the mapping done initially is not proprietary data so you actually see the same data on multiple "brands" of chips.
For Lowrance you have navionics branded chips (several different options), Lowrance lake Insight and that built in Insight that most units come preloaded with.
I have the 2010 LakeMaster Chip (believe this is the last one to work in Lowrance), the Lowrance Insight Pro and Navionics Platinum chips for my Lowrance units. The Lowrance chip and the LakeMaster are identical with the exception there are actually MORE lakes on Lowrance than LakeMaster, example lake of the woods/rainy is on the one chip with lowrance, where its a separate chip for lakemaster.
I have noticed that for some lakes Navionics is better while others the Lowrance/Lakemaster Chips are better. Hence the reason I have them all. |
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Electrionics Question