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04-16-2018, 01:29 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Long Beach
Posts: 30
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Best Fish Finder
Looking to upgrade. I currently have a raymarine dragonfly and feel like there's something considerably better out there. What's your opinion on the best FF out there today?
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04-16-2018, 02:44 PM | #2 |
Finally landed one
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Diego
Posts: 35
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I spent about 20 hours researching this over that past couple of months, but I don't know if we are shopping for the same stuff....
I was coming from a RayMarine WiFish - so even further down the ladder than the dragonfly as I had to use an iPad in a waterproof case as a screen... I ended up with a RayMarine Axiom and a Airmar Chirp M285HW transducer...probably overkill but I like to shop once and keep it for a long time. Happy to help with any other questions if I can, I am far from an expert. I used the new rig at the Heroes on the Water event this weekend and while I caught no halibut I felt like I could SEE way better under the water - found bait easily, saw structure, now I just need to learn how to fish better... BerleyPro is a great resource for fitting various transducers in the hobie mount on the bottom of your yak if you have a hobie https://www.berleypro.com/product-category/hobie/ Some great background information on fish finders and sounder info in general http://www.furuno.com/special/en/fishfinder/topic8.html Some Great discussion of the current crop of finders and all their positives and negatives http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sho...ghlight=simrad Another long article by same Aussie (about 4 posts down) that discusses various sounders and MFDs http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sho...owrance+garmin Some fairly detailed info on the technology - bit long - but good late night reading.... https://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-...explained.html
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2014 Hobie Tandem Island (to fish with the kids) 2017 Hobie Pro Angler 14 (for solo missions) |
04-17-2018, 11:41 AM | #3 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Long Beach
Posts: 30
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Great stuff. Thank you for all the information. Did you look at the Dragonfly's? if you did, did you consider the upgraded transducer? I think it's the CPT 60.
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04-17-2018, 12:53 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,856
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The best fish finder is the one you can afford
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04-17-2018, 02:34 PM | #5 |
Finally landed one
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Diego
Posts: 35
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True,
but there are multiple fish finder solutions at various price points from the big makers..so if you can afford one you can probably afford enough that you have a choice, and that is when it gets complicated Simrad/Lowrance/B&G all one company RayMarine Humminbird Garmin Lowrance seems to dominate our kayak market (and has a good relationship with Hobie). Their current crop of finders has been out almost 3 years though - I hate buying tech that is that old for the same price as it was when it was new. Lowrance newest stuff is there Hook2 Line
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2014 Hobie Tandem Island (to fish with the kids) 2017 Hobie Pro Angler 14 (for solo missions) Last edited by DDS; 04-17-2018 at 02:44 PM. Reason: there to their - hate to get flamed for grammar |
04-17-2018, 02:43 PM | #6 | |
Finally landed one
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Diego
Posts: 35
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Quote:
If you want the easiest plug and play solution with the most other people using it so that you can get guidance and tips - I think in the kayak world that is Lowrance. At the depths we are fishing for Yellowtail and WSB most of the fancy features (3D, Downimaging, HD Downimaging, Side Imagining, yada yada yada) start not working as well. Over 100 ft most of these technologies start to have reduced benefits and they are pretty useless over 150 feet. I'm just getting used to my new toy so I will have to report back more later if it was worth the additional cost.
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2014 Hobie Tandem Island (to fish with the kids) 2017 Hobie Pro Angler 14 (for solo missions) |
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04-18-2018, 09:18 AM | #7 |
Bird nest master
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 110
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What did you want feature wise?
Or how do you fish style wise? Do you hunt or do you set bait and drink and chill? All these things are questions to ask your self when buying or upgrading. I have a buddy who works for Lowrance in Ensenada and he sums it up like this; Hummingbird(i had one so he used it as an example a few years ago) has a lot of extra cables and "stuff" (talking about the seperate gps, ducer, and power cable) making it not so kayak friendly. Lowrance is more direct and simpler to set up for the novice marine electronics user. He is actually in this group, look for Baja post. His name is Carlos. All that bs about features and what does what, 3d?... believe me, after hours of research your gonna end up with a unit that does way more then you need and probably will never use. And just a heads up. Downscan, side imaging, and fish reveal from Lowrance work great in deep waters. Im on year 3 with my Lowrance unit. Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk |
04-18-2018, 10:19 AM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 265
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Quote:
My Lowrances ( HDS2, Hook 5, Elite 5ti )in the past never lasted me 3 years. Water leaked mostly in the SD slot, twice I even put silicone glue shut the access door, it still managed to die... |
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04-18-2018, 10:35 AM | #9 | |
Bird nest master
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk |
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04-18-2018, 12:13 PM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 265
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Quote:
Doing the exactly same shit I do with FF , but it held up like wearing a bulletproof vest ! Bought from Westmaine, so exchange is no cost, I doubt I will need to buy another FF for a long while ... |
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04-18-2018, 01:23 PM | #11 | |
Bird nest master
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Are you really gonna recommend something he cleary commented he has and is looking to go away from? Lets keep it more constructive gents. Idc what you use, just leave your rec and move along.. lol. Thanks for the comment da22y Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk |
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04-18-2018, 10:22 AM | #12 | |
Finally landed one
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Diego
Posts: 35
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Quote:
If I can take some screen grabs I will. Thanks for your insight Obed - as I said, I'm not an expert at all, just someone who did a ton of research before making the same plunge as the OP trying to buy what would work best for me. I do know with the Lowrance if you want 3D structure scan you need a separate transducer and black box computer and still maintain the 50/200 transducer most of us have already. That is why I chose the one I did. The RayMarine RV-100 has 3D, Down, Side and Chirp all in the one transducer - but it is huge and sticks below the scupper mount about 1-2 inches even with the BerleyPro set up - so it adds a level of complexity with beaching the kayak and loading it up.
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2014 Hobie Tandem Island (to fish with the kids) 2017 Hobie Pro Angler 14 (for solo missions) |
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04-18-2018, 10:47 AM | #13 | |
Bird nest master
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk |
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04-19-2018, 02:52 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Carlsbad
Posts: 170
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I upgraded from a hummingbird 698 to a Lowrance Elite 9ti, few days ago I used it for the first time in mission bay and boy what a difference. I am still learning how to tune settings for best results, but this will come with time on the water. Overall, I am very satisfied with this unit and glad I spent extra $ for the 9" screen. Looking forward to trying it in LJ soon.
By the way, I got a $100 rebate from Lowrance and $50 rebate from Navionics ... these rebates are still available.
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