Need some knowledge - new graph selection

[JF660R]

Our '93 champion has some Hummingbirds that are...idk, probably about the same vintage. 

Reading some of the graph reading how tos it's clear, I've got to get in the same decade to even make any sense of what I'm supposed to be doing / looking at.

Obviously I'm not looking to spend tournament money, but then again having never bought or used any fish finders... I've been trying to read up on what options are necessary to actually find fish.

So, got the new BPS ad and the Dragonfly 7 Pro caught my eye. 7" color screen, down vision, sonar... a price I can almost live with. Reviews seem good

Comparison

Need some advice from the pros, would this be a good move? 

[moguy1973]

I would go with the Garmin Echomap 73sv they have for $499 (Cabelas has it for $479 right now too).  From what I've seen with the Raymarine units the graphs aren't as clear as the Garmin. Plus the Garmin has side imaging too. The only thing the Raymarine has going for it that I can see is it has CHIRP which gives a little more sensitivity  

I may be partial too though since I own the Garmin. 

[Smalls21]

with the garmin from bass pro, you get it installed for free

[rps]

I just bought the 9" echomap 93sv to replace the Lowrance unit I had stolen.

[JF660R]

2 hours ago, Smalls21 said:

with the garmin from bass pro, you get it installed for free

Oh really. ...hmmm

[Smalls21]

22 minutes ago, JF660R said:

Oh really. ...hmmm

yeah most of the one's on sale come with free install

[JF660R]

9 hours ago, rps said:

I just bought the 9" echomap 93sv to replace the Lowrance unit I had stolen.

This thread 

Garmin vs. Dragonfly

Has me rethinking the Raymarine. Need to keep the price reasonable though, would really llike to move to an ipilot set up soon. ... ish. 

[JF660R]

12 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

I would go with the Garmin Echomap 73sv they have for $499 (Cabelas has it for $479 right now too).  From what I've seen with the Raymarine units the graphs aren't as clear as the Garmin. Plus the Garmin has side imaging too. The only thing the Raymarine has going for it that I can see is it has CHIRP which gives a little more sensitivity  

I may be partial too though since I own the Garmin. 

Went and looked in person at BPS tonight and this is definitely the way I'm leaning now. 

[slothman]

I've pretty much decided to get a Garmin 73sv. Can't decide if it is worth the extra money for the new chirp model though. $499 vs. $749 is a pretty big difference. I have heard that chirp is the way to go, but I'd love to have others weigh in on that. 

 

 

[moguy1973]

Here's the same unit for $20 less at Cabela's.  The savings would pay for the shipping.

http://www.cabelas.com/product//2412938.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D734095080%26CQ_search%3D73sv%26CQ_st%3Db