Fishfinder/GPS Combo Unit

Best deal right now...

LINK

Walmart has the HDS Live 7" with 3 in 1 transducer for 579.

Should be easy for you to switch to since interface is just like the HDS Carbon. You can probably reuse the power cable, etc thats already on your boat.

I have a Humminbird Helix DI/SI with an 8” screen on my Hobie PA14. I purchased this unit right as the live imaging revolution began, so it is almost a dinosaur of a unit already as far as the current electronics offerings go. I have been very happy with the unit, though I no longer live on the coast and mostly use it for open water crappie fishing.

My recommendation would be that regardless of the unit you go with, I would get the biggest screen you can either afford or think you can accommodate on your kayak. I have not regretted the 8” screen and would absolutely go with a 9” if I had to do it over again. My uses are different than yours in that I need to have clear imaging and those small screens make it really tough to examine brush and structure. Even if I was getting a unit strictly for mapping and regular sonar, I would get as big a screen as I could fit on the kayak. My 8” unit doesn’t seem too big and never gets in the way of fishing.

One thing to keep in mind with some of the more sophisticated electronics is battery requirements. There are some very good/small batteries on the market, but they are pricey. Mariner Sails is who I purchased my battery and rigging materials from.

Thank you for the responses. This was very helpful.

I was in the same exact predicament. I bought a boat with a Lowrance Elite Ti 7 with the triple scan. Replaced it last week with a Lowrance Reveal 9 I haven't used it yet but my son took the boat out this past weekend and said it worked well enough. It's regular 899 but the GPS store has it for 599. That's what we paid for it last week at Academy on sale.

quote:

---

HDS Live 7"

---

Well based on this thread I ordered one from Walmart three days ago.

I looked up some reviews and info. Based upon what I could find, difference between the HDS and Elite is the hds has better resolution, faster processor. Elite has same functionality but at a (normally) lower price point. Won’t have as many features. Reviews I read really harped on the signal processing speed and the screen resolution being significantly better than the Elite models. And at less than $600 for an almost $1300 dept finder is pretty good.

I have 2 HDS carbons on my boat

The lives are the next upgrade in the HDS line.

The lives have now been replaced with the HDS Pro.

I'm very happy with my HDS carbons, so I'm sure the live will be great. I have a 9" and 12" but did have a 7" carbon on my old boat and it was great too. The problem with these brands is the screen size increases the price exponentially. If 7" works, I wouldn't worry about going bigger. It will at least double your budget for a similar quality unit.

ETA: lowrance seems to have the best mapping for louisiana especially if you get a satellite imagery card. I also really like having a touch screen.

I kept my Carbon even though going to two Garmins networked for other tasks. That's how much I like the interface and mapping. Now that Garmin has access to Navionics, they might be better for my area, but there's no sense in me paying for it when the job is being well done by my Carbon. I also like the side imaging better on the Carbon even though the Garmin has a higher frequency setting.

Yes I've had the hook series in the past as well and was extremely disappointed when I found out it couldn't handle the south LA standard mapping cards.

Having said that, the hds live appears to have all of those past issues ironed out for the most part.

I have one of those at the console. It's a good unit.

need a replacement as well.

Does anyone know who has the most user friendly UI? Pops is only getting older, and ease of use is as important as visibility.

Is there a big difference between Garmin, Lorance, Simrad and Raymarine?