Hey guys I was wondering which unit is the best for side imaging Lowrance or Hummingbird ?Last edited by jigging on January 9th, 2010, 4:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
All i can say is that I had the older 332 Lowrance and Now have Humminbird andI will not go back. The support is like Basscat, and I just like the useability of the humminbird. I have seen screen shots of Lowrance down scarn and not that impressed and there is the water problem that they seem they can get away from. I really like the navagation style and the menu setup of the humminbird. Humminbird has a great yahoo group for any info that you need.
Wow this has created some massive situaions on many forums. It is a opinion you will have to find. IMO Hummingbird offers many different ways to micro adjust the unit for your scaning modifications. HB has more on-screen displays. Do remember that a fish finder of that caliber offers allot more then side scaning and all features need to be looked at. I live un GA and fish Lake Eufaula often. On lake Eufaula is there headquaters. You can drive up to the MFG and someone will walk you through every feature there units offer. I have herd of quailty issues and warrenty issues with Lowrance, I have no experience with them myself. These units up to $3500 and will open the world of underwater to you so please do some in-depth research before buying. You need to see them both in action!!! best of lusk One of the most important things is no matter what you get, take the time to learn it!!! Rusty Pry
Technology is similar with Humminbird and Lowrance. In my opinion the most critical evaluation points are customer support and service after the purchase. Might want to contact BassCat per these two units. It was a deciding part of my evaluation going forward when I ordered my boat. Its going to be a major step up with either of these units. Good luck! Flyswatter
Why would you want it installed in the dash?? Use a RAMS are mount and you can remove it every night. Also you can adjust it for better viewing. Word of caution Ive herd of people getting the SD and Navionics cards stolen at night! Mine is mounted on a RAMS mout in the same place as where it would go on the dash. It works allot better.
I have a 997 SI mounted in the dash of my Puma. I think that would have to be the max on in dash installation. I have a Lowrance lcx-37c on the bow. As for the units, I like the navigation better on the Hummingbird and the sonar better on the Lowrance, hence the installed locations. IMHO
Does anyone have a picture of a unit mounted on the console with the Ram mount? Is there a model that works better, short arm, larger ball and larger mount base?Last edited by JoeBass05 on January 10th, 2010, 3:32 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Jim EbarbMany, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)2004 Cougar/ 225 OptimaxHumminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI on BalzOut Mount at bowLowrance HDS 7 at bowHumminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount at ConsoleLowrance HDS 8 in dash at console
Nice mounting ! Ive seen a few BassCat guys that mounted the unit to the rail. Thought that was slick and out of the way. (a little lower and more to the side, but still very movable) Anyone got pics. Im in the same boat and looking at the possibilties of mounting SI.
These are all I have mounted on the rail. Not too many big screens mounted on the rails.Jim EbarbMany, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)2004 Cougar/ 225 OptimaxHumminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI on BalzOut Mount at bowLowrance HDS 7 at bowHumminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount at ConsoleLowrance HDS 8 in dash at console
So where is the transducer mounted on the Puma ( more confused the more I look into this) From the Hummingbird web site, “As an alternative to transom mounting, it is possible on many fiberglass-hulled boats to glue the transducer on the inside of the boat hull. Since fiberglass has similar sonar characteristics as water, the sonar signal can pass through the boat hull with minimal loss. The hull of the boat must be single layer construction (not double-hulled) Also, any air trapped in the lamination of the fiberglass would prevent the sonar signal from passing through. This method will not work for any side imaging transducers.”
