Best FF/GPS model for kayak?

I just purchased my 2nd Hobie Outback at the Sportsman's show. I want to fit it up with a quality FF/GPS unit. I have a hummingbird on my current boat which has been fine. I am thinking about a Lowrance Hds 5, Ray Marine DragonFire, or a Hummingbird Helix 5. I also understand that Garmin is also producing some very good units. Do any of you have any experience or opinions on these devices? Thanks.

I have an HDS8 (normally used on PB) and Elite-7xHDI (pre-CHIRP unit, normally used on PA12).  I can swap them between boats since both run off transponder/power cable with 'blue' connectors.

I like them both but strongly recommend the Elite series, the 7xHDI that I have is great if you want a wide display so as to split the screen (I like to view 83khz and 200khz signals side-by-side, or you can show sonar and charting side-by-side), and Elite-5 would be great if you want a smaller unit.

cheers, roger

  I'm running an Elite 5 on my wife's Outback and a Garmin 180 on mine. Most of the time , if she isn't fishing , I take her boat.
  Been real pleased with the Lowrance . Gps works well, fish finder shows fish, and a fairly easy set-up and menu. The Garmin is just a sonar unit... works good for that. Price difference --Elite 5 $399....Garmin < $200.

  Whether it is "the best" unit out there or not........probably not. A lot depends on how much $$ you are comfortable spending and the various features that are your priorities. Find what works best for your application.

  My 2 cents.

Whether it is "the best" unit out there or not........probably not. A lot depends on how much $$ you are comfortable spending and the various features that are your priorities. Find what works best for your application.

I agree with Mark.  Here are your basic choices:

1. Features.  The basic fish finder features are sonar, down-imaging sonar, side-scan sonar, GPS, and mapping.  Think about which of these features will be helpful to you, based on the kind of fishing you expect to do.  A medium-priced fish finder with sonar, GPS, and mapping would be a good choice, but you may decide that due to the kind of fishing you do, down-imaging sonar or side-scan sonar would be helpful.  Or you may decide that mapping won't be helpful to you.  Keep in mind that a side-scan transducer needs to be mounted below or behind the keel of your kayak.  On an Outback, that means you would have to install a transducer boom in order to use a side-scan transducer, and couldn't use the transducer pocket in the Outback. 

2. Color.  I find color to be very helpful in distinguishing bottom features, vegetation, and fish, and definitely think it's worth paying a bit more for a color fish finder.

3. Size of screen.  Go to a store and check out the different sizes of fish finder screens.  Think about how far away you will need to mount the fish finder, how easy it will be to view the screen at that distance, and how much space the fish finder will occupy on your kayak.  Some people prefer the smallest fish finder available, and other people like fish finders the size of a small television.

4. Transporting the fish finder.  Check out the fish finders and their bases, and think about how you are going to protect them when you are transporting your kayak.  On my Revolution I mount my fish finder on a gear track.  When I get off the water I take the fish finder unit off of its base and put it in a padded plastic box.  Then I slide the base out of the gear track on the gunwale of my kayak, and  move it to a short section of gear track which is inside the cockpit of my Revolution, and I cover the base with a nylon stuff sack to protect it from water and road dirt.  Some people move their fish finder base inside the front hatch of their kayak.

I have the elite-5 and like it.  However, i did find that I needed a 12 amp battery, which I mounted in a deep Hobie bucket, to keep it running all day.

Thanks guys, your inputs are insightful and VERY helpful! 

I would recommend the Elite 5 HDI. Perfect size for kayak and a great unit overall. Plus BPS is selling them off for 299!!! With transducer and a cover.

New models coming out but not much difference.

I've had my Elite 5 HDI for a month now and love it.  Only drawback is the power consumption.  It pulls about an amp per hour at full power.  After running out by lunch time with my 5ahr battery, I upgraded to a 12ahr  battery.  It's a big battery but I was able to make it fit.  Now I don't have to worry about running out of juice.

Any other models recommended that don't require the larger battery?

I have been very happy with my Lowrance Elite 4 HDI.  Price was good, pic is good, easy to use, good on my battery.  I liked it so much I even bought one for my powerboat.

I got the non-chirp one for 199... this is the chirp model.  I think they sold out the other one.

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Lowrance-Elite-4-CHIRP-Fishfinder/Chartplotter-With-Lake-Insight-Pro-Cartography&i=885007

I use the lowrance 4  the cheapest one.  I used to use a Humminbird 180 that was under 100 bucks. 

My observation.  They both show the bottom equally well.  Lowrance 4 is MUCH more sensitive.  Burns twice the batteries.

Last week I stopped trolling to take a break and let my gear just dangle below me.  I look over to the FF and see a THICK dark line climbing to the surface starting at my bait depth.  Its coming up fast and there is no mistake its a good strong return.  30ft, 20ft, 10ft... Shark?  Sea Lion?  Whale?  5ft, 4ft, 3ft...Uhhh  no....it was the little corky I placed on my line so I wouldn't jam the swivel into the first guide.  Once I stopped trolling, it was just floating up the line. 

Suffice it to say I am impressed with sensitivity.   Although it did make me reconsider the returns I was seeing.  I mark a lot of stuff MUCH fainter than the half inch (I think)  diameter corky.  I wonder what they are?  Things that make ya go hmmmm...........