Sonar advice needed - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Johnp · 02-04-2015, 07:49 PM

Preparing to outfit a soon to be purchased Revolution. I have been looking at Lowrance units. Main goal is fish arches but hdi bottom structure would be nice.
Looking at the Elite 4 HDI combo and the HDS 5 Gen 2 with nautic insight. I may actually be able to get the 5 for less than the 4.
Now for the variables: The 83/200 will fit the hobie well, the 50/200 probably not and the 50/200 combo for the elite four definitely not. West Marine tells me the 50 /200 is needed for good arches.
My thought at this point is go with the 5 forget HDI ( which might not be that great past 100' ) and mount inside the hull if necessary. I think I have seen a lot of 5,s in use, and I think a guy told me he was able to modify it to fit the Hobie inset.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

YakDout · 02-04-2015, 08:04 PM

Definitely pick the HDS over the HDI. Even if the screen size was the same. And if you are lowrance ready, the big 50/200 HDS Ducer will fit no mods. I actually just installed one a couple weeks ago into my lowrance ready.

JeffB · 02-04-2015, 08:07 PM

Feb 20th West Marine is having a one day sale for like $349 on the HDS 5 Gen 2. If that helps out with your decision any. I have an HDS on the boat and yak and love them.

Johnp · 02-04-2015, 08:18 PM

Yes, that is the deal I am looking at. Thanks.

Johnp · 02-04-2015, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

Definitely pick the HDS over the HDI. Even if the screen size was the same. And if you are lowrance ready, the big 50/200 HDS Ducer will fit no mods. I actually just installed one a couple weeks ago into my lowrance ready.

In the hull in a reservoir or just marine goop adhesive ? Thanks, I think I shall go with the 5 then.

YakDout · 02-04-2015, 08:25 PM

What year revolution are you looking at?

Johnp · 02-04-2015, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

What year revolution are you looking at?

2015

YakDout · 02-05-2015, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnp

2015

In that case, no need for any type of adhesive or mounting the transducer in the hull. You will have a removable plate with a recessed area built into your kayak that will hold your transducer. This is called "lowrance ready"

Saba Slayer · 02-05-2015, 08:29 AM

I installed a transducer on my new PA 14 yesterday...here are a couple of photos of the "Lowrance Ready" Hobie hull with the transducer attached to the cover plate.

PapaDave · 02-05-2015, 08:42 AM

I'd go with a Chirp version from Lowrance. It is using three frequencies, high, low and DSI. The high has a lot of detail, the low has less detail but removes the clutter and the DSI gives you the picture like images.

Johnp · 02-05-2015, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saba Slayer

I installed a transducer on my new PA 14 yesterday...here are a couple of photos of the "Lowrance Ready" Hobie hull with the transducer attached to the cover plate.

Thanks Jim,
I had been told at Fast lane that the transducer with the 5 ( 50/200 ) would not fit. But the smaller one that comes with the 4 are the ones that fit. That looks like one of the larger transducers though. Same size transducer well in the revolution as the PA ?

momo fish · 02-05-2015, 07:26 PM

Can anyone confirm if the 50/200 would fit the lowrance slot? Hearing it may not fit.

jorluivil · 02-05-2015, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momo fish

Can anyone confirm if the 50/200 would fit the lowrance slot? Hearing it may not fit.

it fits

Cadillyak · 02-05-2015, 08:46 PM

^x2. It does fit the Lowrance ready.

momo fish · 02-05-2015, 10:40 PM

Thanks guys !

02-04-2015, 07:49 PM	#1
Johnp Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 106	Sonar advice needed Preparing to outfit a soon to be purchased Revolution. I have been looking at Lowrance units. Main goal is fish arches but hdi bottom structure would be nice. Looking at the Elite 4 HDI combo and the HDS 5 Gen 2 with nautic insight. I may actually be able to get the 5 for less than the 4. Now for the variables: The 83/200 will fit the hobie well, the 50/200 probably not and the 50/200 combo for the elite four definitely not. West Marine tells me the 50 /200 is needed for good arches. My thought at this point is go with the 5 forget HDI ( which might not be that great past 100' ) and mount inside the hull if necessary. I think I have seen a lot of 5,s in use, and I think a guy told me he was able to modify it to fit the Hobie inset. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks. __________________ JohnnyTheHook

02-04-2015, 08:07 PM	#3
JeffB Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: La Jolla Posts: 1,216	Feb 20th West Marine is having a one day sale for like $349 on the HDS 5 Gen 2. If that helps out with your decision any. I have an HDS on the boat and yak and love them. __________________ If you're looking for me I'm

02-04-2015, 08:18 PM	#4
Johnp Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 106	Yes, that is the deal I am looking at. Thanks. __________________ JohnnyTheHook

02-05-2015, 08:29 AM	#9
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,857	Lowrance Ready I installed a transducer on my new PA 14 yesterday...here are a couple of photos of the "Lowrance Ready" Hobie hull with the transducer attached to the cover plate. __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

02-05-2015, 08:42 AM	#10
PapaDave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 1,473	I'd go with a Chirp version from Lowrance. It is using three frequencies, high, low and DSI. The high has a lot of detail, the low has less detail but removes the clutter and the DSI gives you the picture like images. __________________ So long and thanks for all the fish...

02-04-2015, 08:04 PM	#2
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	Definitely pick the HDS over the HDI. Even if the screen size was the same. And if you are lowrance ready, the big 50/200 HDS Ducer will fit no mods. I actually just installed one a couple weeks ago into my lowrance ready.

02-04-2015, 08:25 PM	#6
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	What year revolution are you looking at?

02-05-2015, 07:26 PM	#12
momo fish Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Camarillo Posts: 1,491	Can anyone confirm if the 50/200 would fit the lowrance slot? Hearing it may not fit.

02-05-2015, 08:46 PM	#14
Cadillyak Team Get $$ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 841	^x2. It does fit the Lowrance ready. __________________ The "Y" is silent 2012 Olive PA 12 2011 Papaya Outback

02-05-2015, 10:40 PM	#15
momo fish Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Camarillo Posts: 1,491	Thanks guys !