I Would Like Knowledgable Advice And Comments

[rps]

I do not desire to start another Lowrance vs. Humminbird thread. I have read many of those, and most degenerate into "I am a Lowrance man which means ... " Sometimes they turn into bash threads.

Let me set a few parameters for the discussion. I would especially appreciate comments from those that truely understand electronics.

Background:

I love to topwater fish and to catch walleye. I also enjoy a school of whites and finesse rig fishing. I have been known to Lindy rig, jig fish, and spoon jig. I do not drop shot, throw the A rig. or power fish anything other than a wart, blade, or buzz bait.

I owned one of the original green boxes. I have fished with paper graphs. I have owned both Lowrance and Humminbird sonar units. I Currently am fishing a an 898 SI Humminbird and a HB sonar on my boat. The front, trolling motor mount is a universal transducer through the Minnkota trolling motor and I use it for depth and when I try to jig spoons vertically. It does not like the trolling motor running and becomes useless. The rear unit is very effective but so small that a split screen (sonar and side scan) is very hard to see, especially in sunlight.

My present set up is not good at the front as the sonar takes forever to recover from the trolling motor running. It also is not all that good at tracking a spoon. The back unit is small and hard to read, especially in the sun.

I NEVER use the GPS to find anything or to run in the fog. I fish a small area of the lake and know way points by memory.

My beautiful bride of 42 years has ageed that our Christmas should be a "choose our own wants" up to $2000 dollars. (Does anyone know how cool that is? D*** I am lucky.)

My desire is to seriously upgrade my boat electronics. I desire to purchase better units for the type of fishing I do, along with the accessories to make them useful. I have been reading about what is available.

Three alternatives seem to meet my goals.

Lowrance offers the HDS 8 Gen2 with LSS2 structure scan for $1700. Up front I could place a Lowrance Elite4 HDI for $300.

HB offers the 999ci HD SI for $1500. Up front I could put a 678c HD for $360.

Garmin has an outstanding chirp unit out. A echoMp 70s with a GVC10 unit for $1500 with a echo551 up front for $270.

Apparently all of these are outstanding units and all seem to have an equal track record on reliability and service. None of these are the current top of the line, but they are close.

My questions:

Which would you choose and WHY?

SHould I spend extra on any accessories?

Have I missed an important fact, and if so, what is it?

Does networking offer any advantages?

Should I just buy an old refurbished paper graph on Ebay?

[kjackson]

No doubt this will be an interesting thread. I'm not an expert in electronics, so you can take my advice and $5 and buy a cup of coffee at Mud Street.

Having said that, I do know that the CHIRP technology is some of the best and provides very detailed imagery. Whether the units you're looking at are what you need, though, I can't say. I've not fished with Garmins at all (in my boat). I've been fairly loyal to Humminbird after serial disappointments with Lowrance units' longevity. I also have the 898 DI/S, but it isn't what I need.

I would look very closely at the Garmin units and add that Raymarine is turning out some good electronics now. I've been on boats this year that were equipped with both brands, and I was impressed.

Paper? Really? I trust that was a light-hearted comment...

[Dutch]

If I were upgrading, I'd stay with the same brand and not have to spend all of the time it takes to learn the functions of a different brand. I run Low units and my bud runs Bird. I like my 2d sonar better than his but I like his down and side better than mine.

Neither one of us can more than turn on the power to the other's units because the commands and key functions aren't nearly the same.

[Bird Watcher]

RPS, I think your current electronics are fine for what you are wanting to do. If your front graph is having trouble while the trolling motor is running, you are getting interference. It's pretty common with digital trolling motors. There are several cheap ways to fix it. do a google search on "how do I eliminate interference on my sonar." I'd put the 898 at the front and spend your allowance to get a 9 or 10 for the back.

I'm a big believer in only buying what I have to. Just had to update graphs myself in order to have the capability of steering the trolling motor, but I called Lowrance and asked them what the bare minimum I needed to purchase in order to accomplish what I wanted to do. Ended up, I just needed a new touchscreen head unit. It wasn't cheap, but at least I didn't have to buy any accessories.

Graphs are hard to see in the sun. I know they make sun hoods and I think they make applied sun filters, but I just use my hat if need be. Put it on a ram mount so you can rotate it around and find a position that it's easier to view.

ETA: Networking, the only thing I use it for is sharing gps waypoints between the units. Really depends on the species of fish I'm fishing for if this comes in handy or not. I use it sometimes, sometimes I don't.

Also, pop for the premium mapping card, whatever flavor you prefer. 1' increments make walleye fishing so much easier.

[5bites]

I'm with bird watcher kinda. Just move the 898 up front and buy an 1198-1199 for the console. Getting a backlit screen (hd in humminbird talk) will solve the hard to view problem.

If you are satisfied with the 898 screen size of just get an hd version of it or a 998-999 for the front and back.

Universalmania can beat that $1500 by a few hundred easily btw.

Bassboatcentral is the best place to look for used electronics.

My current setup is a 998 non hd at the wheel and a lowrance lcx 112 at the trolling motor. I sit close to the screen so having hd on the 998 isn't as critical but it would be nice.

The only reason I have the 112 is because it was a good deal from a friend. The screen is quite large at 10.4" and do far for vertical fishing it works great. It will get dumped for a bird though when I can afford it.

[5bites]

If side imaging wasn't important that 112 would work well for you.

[Feathers and Fins]

I am a lowrance guy and know its system very well and I wouldn't change for that reason, I have already gone through the learning curve and don't care to repeat it.

That said this is what I would do in your position.

1. Go with a HDS Gen 2 7'' on the console as they are on sale at Cabelas right now according to the website for 899.00 so 990.00 with tax.

2. Go with the HDS Gen 2 5'' on the bow same reason they are on sale for 499.00 so 550.00 with tax.

$1,540.00 for the two units

Or another option is to go with the new elite 7 on the bow with the Chirp sonar technology for 649.00

If you ever wanted the networking between units you couldn't do it with the chirp thought. networking is great for using maps sharing waypoints between the two units and you may find after using the mapping features you really like it.

If you go with the 1,540.00 options you can take the rest of the money and buy a beautiful set of cast iron pots and pans

[rps]

Solid and helpful comments. Thank you. Time to decide and then wait for the correct sale.

BTW, I am leaning to moving the rear SI unit with its separate transducer to the front and buying the largest/clearest display unit I can afford for the rear.

[5bites]

It might be worth comparing an onix to the 1198-1199 but I bet the 11 series will be great and still have money left for a Lakemaster chip. I looooove the lakemaster maps. You are welcome to see mine in person anytime I'm down.

[kjackson]

Solid and helpful comments. Thank you. Time to decide and then wait for the correct sale.

BTW, I am leaning to moving the rear SI unit with its separate transducer to the front and buying the largest/clearest display unit I can afford for the rear.

Be careful; do that and you'll end up with a transom-mount trolling motor with the head reversed.