Best Value Sonar

[T-Bone]

I know some of you tech guys out here can explain the difference between 'fishfinder' and 'sonar', but from what I can see a sonar provides a higher acuity of detail across a wider area, but essentially the same information as a fish finder. If that's wrong...please educate me.

The gist of this post is to see if any of you have a recommended sonar unit for about $300 US or less. I've got a couple gift cards laying around and I'm ready to invest in a new unit before this year's trip; ability to accommodate a digital maps chip (Fugawi TrakMaps or Navionics or like) would be awesome. My current Eagle 168 is getting a little long in the tooth.

The objective is to get a little clearer picture of what's going on below me and around the area of the boat; we fish some pretty tight lines up on Kipawa and more detail would only make that easier. The ability to have a maps chip and GPS waypoint feature would be great...not sure I can get that in my budget.

Sell me something!!!

49-point-twenty-one jigga'watts..... [starting to lose it a bit]

[RHYBAK]

I know some of you tech guys out here can explain the difference between 'fishfinder' and 'sonar', but from what I can see a sonar provides a higher acuity of detail across a wider area, but essentially the same information as a fish finder. If that's wrong...please educate me.

The gist of this post is to see if any of you have a recommended sonar unit for about $300 US or less. I've got a couple gift cards laying around and I'm ready to invest in a new unit before this year's trip; ability to accommodate a digital maps chip (Fugawi TrakMaps or Navionics or like) would be awesome. My current Eagle 168 is getting a little long in the tooth.

The objective is to get a little clearer picture of what's going on below me and around the area of the boat; we fish some pretty tight lines up on Kipawa and more detail would only make that easier. The ability to have a maps chip and GPS waypoint feature would be great...not sure I can get that in my budget.

Sell me something!!!

49-point-twenty-one jigga'watts..... [starting to lose it a bit]

I notice.
You and MArco

[RHYBAK]

How can you go wrong with this little portable baby?

Just make sure it covers Canada.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/fishing/marine-electronics/sonars-sonar-gps-combos%7C/pc/104793480/c/104707080/sc/104588280/lowrance-reg-hook-4-mid-high-downscan-nav-sonar-gps-combo/2180769.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fsonars-sonar-gps-combos%2Flowrance%2F_%2FN-1118469%2B1000003916%2B4294388141%2FNe-1000003916%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104588280%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU

[RHYBAK]

or this

http://www.cabelas.com/product/fishing/marine-electronics/sonars-sonar-gps-combos%7C/pc/104793480/c/104707080/sc/104588280/humminbird-reg-helix-5-combos-with-navionics-/2308670.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fsonars-sonar-gps-combos%2Fhumminbird%2F_%2FN-1118469%2B1000003678%2B10000054%2FNe-10000054%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104588280%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU

[Jay Thomas]

Hi Todd,

A member of our fishing group purchased a Humminbird Helix 5 Sonar/GPS combo unit last year and he's really happy with it. Although the power draw is 615 milliamps per hour, you can save some battery power by not using the backlight at full intensity. If you used the unit 6 hours per day, 8 D cell batteries (17000 milliamps) would probably run the unit for 3 days. Alternatively, a 30 amp hour battery would run the unit for a week. My Lowrance HDS7 draws 1100 milliamps per hour. I use a 51 amp hour battery to provide power for a week.

From the Humminbird web site:

The HELIX 5 Sonar GPS features ​a brilliant 800H x 480V, 5" 256 color display with backlight. DualBeam PLUS sonar with 4000 watts PTP power output, Precision Internal GPS Chartplotting with built-in UniMap cartography with a micro SD card slot for optional maps or for saving waypoints. Maximize your angling experience with the Humminbird HELIX 5 Sonar GPS fishfinder system.

Cabela's sells this unit for $300 (Item number IK-023831).

Jay

[Ozzy30]

The helix has been getting good reviews from guys I know, and the down imaging is an awesome feature.  I have my gps unit a year now and still learn everytime.  The expandable sd card is the best option because the preloaded card in the other unit definitely will not have Canadian lakes.  When I was shopping for my unit last year it took me a bit to find a unit that came with Canadian maps. The navionics plus is extremely easy to use.

[Canuckbass]

Hummingbirds have always been more user friendly. Usually my choice for units. Lowrance picks up a bit more detail but that's when you get into high end units.
From talking to friends, Helix is a great bang for your buck.

Main thing with any unit is get it off AUTO mode. Have it so you can adjust depths all the time. Usually units are set to search 100 ft of water, so you're missing a ton of only fishing 30 ft of water. If I'm fishing 18 ft, I'll set to 30 ft....

You can do so much adjusting once off AUTO mode, you'll pick up a lot more detail of structure and fish.

[CaptainCrappie]

Well guys, this is just my personal opinion which comes from my experience with Humminbird. Put the unit down and run away!  3 Years ago  ( so this is my 4th year using a 798 HDsc...has side scan.... and the unit has crapped out again!)  Total run time is just over 441 hours.  Humminbird has repaired the unit twice.  Of course it's out of warrenty and that cost is approx. $229 plus shipping and insurance. By the time I bought the Lake VU maps and with the two repairs, I've got about $2,000.00 in that lemon.  Oh, their customer service is OK,,, but you are still paying for repairs so they want to keep you happy while they have their hands in your pocket!!  The unit is great as long as it works!  Each time the unit has been returned, the software has been upgraded so take that for what its worth.  Looking at Garmin now!

C.C

[SgtCrabby]

Captain, I've heard similar stories before on the 'bird. 

I do have a lower end hummingbird on my boat, that works ok as a depthfinder, except when is goes temporarily crazy (power down and back on).  Especially illy when it decides to go back to auto mode.

[RHYBAK]

Some guys never learn......LOWRANCE

Can you repeat that.......LOWRANCE.

That's it.

[adempsey]

I think the two best contenders are:

Lowrance Hook-5 Fishfinder/Chartplotter

Raymarine Dragonfly-4 Pro Fishfinder/GPS Chartplotter

They both have CHIRP, which I believe is the best sonar tech right now, and are Navionics compatible.   If I were looking to buy a sonar, I'd buy a Dragonfly.

The Humminbird Helix 5 is OK.  I am not sure if it uses sonar tech as good as CHIRP.  Navionics and Lakemaster maps.  Autochart is nice tooi.  Comes as a portable model as well.

Right now the Navionics+ maps are on sale for all these units for $99.

[OttawaPhil]

I just got a helix 7 DI GPS and love it, but only had it a week cant say anything on long term. The helix 5 is same just smaller screen, so its probably good too, but no idea on long term.
Whatever I buy I use my mastercard, so I get free extended warranty to cover problems down the road.

[BH]

I use the Lowarance Elite 4 - chirp, works great, nice ability to carry in and out of boat with travel bag/ice unit.  I rent boats so using the suction cup to mount the transducer is handy.  Comes with map chip for N America.  Just over $300 now. 
http://lr.factoryoutletstore.com/cat/35370/Lowrance-Elite-4-Series-Fishfinders.html