Fishfinder advice - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Ocean-Angler · 03-08-2010, 12:20 PM

Im lookin for a waterproof fishfinder

So far, I like the
Lowrance x96
Garmin FF160C

and wondering about raymarine ds400 ( is this waterproof?)
any sugestions?
I dont want to spend over $190 or so..

any advice?
thanks guys

dos ballenas · 03-08-2010, 12:45 PM

all the cheap garmins suck... they are much better at their gps units... for the $ go low...

DENNYh · 03-08-2010, 01:48 PM

get a lowrance HDS-5

Ocean-Angler · 03-08-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DENNYh

get a lowrance HDS-5

for sure
the f.f. cost more then my kayak..
ur joking right?

Nic D · 03-08-2010, 07:32 PM

i have the eagle 350 ff/gps combio

Geoffkoop · 03-09-2010, 09:23 AM

I have a basic Eagle Cuda. It works decent for finding bait, depth and temp.

Ocean-Angler · 03-09-2010, 09:26 AM

As much as I was looking after some advice with explanation,
I can already tell this is going to be one of those thigns I personally spend about 15 hours of personal research and comparison to make my decision
ahhh man

Geoffkoop · 03-09-2010, 09:28 AM

Time is money...go buy the Lowrance HDS!

DENNYh · 03-09-2010, 09:30 AM

Quote:

for sure
the f.f. cost more then my kayak..
ur joking right?

Nope, thats what i got on my Revo. i know its overkill, but after help from Josh tuning it, i can see Everything in the water. even the worm like shapes from

air bladders

Geoffkoop · 03-09-2010, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DENNYh

Nope, thats what i got on my Revo. i know its overkill, but after help from Josh tuning it, i can see Everything in the water. even the worm like shapes from

air bladders

Now you are making me want one....

Ocean-Angler · 04-11-2010, 10:16 AM

I ended up getting the Lowrance X135..
doesnt have color but pretty bad ass..
havent set it up yet though

Hypoxic1 · 04-12-2010, 06:24 AM

I had a cuda 350. It was like watching an old cagny movie, complete with broken film. Never really got a good idea what I was looking at.

Enter HDS 5

Once its tuned its return is like watching Avitar by comparison.

Yeah its expensive. Care for it and get the insurance and you will only buy it once.
C

Rob929 · 04-12-2010, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hypoxic1

I had a cuda 350. It was like watching an old cagny movie, complete with broken film. Never really got a good idea what I was looking at.

Enter HDS 5

Once its tuned its return is like watching Avitar by comparison.

Yeah its expensive. Care for it and get the insurance and you will only buy it once.
C

I have a Cuda 300

Everytime I read these posts, I want that HDS 5 even more. But wait- I'm broke! Saving up my pennies.

I think the soonest I will be watching avatar will be on Josh's kayak when I hire him

sandydiego · 04-13-2010, 02:14 PM

I just got a humminbird 385ci. Was $362 on Amazon out the door. The screen is smaller than the lowrance HDS-5. The specs are close as well. The lowrance HDS-5 looks like a more loaded FF. Just was not in my $$$ range. I'm happy with the HB so far. I mounted the transducer off the back of my x-factor and ran it last Sunday. Was great to see the bait balls blasting by..... I did take the transducer off this morning and am getting ready to mount it on the inside of the hull. I will at least know what the difference is before and after. I also have a inside wet mount I'm making if I don't like the hull mount.

03-08-2010, 12:20 PM	#1
Ocean-Angler Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 52	Fishfinder advice Im lookin for a waterproof fishfinder So far, I like the Lowrance x96 Garmin FF160C and wondering about raymarine ds400 ( is this waterproof?) any sugestions? I dont want to spend over $190 or so.. any advice? thanks guys

03-08-2010, 12:45 PM	#2
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	all the cheap garmins suck... they are much better at their gps units... for the $ go low... __________________ ____________________________________________

04-12-2010, 06:24 AM	#12
Hypoxic1 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oceanside Posts: 215	Lowrance HDS5 I had a cuda 350. It was like watching an old cagny movie, complete with broken film. Never really got a good idea what I was looking at. Enter HDS 5 Once its tuned its return is like watching Avitar by comparison. Yeah its expensive. Care for it and get the insurance and you will only buy it once. C

03-08-2010, 01:48 PM	#3
DENNYh Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: chulajuana Posts: 81	get a lowrance HDS-5

03-08-2010, 07:32 PM	#5
Nic D Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Clairemont Posts: 813	i have the eagle 350 ff/gps combio

03-09-2010, 09:23 AM	#6
Geoffkoop Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So. Orange County Posts: 302	I have a basic Eagle Cuda. It works decent for finding bait, depth and temp.

03-09-2010, 09:26 AM	#7
Ocean-Angler Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 52	As much as I was looking after some advice with explanation, I can already tell this is going to be one of those thigns I personally spend about 15 hours of personal research and comparison to make my decision ahhh man

03-09-2010, 09:28 AM	#8
Geoffkoop Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So. Orange County Posts: 302	Time is money...go buy the Lowrance HDS!

04-11-2010, 10:16 AM	#11
Ocean-Angler Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 52	I ended up getting the Lowrance X135.. doesnt have color but pretty bad ass.. havent set it up yet though

04-13-2010, 02:14 PM	#14
sandydiego Rum Pirate Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wilds of Mira Mesa Posts: 388	I just got a humminbird 385ci. Was $362 on Amazon out the door. The screen is smaller than the lowrance HDS-5. The specs are close as well. The lowrance HDS-5 looks like a more loaded FF. Just was not in my $$$ range. I'm happy with the HB so far. I mounted the transducer off the back of my x-factor and ran it last Sunday. Was great to see the bait balls blasting by..... I did take the transducer off this morning and am getting ready to mount it on the inside of the hull. I will at least know what the difference is before and after. I also have a inside wet mount I'm making if I don't like the hull mount.