4 replies to this topic

[Coreyhkh]

Hey guys I am still on the hunt for a new fish finder for the new boat. It came an older lowrance 200, I am planning on maybe putting that upfront and getting a good one to replace it by the wheel.

I was looking at side scan units but the cheapest models are to small especially when used in a split screen. So I am looking at the DSI units both Lowrance and humminbird have similar products just wondering if anyone prefers one over the other if so why.

[Joel52]

I own a Humminbird but I think they're both good from what I've read. My father in law had a Lowrance, and he liked it fine. It did the job for him and I don't think you can really go wrong either way. Some of the things to watch for is display quality, ease of use and power (PTP). The best thing to do is go to places like Bass Pro and LeBaron where they have them set up in and play around with them. Spend as much time as you need figuring out what features you really need - it's probably a good idea to go to more than one store and get help from someone who knows their way around the products. This might sound like a lot of work but you'll be glad you did when you're sitting in your boat for hours looking at something you researched properly rather than just buying something that you didn't need or - worse yet, did need and didn't get. Some store clerks may have bias toward one or the other, so watch for that also. It's usually easy enough to figure that out with a few simple questions, and they will naturally steer you in a direction of something they know and trust, but if it's just a sales pitch because the manager wants to move some units... well, don't get caught up in that. I would ask what they have in their boat and why they chose it.
Here's an online comparison - http://fishfinderhome.com/?p=2832

[Coreyhkh]

Hey guys I am going to buy my new finder this week and I think I am going with the Lowrance Elite 5 DSI because its a bit cheaper and it uses the same bracket as my boat already has so it should be a simple install.

I am just wondering can you customize your views and have different presets.For example Can I have normal sonar / down scan side by side? and or GPS with 2d sonar?

[emidyl]

Hey Corey,

so did you ever get the Lowrance? I was looking at the same model and wanted someone with some feedback on it.
The other model I looked at was the HB 570DI but was leaning towards the Elite 5 DSI

[Coreyhkh]

Hey I ended up getting the hummingbird because it was better value and offered both 2d and down imaging and gps all in one. I am very happy with it.