Boat electronics advice

[Rubberdown]

Guys,
So I have been going bass fishing with a buddy of mine and really enjoyed it. I got hooked you might say. (See what I did there). So magically I bought a ranger 518vx. It's super nice, but the x65 lowrance units (there are two) are old and don't work. I want to replace them, but am overwhelmed by all the electronics that are out there. I'd like to have a gps/fish finder combo for the gauge panel, and frankly just a fish finder up front would be fine. I don't really want to cut up the boat much either so I'd like to stay the same size ish. Can anyone advise me? I am on a bit of a budget, but will spend what I need to.

Thanks

Ryan

[Lanceknny]

Look for some humminbird units the 700 thru 1100 series have been discontinued should be able to find some clearance deals

[boomer453]

i've got hummingbird 999's i think they're about perfect for me. be sure to get 2 units you can connect to each other so they can share information. i.e. if you mark a waypoint at the console unit it shows up on the bow unit as well.

[woolyhogtail]

There is a guy on the texas fishing forum that goes by shut up and fish. He sells all kinds of electronics and sometimes has discontinued units pretty cheap.

[Slew]

There is a guy on the texas fishing forum that goes by shut up and fish. He sells all kinds of electronics and sometimes has discontinued units pretty cheap.

David is the man for HB. I would get something decent w side imaging for the console and link it to something smaller w down imaging and GPS on the bow. Get the biggest screen you can afford cause when you start splitting screens up its nice to have enough picture to tell what your looking at. Linking them also saves the trouble of marking a spot on the console then having to find it later on the front graph. I run a touch Lowrance 12 linked to a touch 7 on the bow both pinpointed to a Motor Guide XI5. It's awesome for docks and brushpiles but lacks the accuracy to fish bridges or timber with complete accuracy. I would honestly like to have 2 TMs on the front of the boat depending on what I was fishing! Basically welcome to a new addiction you can always find stuff you need to spend money on for the boat!! As for HB vs Lowrance it's probably like a Ford vs Chevy debate.

[adam_p]

There is a guy on the texas fishing forum that goes by shut up and fish. He sells all kinds of electronics and sometimes has discontinued units pretty cheap.

I got a better deal from universal mania. I tried that guy and he was quite a bit higher.

[Dugie]

I prefer Lowrance and have been super pleased with my hds units, there are plenty of deals on used units that work great on TFF

[ultralite09]

Its all going to come down to personal preference. I currently run a HB898 at the console and just got a new helix 7 as a gift for the bow. Go as big as you can afford. I love humminbird but will be transitioning to running Raymarine all around, their down and side imaging sonar is crystal clear and cant beat the price tag.

[Rubberdown]

Thanks guys! Couple of questions for you... Down Scan/Side scan.... its expensive. Is it worth it? I was leaning toward Lowrance HDS but they are so freaking expensive. I would have to buy one and then wait and buy the other. I was hoping I could get away with an Elite 5 or something but if you want down scan / side scan that isn't an option. One thing I did think was with the new Gen 3 HDS I could link an ipad to the console unit and use that on the bow until I bought a second one.

[npe001]

Lowrance HDS. You would probably want a transducer on the bow to see what you are over. But the option for an ipad is cool

[MidLifeKtm]

I don't believe in electronics so I don't have anything like that on my boat

[jlinville]

Thanks guys! Couple of questions for you... Down Scan/Side scan.... its expensive. Is it worth it? I was leaning toward Lowrance HDS but they are so freaking expensive. I would have to buy one and then wait and buy the other. I was hoping I could get away with an Elite 5 or something but if you want down scan / side scan that isn't an option. One thing I did think was with the new Gen 3 HDS I could link an ipad to the console unit and use that on the bow until I bought a second one.

Side imaging is definitely worth the money. I've been out of it since 2012, but last I checked, if you are going to link two Lowrance units together, you have to buy a LSS-1 unit that is pretty pricey (almost like buying another unit). Humminbirds aren't that way. They link with a data cable. So, I'd suggest at least a 7" (899) screen at the console connected to a 5" (688) screen at the bow. But like was mentioned, get the biggest screen you can afford.

[Rubberdown]

Yeah it isn't like that anymore. Now it's just a cat5 with the hds series. I stopped by bass pro and definitely will get the lowrance hds model after playing with all the GUIs. Gen 4 is supposed to be out with 3d down scan soon and a faster processor. That I know I am good without. So.... I guess I need to hold off till the gen 3 go on sale when they are last years stuff.

Thanks fellas!

[Lanceknny]

I have two 999 I'd sell you one new in box never opened the other has one trip on it .like new in the box .

[boomer453]

I have two 999 I'd sell you one new in box never opened the other has one trip on it .like new in the box .

How much?