New Fishfinder Location Question

[glennL]

I am very much interested in hearing some different opinions on placement of my new Lowrance Elite-5 dept finder.

I currently have a very old Eagle Utlra on the front of my boat and an older rather inexpensive console Humingbird on the console. The Hummingbird console unit no longer works.

Should i put the combo on the front trolling motor and the old Eagle on the console?

Or should i leave the Eagle on the front trolling motor and place the new combo on my console?

I am thinking for precise viewing while fishing, having the new Lowrance on the trolling motor will provide much more accuracy, while i sit up front. Yet having the new Lowrance on the console helps me with GPS and finding fish while driving.

I have also seen ram mounts that could work and allow me to turn the Lowrance towards the front of the boat and view it through the windshield.

Anyone have any preferences or see advantages of placement?

[Champ188]

Glenn, ultimately it's your call, but I believe you'd reap the most benefit from placing the new unit on the front. Think of how much more time you spend fishing than driving the boat. That's my 2 cents, for what it's worth.

[J-Doc]

It's really your preference. What's more important to you? GPS at the console or at the bow? Knowing how to read a graph is far more beneficial. I had a similar situation and put the better graph at the console. It worked for marking waypoints and because I used it at the console more.

Now......

Better quality sonar is very beneficial. but until you get into Gen2 HDS or really larger more powerful older units with more rms watts do you benefit from sonar. The Elite 5 is a nice unit but I don't think it has as much power as the HDS units. More power means better clarity and easier to read sonar.

Again. What's more important to you? It's very much your call. If you watch your graph religiously when fishing, the bow. If you don't really use the bow graph that much or for just reading depth only when fishing, there's your answer.

[gramps50]

I have an old Eagle on the console that came with the boat. When I bought the new HD 597 I put it up front. But that's just me.

[glennL]

Thanks for the opinions. I fish and watch the depth finder religiously when fishing up front. I mostly fish using the trolling motor.

I do appreciate your opinions.

[J-Doc]

Sounds like you got your answer then. :-)