Thread: Fish finders?

I'll say the guys at Marine Repair Center are as straight shooters as you will find. They tell it like it is and don't try to push any brand.

Originally Posted by DMW1960

I have been kind of looking myself at something with DI and maybe the side imaging too. I spent some time talking with the guys at Marine Repair Center in Springfield yesterday about them. They were pushing the Hummingbird Helix 5's. I have a couple of Lowrance Eagle units now. I would like to stay with Lowrance myself. But this is what I got from talking with the guys from Marine Repair Center.

1. The Hummingbird Helix 5's are at a great price point. Lowrance doesn't have anything currently in the same price point. But they wouldn't be surprised if Lowrance wasn't working on something at the same price point right now.

2. I was told that its better if your getting DI and side imaging to mount that unit in the back of the boat. Something about folks having a easier time running straight with the big motor than the trolling motor. I was told that it was important to run straight for a better view of side imaging.

3. DI is not really needed in the front of the boat but it would be nice to have.

4. I asked about having to buy a map disk for the Hummingbird Helix 5's. I was told that the Lowrance units already had a more detailed map on the unit than what the Hummingbirds have on the base units. He said that if I got back up into the creeks with a Hummingbird I would need to purchase a additional map disk for as much detail as I am used too with my current units.

5. But this info was from Marine Repair Center and they sell both kinds, Lowrance and Hummingbirds.

6. So I have also called Lowrance and they were very nice to talk with. They recommended a unit that would go up against the Helix 5's. But it was like really hard to do any research on it. I did some internet searches on it and some of them came up that the unit had been discontinued by the factory.

So CrappieHead thanks for starting the thread. I am still on the fence myself. I want a Lowrance unit but I would like to get 2 units when I pull the trigger. I know some of what folks will say is just like the difference between Ford and Chevy guys. Or Lowe boat owners against Tracker owners.