Looking for some help here. I have had my 16 foot Sylvan for a little over 12 years. I bought a Raytheon L365 Fishfinder about 10 yeasrs ago and installed it onto my boat with a hull mounted transducer. This fishfinder has been very good to me and I have never had an issue with it. But, I want to upgrade to something newer. I have started to research the units currently on the market. Wow, have things changed. Down Imaging, GPS, sonar, etc... To say I am confused would be an under statement. So, I am turning to this community for some guidance. Here are some features that I want. Down Imaging, Fish Finder, I would like a "broad band" from the transducer, weather proof, hull mounted transducer, color monitor, and possibly GPS (if the right unit does not have GPS, it wouldn't be a deal breaker).. I would like to stay under $800.00 for the unit and the transducer. So far I am leaning towards a Lowrance Elite5 DSI, or a Humminbird597ci HD DI Combo. ANy remarks on these 2 units, or any others that you think would fill the bill for me?

I have the humminbird 597ci HD DI and it is pretty incredible. I would recommend it 100%. I just bought it a few weeks ago and I'm still learning, but I haven't been disappointed with my purchase. If you want a good deal buy it from www.moodeals.com. I got mine for $100 off the sticker.

Does the unit come with a helm mount, or is that a seperate purchase?

GPS is a must on any fish locator, even if you fish the same lake every time.

Saving waypoints and going back to them within a couple feet is awsome.

Finding your way home on foggy days is easy with GPS.

Fishing new lakes is so much easier with GPS.

Once you fish with GPS you will wonder how you ever lived without it.

For the two models you have in mind, the Lowance is just Down Scan and the Humminbird has Down Imaging and regular dual frequency sonar.

Any imaging units have to be in motion to "draw" the sonar returns so they are basically useless for vertical presentations and sitting still on the water. You want regular sonar for that.

Most sonar units I know of come with a mount system of some sort. The Humminbird units have a quick disconnect mount that holds the cables so the display can be removed easily.

The Hummibird has a higher resolution display also (640 vertical pixels vs 480 vertical pixels)

I just got a 798 for $816 delivered from online search, nice unit

Thanks for the replies everyone. I placed an order from moodeals a couple nights ago for a 597 ci HD di unit. First time ordering from moodeals, so I'm a little anxious to get the unit in my hands. Just don't have faith in moodeals as I have never ordered from them before. But I saved $100.00 because I did order from them. So, doing the pee pee dance in anticipation here in MA. :-)

same place I got mine. Great deal and the product was in mint condition.

i just purchased a 597ci hd di last week and used it saturday. It is truly amazing on what you see when the DI. I fish a strip mine that i have been fishing for 2 days a week for 10 years and thought i knew everything about it. The DI helped me find structure i never knew was there.