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Picture Of The Month



SD2OR with a trophy fall walleye

Topic: Fish Finder Recommendations  (Read 2263 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Beer_Run

  • Lingcod
  • *****
  • Location: West Linn
  • Date Registered: Jul 2017
  • Posts: 476
Outfitting my new Old Town Autopilot 120 that I am picking up this weekend.  Got the main battery delivered. Ordered Malone's new sand cart. Will move most of my fishing stuff from my current 2020 Outback, but not sure about moving the Lowrance Hook2 5. I understand Old Town works with Humminbird like Hobie and Lowrance. Would like to leave the current setup in the Outback for resale, so looking at the best option for the new rig.

Would love any thoughts, input, suggestions.  I like the 5" screens and can't afford a touch screen, would like full-on maps but not required.
- Bob

2020 Hobie Outback - Seagrass
2021 Old Town AutoPilot 120 - Blue/Gray


BentRod

  • Rockfish
  • ****
  • Location: Issaquah
  • Date Registered: Mar 2016
  • Posts: 135
I've got the 5" Humminbird Helix G2 with GPS, maps, and down imaging.  I really like it, but the 7" screen I think would be a bit nicer. 


LawyerBob

  • Rockfish
  • ****
  • Location: Beaverton, Oregon
  • Date Registered: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 187
Same opinion here. 5” is nice, but a bit small for side imaging.


BigFishy

  • Rockfish
  • ****
  • Location: Clackamas
  • Date Registered: Nov 2020
  • Posts: 103
2021 Hobie Outback


Tinker

  • Sturgeon
  • *******
  • Kevin
  • Location: 42.74°N 124.5°W
  • Date Registered: May 2013
  • Posts: 3304
I'm not a fan of Humminbirds.  I own two:  Helix 5 CHIRP DI GPS G2 and a Helix 7 CHIRP MDI GPS G3 and neither perform well - the Helix 7 went back to Humminbird (under warranty) after only 2 weeks and I'm waiting for it's replacement.

I bought the 7 to replace the 5 and I'm lucky I kept the 5.  It may not work as advertised but it at least works.

You may have better luck with them than I did (it seems most people do), but right now I think my biggest mistake was not returning the Helix 7 to the dealer for a refund so I could buy a Garmin Echomap 6...
I expected the worst, but it was worse than I expected...


YakHunter

  • Salmon
  • ******
  • Retired!
  • Location: Wyoming
  • Date Registered: Jun 2020
  • Posts: 513
I like my Garmin Ecomaps.  GPS is important for me.  I watch for sales and don't pay retail (sometimes takes a while). 
Hobie PA14
Hobie Outback
Hobie Adventure Island
Hobie Tandem Island
Jackson CudaHD
BlueSky 360 Angler


Cocopufft

  • Plankton
  • *
  • Location: Tacoma
  • Date Registered: Jul 2021
  • Posts: 9
I think they all work these days, but the integration with hummingbird might be worth it on an autopilot. All three major brands have good products, just depends on preference. I also got the Garmin echomap on the sale, and the bigger screen is nice. You can use a tablet/ipad over Bluetooth with newer units if you ever need a bigger screen.


Ling Banger

  • Sturgeon
  • *******
  • Location: Lincoln Beach, OR
  • Date Registered: Feb 2010
  • Posts: 2588
I understand Old Town works with Humminbird like Hobie and Lowrance.

I think Hobie and Lowrance have a strategic partnership, but Johnson Outdoors OWNS both Old Town and H-bird. So I would take a look at what, if any, advantages or extra features may be available to you by sticking with H-Bird.

I haven't owned a H-Bird for 5 or 6 years, but their plug in connections used to suck.It was a constant battle fighting corrosion.I hope they made some changes to make their products more useful to the kayak fishing market.




"We're going to go fishing
And that's all there is to it." - R.P. McMurphy


Drifter2007

  • Salmon
  • ******
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Date Registered: Mar 2017
  • Posts: 748
Nope, they haven't made it any better. I think I am going to buy yet another new power cord for my Hummingbird helix 5.
1991 Desert Storm (USMC)
2004-2005 OIF (US ARMY)
2006-2007 OEF (US ARMY)
2009-2010 OIF II (US Army)
2016 Retired!


MonkeyFist

  • Lingcod
  • *****
  • Location: Corvallis, OR
  • Date Registered: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 363
I've replaced my Humminbird power cord once.
I now keep it liberally lubed with dielectric grease
I much preferred the bayonet style plug Lowrance used on the earlier generation of Hook fishfinders, it actually had an o ring to keep it sort of sealed. 
Neither Humminbird nor Lowrance have that style connector anymore. 


Shin09

  • Salmon
  • ******
  • Location: Portland
  • Date Registered: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 549
The Lowrance ones were nice and easy to use plus waterproof! They still have them on their higher end models, they just cheaped out on the hook 2 series.


workhard

  • Salmon
  • ******
  • Get off your computer and fish
  • Location: Bellingham
  • Date Registered: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 712
Lowrance Elite TI2 here... Worked as expected 2 solid years, even after the boat went tits up in the canal. Always put dielectric grease on your electrical connectors guys.