Sonar Discussion

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by -scallywag-

Buy from West Marine, and get the Plus protection warrenty......no questions asked exchanges (i've tried it a few times, NO QUESTIONS, in and out in under 10minutes)!!!!

X2

Have done most if not all of my electronics shopping there and never had an issue with returns/exchanges....the extra $$$ you pay is well worth it. Hell, a few months ago the antenna on my handheld vhf fell off while I was hooping, went to WM and explained it to the salesrep.....

Me: Hello, the antenna on my handlheld vhf fell off while I was hooping on my kayak, do you have any replacements?
Salesrep:It just fell off?
Me: As silly as it sounds, yes. I'm willing to pay for a new one if you have it in stock.
Salesrep: Let me check -one minutes later- here you go.
Me: Can I pay here?
Salesrep: Don't worry about it, just put some threadlock on the antenna so that it doesn't fall off again.


That's the reason I keep going back. You can't get that kind of service from most internet retailers.

[wade]

i want to take advantage of the $50 off at west marine up to the 15th..

#1
can i get the same color separation with the elite instead of the hds??
( finbait, kelp, squid, rocks, sand, fish working bait schools from underneath, ect)

#2
can i see wsb swim bladders with the Elite versus the HDS??

#3
how much less of resolution would i get, versus the "HDS"??...

#4
what other pros or cons can u mention ASAP????


(a Lowrance rep suggested i get the lesser elite, but probably because i dont have a fly bridge and network..)


THANKS!!!!!

W

[Billy V]

Originally Posted by TCS

Good discussion. Except that I don't understand the joke about shooting my eye out. Just a little slow I guess!

So here is what I have so far.

Lower khz: good for my application.
Color: required
Lowrance: good choice
GPS: still optional for me, I have a compass to make sure I don't get lost.

Here is my big remaining question:
If I get the Elite 5X instead of the HDS 5, how much difference will there be in actually seeing fish at LJ? The elite does seem to have a lot of power, but the peak to peak is different? Is there anybody that has experience with these two units that can compare performance?

Thanks!

Tom and Wade,

I have the HDS-5 on the skiff with the transducer mounted "in the water".
Kevin has the HDS-5X with the transducer mounted inside the hull.

- When we rafted my skiff next to his kayak to compare the pictures we were able to get pretty much the exact same bottom picture.

I believe that is the answer you were looking for.
--------------------------------------

It simply comes down to familiarizing yourself with a new fish finder , and what a yellowtail, wsb, or squid looks like on the screen.

-On that note I have pics of each fish for $5 a peice to shorten your learning curve.

[TCS]

Has anyone tried mounting the transducer to the mast in a hobie adventure? I'm wondering if the mast is in a low spot or if I need to put a well around it to add water.

Also, anybody want to share default settings for an HDS in LJ? If not, no worries, I'll just go 'auto'. Maybe use bottom lock? They don't seem to have a saltwater setting, just shallow or deep. Is 120' deep?

Billy, thanks for the transducer info, I was wondering about that. I think I'll pass on purchasing your sonar porn, although I'll admit I'm curious...

I'll probably go on Friday to try it out.

Wade, you get yours yet?

I'll be fishing with Josh in March for sure, just to make sure I don't hurt myself with this thing...

[flydigital]

It's worth a shot... It works fine on the revo, strapping the transom bracket to the mast with zip ties (ducer must be faced backwards though as it doesn't fit between drive well and mast). I do believe this is the low spot on both models. If it doesn't work or you need too much water for it to work right, you can easily add a foam well around it. On the revo about 2 cups of water does the trick, with no loss of signal with pitching/rolling movement.

As for settings, its pretty subjective as to what works best, but I was able to start with the default and try adjusting everything, and within 2-3 trips out I had a good handle on it and was able to get it working great. I don't use any auto modes, and manually adjust sensitivity and colorline each time out, sometimes adjusting throughout the day (diff settings for each freq). When I first tried the 'modes' I believe it was shallow water that worked best. All these modes do is adjust the settings, but its good to go through them while you are out and see how they look compared to each other, paying attention to the settings used. Hope that helps a bit at least until you get some better advice from those who have more experience with it. Good luck!

[Regor]

Originally Posted by Jim Day

At La Jolla I mark yellows I catch, squid concentrations, seabass I have caught, even rocks etc...So say I know there is squid around. I paddle to the old squid marks and often they are right there.

If you EVER go to sell your FF/GPS, I'd sacrifice and take it off your hands (especially if you forgot to erase all way points

[j mo]

Im gonna second Jeremiah's post regarding West Marine. Shelly and Amber at the Rosecrans store hooked me up.

Printed out the lowest cost HDS-5x I could find on the internet and brought it in- Price Match no problem!

I asked to have a unit set aside for me w a transom mount 80/200 khz ducer, well they made a mistake and set aside the 50/200 khz w temp sensor which is quite a bit more. They were out of the 80/200 so they said "no problem- sorry for the mistake" and adjusted the price to that of the cheaper unit!

And I got the $50 mail in rebate.

And for $69 bucks I opted for the no BS return- a no brainer.

I can’t remember the last time i had great customer service, it was quite a shock.

[wade]

has anyone mounted the hds to something other than a hobie?

any photos, or recommendations?

thanks

w

[GregAndrew]

Wade, the Elite 5 has the resolution and power to do all of the things that you are concerned about. The HDS can give you better separation of stacked or very close fish, but I am dropping a line if I see 1 WSB on the finder myself. I believe the HDS draws a little more power than the Elite, but even the Elite required an upgrade to a 9amp battery for me to run all day. The connector on the back of the Elite for additional temp/GPS receivers requires a cap that did not come with my unit. Lowrance was happy to send me several of them for free when I emailed them my address (I have extras if you need them). I would recommend the Gold (Navionics) unit for the $80 more it is worth it just for the bottom contours.

[TCS]

Hey Greg, I'll take a couple of those caps if you have extras in addition to what Wade needs. Picked mine up today.

[GregAndrew]

PM me with your address and I will mail them to you.

[Trident 15]

Wade I have a HDS 5 installed in my Trident 15 and love it i have used it 3 times i just got kayak last month and am amazed ,it is user friendly , picture on screen is awsome, GPS is easy to use, 1 day in mission bay it was 89 degrees bright sun and screen looks like a TV bright. I also have a buddy that has the exact same unit in a Pro Angler and he is amazed too.

I was read somewhere that the unit draws .33 of a amp if memory servs right.

Tight lines !! Bob..............

[wade]

Originally Posted by Trident 15

Wade I have a HDS 5 installed in my Trident 15 and love it i have used it 3 times i just got kayak last month and am amazed ,it is user friendly , picture on screen is awsome, GPS is easy to use, 1 day in mission bay it was 89 degrees bright sun and screen looks like a TV bright. I also have a buddy that has the exact same unit in a Pro Angler and he is amazed too.

I was read somewhere that the unit draws .33 of a amp if memory servs right.

Tight lines !! Bob..............

any shots of your installation Bob? thanks! i just got he hds for my Ocean prowler ...

[Trident 15]

Sorry Wade no pics BUT i mounted HDS under the fishfinder shield and mounted the transducer in the scupper on the bottom that OK inset for Humminbird transducer was a piece of cake then wedged a 12V 7ah batt in a waterproof bag under the foot rests behind the scupper tube and zip tied it in place. Works Great

Wait until the first time you use it YOU will be Amazed !!

Which Hds5 did you get ?

I got the HDS5 Base Combo model Because I am going to put in the Navionics Ocean Platnium Chip , its on my Xmas list IF you got the HDS5 Nautic Combo it has Xcellent Maping of our coast GOOD call either way.

Well I got my Bait tank Done with rod holders AND the Kayak kart is now done. So im almost ready for LJ Tight Lines and Watch out for Whales and Pesky Seals !!!!

Bob..........................................

[lacofdfireman]

Originally Posted by Trident 15

Sorry Wade no pics BUT i mounted HDS under the fishfinder shield and mounted the transducer in the scupper on the bottom that OK inset for Humminbird transducer was a piece of cake then wedged a 12V 7ah batt in a waterproof bag under the foot rests behind the scupper tube and zip tied it in place. Works Great

Wait until the first time you use it YOU will be Amazed !!

Which Hds5 did you get ?

I got the HDS5 Base Combo model Because I am going to put in the Navionics Ocean Platnium Chip , its on my Xmas list IF you got the HDS5 Nautic Combo it has Xcellent Maping of our coast GOOD call either way.

Well I got my Bait tank Done with rod holders AND the Kayak kart is now done. So im almost ready for LJ Tight Lines and Watch out for Whales and Pesky Seals !!!!

Bob..........................................

Bob, sorry to be off topic but do you have any photo's of your Kayak Kart? I am looking for ideas. Thanks....

[Trident 15]

Sorry no pics of Kayak Cart but i made it out of 1 1/2 sch 40 pvc, 6 tees and 2 caps, 1 36" piece of all thread 1/2" , and 2 Power Wheels that a really nice Guy from BWE sold me ( They WORKED Perfect BTW )

It is very lite, about 21" wide at top that kayak sits on which fit into the like tri hull areas of the bottom. 1 strap and i'm rollin....

Also the wheel spread is about 26" on the inside and if you add the tire width which is 7 3/4 that is how wide it is , Very stable

OH YES for the axel i Glued 2 tees apart about 20" then glued on the 2 caps , then i drilled the holes in the caps to 1/2 " slid in axel 2 Nylock nuts and axel is solid put on Power Wheels then 2 Nylock nuts DONE
Rolls Great Painted it, strapped it to Kayak and Proceded to Baja around my property works great and with wide tires i think it will go through deep sand easily

Hope this helps i'm not that computer literate to post pics mabee some day Bob..............................

[Trident 15]

I think I got the pictures on here.

[steveoh]

Great post everyone....very imformative...I think I am going to get the HDS 5. Hopefully be out in the water in a week or two.

For those that already have the HDS 5....how did you mount your transducer? Do you have it set up in the water or through the hull?

[umtduckhead]

i checked out the HDS-5 units today at West Marine... very awesome... whats the best price you all have found on the units?... ive been searching around the internet all day... the best ive found 599.00.. good?

[steveoh]

They prices vary depending on what option you are looking for. The units I saw for $599 where for the fishfinder only units (hdsx or hdsm-gps only). The combo units with ff and gps are $749 and up.