Dual purpose fish finder - Ice/Boat

[Daveoeh]

I am looking to buy a new Sonar/GPS/Fishfinder and the only unit i have found that looks like it may be close to what i am looking for is the Hummingbird ICE 385ci. I am not completely sure if the capabilities would be good enough for in a boat while im fairly sure it would be a solid ice fishing unit.

I am wondering if anyone has any advice or whether there is a better unit i should be looking at.

Thanks for having a look!

Good luck!

 

[redneckchromer]

i use the humminbird 150 max, and it was fine both on the ice and on my jon boat

 

[Daveoeh]

i use the humminbird 150 max, and it was fine both on the ice and on my jon boat

Looks like a ice little rig! I'm looking for something more flasher/depth finder. I know the options are very limited just looking for something solid.

 

[Daveoeh]

It appears i may have found my dream unit. Purchased today a Hummingbird 587ci (colour-GPS) unit which included a free Down Imaging ugrade. Cant wait to slay some monster walleye this winter on Quinte!

 

[Porkpie]

It appears i may have found my dream unit. Purchased today a Hummingbird 587ci (colour-GPS) unit which included a free Down Imaging ugrade. Cant wait to slay some monster walleye this winter on Quinte!

I hate to be a spoilsport, but just so your aware that humminbird doesn't make an ice ducer that is compatible with down imaging units. I ran into this when upgrading the electronics on my boat. In the end I opted to go with the bird anyway, and stick with my flasher for ice fishing. On the flip side, the color birds with GPS and down imaging are AMAZING!! Combined with hotmaps, I am completely blown away!! You can still use the transducer that comes with it for ice fishing though, but if you wanted to buy an ice ducer, you where out of luck for DI units at least as of this summer. Enjoy!

 

[Daveoeh]

I hate to be a spoilsport, but just so your aware that humminbird doesn't make an ice ducer that is compatible with down imaging units. I ran into this when upgrading the electronics on my boat. In the end I opted to go with the bird anyway, and stick with my flasher for ice fishing. On the flip side, the color birds with GPS and down imaging are AMAZING!! Combined with hotmaps, I am completely blown away!! You can still use the transducer that comes with it for ice fishing though, but if you wanted to buy an ice ducer, you where out of luck for DI units at least as of this summer. Enjoy!

Just so you know, I'm not sure when you last looked but the 587ci is compatible with the xI 9 20 ice transducer. Its the same unit that comes with the ICE 385 and 386ci. The unit i bought the 587ci has a built in flasher mode as well as real time sonar. You should check them out the are pretty unreal.Although it sounds like you found a great option so thanks for the word of warning!

Cheers.

 

[Porkpie]

Just so you know, I'm not sure when you last looked but the 587ci is compatible with the xI 9 20 ice transducer. Its the same unit that comes with the ICE 385 and 386ci. The unit i bought the 587ci has a built in flasher mode as well as real time sonar. You should check them out the are pretty unreal.Although it sounds like you found a great option so thanks for the word of warning!

Cheers.

Yep, and the unit I b

 

[Porkpie]

Just so you know, I'm not sure when you last looked but the 587ci is compatible with the xI 9 20 ice transducer. Its the same unit that comes with the ICE 385 and 386ci. The unit i bought the 587ci has a built in flasher mode as well as real time sonar. You should check them out the are pretty unreal.Although it sounds like you found a great option so thanks for the word of warning!

Cheers.

Yep, and the unit I bought was also compatible with an Ice ducer, and has a flasher mode, so long as I bought it without down imaging. The minute I bought the same unt with down imaging, it used a different transducer, and was no longer compatible with the ice ducer. I called humminbird directly and this was the info I was provided with this summer. My unit also has a flasher option, however bird told me I would have to use the standard transducer if I wanted to ice fish with it as the ice ducer wouldn't fit. If things have changed, and there is a new ice transducer a available, please let me know as I would love to have a spare unit without having to use hockey sticks or pieces of wood to keep the ducer down the hole. Thanks!

 

[Daveoeh]

Yep, and the unit I bought was also compatible with an Ice ducer, and has a flasher mode, so long as I bought it without down imaging. The minute I bought the same unt with down imaging, it used a different transducer, and was no longer compatible with the ice ducer. I called humminbird directly and this was the info I was provided with this summer. My unit also has a flasher option, however bird told me I would have to use the standard transducer if I wanted to ice fish with it as the ice ducer wouldn't fit. If things have changed, and there is a new ice transducer a available, please let me know as I would love to have a spare unit without having to use hockey sticks or pieces of wood to keep the ducer down the hole. Thanks!

You bet! i wil definitely let you know. You have me very curious now lol so i will likely be trying it as soon as possible.