re: Any major difference between Lowrance, Hummingbird, Garmin?

I have had several Hummingbirds and Garmins before in the $600 and below range, sometimes both brands at the same time up front and in the console, but for my new boat I went with a Lowrance Elite TI7. I have it mounted in the console and linked to a Ipad. I can see and control it with the ipad anywhere in the boat. The menu to navigate all of the settings are much more user friendly on the Lowrance, the touchscreen makes saving waypoints and backtracking brushpiles stupid simple. I hated the menu setup on Hummingbirds the most. The mapping is what I use the most and for me the interface on the Lowrance is the most intuitive. I have a satellite card and being able to see exactly where you are and where you want to go is great especially in unfamiliar areas and getting back to the landing after dark. The ability to make your own live contour maps as you fish is pretty cool and can be uploaded and shared on C-map. I still haven't played with it enough to learn how manipulate all of the functions or to really be able to read the sidescan imaging. I see stuff on the screen, trees, tires, lawn chairs, etc. but I am still learning how to read what is or isn't fish I see. My next project is to install a nmea network and plug it to my outboard.

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The ability to make your own live contour maps as you fish is pretty cool and can be uploaded and shared on C-map

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I need to learn how to do this.

LINK

This is the one I am looking at.

Have you thought about used? So many people change systems yearly and then sell on BBC. Many are selling new in box(I did once) because they change their minds. Hell, I've changed my mind four times in the last month on my new boat.

Nice.

So you think the one I linked is a good buy?

Yea I don't need that really.

I would also advise againsr the hook. Buy a used HDS of bbc or something to save some cheddar. Several people I know have gotten bubbling under the screen and it was pretty slow with nothing on it. I can imagine when you get a map card, a bunch of tracks, waypoints, etc. it’ll be turtle slow. My very old HDS is much faster than the hook 7 I had for a short while.

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Like I said the feature that I need it the most for is mapping and tracking.

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I presume you'll want the Standard Mapping card (starting around $400 IIRC). Our guys use them in Lowrance units when working in the marsh. I use one in my Lowrance Elite Ti2 fishing in the Basin/Verret.

I seem to recall AlxTgr, in an earlier thread, saying that Lowrance has a newer/better unit than the Elite Ti2. He knows more about sonar imaging products than 99% of the folks posting here, so I'd pay close attention to what he says.

Yea I assume so, I fully admit that I am not very well versed in the GPS/Fish finder game.

I am tired of using my damn phone and halfass guessing on the way back out when we do long trips in the marsh.