Lowrance SI vs Hummingbird SI

**scout-j-m** · 08-12-2013, 02:56 PM

I have always had crummy electronics on crummy boats. Now I finally would like to upgrade electronics (hopefully the boat too soon). I am pretty sold on the combos with side imaging and down imaging but I'm torn between Hummingbird and Lowrance.

What's unique about my situation is that I am hoping to have two boats next time this year, one full sized aluminum or glass boat for my big local lakes (Guntersville, Smith Lake, Wheeler, Weiss, etc) and another small aluminum boat for my local city water lake with a 10 hp limit. It is just 10 miles down the road and they are damming up a second one just a couple miles from my home. I'd like to have both the bow unit and console unit be GPS and SI equipped. I was hoping one brand would allow me to easily equip both boats with transducers and mounts and just swap the unit between the two depending on which boat I use.

Through my research so far, I have found that the Lowrance HDS Gen2 seems like the best deal for one boat with a network setting. Their units aren't too expensive, only one Structurescan add-on is needed for both units, and only one Navionics card is needed. The Structuremap feature is something I also like that Humminbird lacks. The issue with Lowrance and Structure scan is that I would need one for each boat as it doesnt look easy to swap it out between boats.

Hummingbird seems good as well but I noticed only the really expensive units can be networked. Not a huge deal since the units themselves have side imaging but I'm assuming that would mean you would need two Navionics chips for each unit. An advantage Humminbird has over Lowrance though, is it looks easier to swap between boats since each unit has side imaging as long as I have the right transducer mounted.

So can anyone offer any advice here? Anyone been in a similar situation wanting to run good electronics on two boats? Is one brand better for this or will I really end up spending about the same amount of money no matter which way I go?

**justinp61** · 08-12-2013, 03:44 PM

Both companies make great units, I prefer Lowrance but it's a ford/chevy thing. If you buy a Lowrance HDS 7 Touch the structure scan is built in all you need is the structure scan transducer to have both down and side scan. If you only want down scan you might consider a Elite 7 DSI. Lowrance has a promotion going on for a few more days HDS Gen2 Touch 3 FREE Offer (August) - LOWRANCE | Marine Electronics. Call Brian at BBG Marine and he'll make you a great deal on either brand, great guy.

**skiptomylu** · 08-12-2013, 06:23 PM

I have the HB 1198 and I have a Lowrance on the front, but it's an older unit and has no scan feature, but it's a good GPS unit (x125 I think). I am giving thought to replacing the front one with a Lowrance with just Down Scan since I have side scan on he console and I mostly use the front one when fishing. I am also torn about what to do. I do know I wouldnTQ give up my HB console unit since I also put in iLink and I troll contours a lot in spring and fall so that feature is big for me since I can fish and not run the TM. I will also use the spot lock to fish when spoon jigging I do some in summer. There seems to be disagreement as to how close spot lock will hold you. I was told by a guy giving a school on these units that it will hold to 2'. Now if it does then I can also use it to fish crappie on brush, but if not then suspended crappie for sure.

**jimp** · 08-12-2013, 06:55 PM

Need to go to the stores and punch some buttons and look at 'em in person as well. You may like one brand over another after punching some buttons and seeing how each one operates as there are differences between the two brands. I prefer Lowrance and have a HDS8 with SS, but have a HB on the front/TM due to the way the HB TD mounts on the Terrova. A Lowrance TD wire doesn't fit/mount well with a Terrova so that is the only reason I have a HB up front. No real complaints about the HB, just prefer Low's.

**Stymie** · 08-12-2013, 07:07 PM

I swap out an 898 between my bigger boat and my smaller boat all the time.

HB gave me the extra transducer and power cable when I was having electrical interference issues with my trolling motor. I bought a new HS GPS puck for the bigger boat and put the original puck on the smaller boat. All I had to purchase extra was the gimble mount and cable collector for the smaller boat.

**DCottrell** · 08-12-2013, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by BobB

There are some really great prices on the several of the HB SI models right now. HUGE SALE! HUMMINBIRD 1198c SI Combo, 998c HD SI Combo, 598ci HD SI Combo, 597ci HD

They don't show a sale when you go to the website, 598 ci hd si sale price 589.99 website list for 789.99

**Stymie** · 08-12-2013, 08:46 PM

BBG and Shut up and Fish are both sponsors here. Look in the Sponsor Forum. They have HB stuff on sale.

**DCottrell** · 08-12-2013, 09:39 PM

Been talking to Brian at BBGMarine for a few weeks now through PM's and he will more than likely get my business. I agree CDC Sponsors will always have first shot with me.

**skiptomylu** · 08-12-2013, 09:48 PM

I have dealt with both of them and no complaints from me.

**scout-j-m** · 08-13-2013, 10:21 AM

Thanks for all of the replies. I'll definitely have to go and play with different models in person. Hopefully by the time I am ready to pull the trigger and purchase, I will have a better feel for what all each unit is capable of and what features are the most important to me.

Thread: Lowrance SI vs Hummingbird SI

Thread Tools

Display

Lowrance SI vs Hummingbird SI

Posting Permissions