Sonar Advice/Reviews Needed: Lowrance, Raymarine, HB??

[bferg]

I want to upgrade the sonar on my boat.  I am looking to stay in the $500 range.  Which means I am probably looking at 7 inch screens.  As far as features are concerned:  I am obviously wanting CHIRP and probably down scan.  I do not think I need sidescan (feel free to tell me if/why I should rethink that).  Also: I have an aluminum john boat that is nice but basic which means I do not need to network or connect my GPS to a trolling motor.  

So, right now my consideration set is the following:

Lowrance Hook 7

Raymarine Dragonfly 7Pro

Humminbird Helix 7 DI

I am curious as to if anyone has any experience with any of these- especially the Dragonfly.  Thoughts on image quality, ease of use, overall performance and reliability are welcome.  I am upgrading from an old Lowrance Mark 4 so any of these options would be improvement due to the newer technology.  

[176champion]

I'm using a helix 7 DI on the bow and so far i like, i think i paid like 356.00 last year..still learning to use it's features....My next sonar will be either a helix 5 gps DI or helix 7 gps di for console.

[moguy1973]

I'd look at the Garmin echomap 73dv CHIRP also.  Garmin has great pictures and they have built in maps as well as the ability to create your own maps using the Quickdraw feature.

https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-echoMAP-CHIRP-73dv-transducer/dp/B017RTBP7S

https://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-echoMAP-CHIRP-73dv-with-Transducer-P4643.aspx

[bferg]

Thanks guys- should have mentioned I want GPS for sure.  I had forgotten about the Garmin!    

[wily]

Look at academy online...they had the 53 with mapping on sale for 279 Last month. I bought one but haven't hooked it up yet.  I have the 501 up front and like it...

[Smalls21]

Garmin has really stepped up their game in the last couple of years!!

[Longball22]

I have a Lowrance Elite 7 and Hook 7 that have been removed from my boat.  They're a great unit for the money in my opinion, but the one terrible thing with them is the map refresh rate, particularly with a Navionics card installed.  You'll notice every software update that Lowrance releases for these addresses this issue....

[Smalls21]

lowrance comes out with a new update about every week

[rps]

6 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

I'd look at the Garmin echomap 73dv CHIRP also.  Garmin has great pictures and they have built in maps as well as the ability to create your own maps using the Quickdraw feature.

https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-echoMAP-CHIRP-73dv-transducer/dp/B017RTBP7S

https://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-echoMAP-CHIRP-73dv-with-Transducer-P4643.aspx

+1

[176champion]

I was thinking about a garmin unit when i was looking and one day i stopped by Bass Pro and looked at the sonars and i saw how much more crisp the picture on the helix was, thats when i decides to get a helix 7....if you can go look at the units...