Which fishfinder??? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

farreola · 01-16-2016, 07:53 PM

1st time fishfinder buyer. Looking at LOWRANCE Elite-5 CHIRP Fishfinder/Chartplotter with 83/200 + 455/800kHz Transducer, Nav+ Cartography and RAYMARINE Dragonfly 5 Pro Fishfinder/Chartploter with Navionics+Charrts both are prety much the same price at Westmarine Lowrance $30 cheaper with thier $50 rebate. Views, thoughts, opinions

Autrout · 01-16-2016, 08:25 PM

I bought the Dragonfly. Used it once and liked the image.

sandico · 01-18-2016, 12:20 PM

Both of these units are pretty good. I have personally always had Lowrance fishfinders and have never been disappointed. I currently have an Elite 5 and it works great as both a chartplotter and fishfinder. The color images really help to define what type of bottom or structure you are seeing. Depending on kayak you are installing it in might also sway your decision.
NOTE: If you have a Kraken you will need to get a different transducer as Raymarine has changed the design and will not fit the transducer scupper. Raymarine will ship you the correct transducer free of charge. If you glue it inside the hull, you can use the one that comes with it.

Kerry
OEX Mission Bay

farreola · 01-18-2016, 03:39 PM

Thanks Kerry, I will be installing fish finder on an Ocean Big Game II is there anything tricks or tips you may know of on installing a fishfinder on that model?

Mr. NiceGuy · 01-18-2016, 04:16 PM

I have a Lowrance Elite 5 Chirp installed in April that developed some issues booting up. It would start to turn on for a second or so, then shut down without getting past the name screen.

I called Lowrance today. They were very good with product support. We identified that the problem is in the FF itself, not the battery, wiring, or transducer. They are sending me a new one.

Anything can fail. For me, easy replacement under warranty made me a happy customer.

01-16-2016, 07:53 PM	#1
farreola Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Calexico Posts: 134	Which fishfinder??? 1st time fishfinder buyer. Looking at LOWRANCE Elite-5 CHIRP Fishfinder/Chartplotter with 83/200 + 455/800kHz Transducer, Nav+ Cartography and RAYMARINE Dragonfly 5 Pro Fishfinder/Chartploter with Navionics+Charrts both are prety much the same price at Westmarine Lowrance $30 cheaper with thier $50 rebate. Views, thoughts, opinions

01-18-2016, 04:16 PM	#5
Mr. NiceGuy Manic for Life Join Date: May 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 839	I have a Lowrance Elite 5 Chirp installed in April that developed some issues booting up. It would start to turn on for a second or so, then shut down without getting past the name screen. I called Lowrance today. They were very good with product support. We identified that the problem is in the FF itself, not the battery, wiring, or transducer. They are sending me a new one. Anything can fail. For me, easy replacement under warranty made me a happy customer. __________________ Another ho-hum day in Paradise

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01-16-2016, 08:25 PM	#2
Autrout Junior Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 12	I bought the Dragonfly. Used it once and liked the image.

01-18-2016, 12:20 PM	#3
sandico Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 94	Both of these units are pretty good. I have personally always had Lowrance fishfinders and have never been disappointed. I currently have an Elite 5 and it works great as both a chartplotter and fishfinder. The color images really help to define what type of bottom or structure you are seeing. Depending on kayak you are installing it in might also sway your decision. NOTE: If you have a Kraken you will need to get a different transducer as Raymarine has changed the design and will not fit the transducer scupper. Raymarine will ship you the correct transducer free of charge. If you glue it inside the hull, you can use the one that comes with it. Kerry OEX Mission Bay

01-18-2016, 03:39 PM	#4
farreola Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Calexico Posts: 134	Thanks Kerry, I will be installing fish finder on an Ocean Big Game II is there anything tricks or tips you may know of on installing a fishfinder on that model?