I'm in the process of acquiring my first boat. Just a little 12' jon with a trolling motor but it's my first ever real boat and I'm super excited about it. I'll be customizing it some and want to outfit it to be a great bass catching machine for one and sometimes two anglers.

I want to buy a fish/depth finder for it. I'd like to get a really nice one, but I know very little about them. I usually just fish small ponds and lakes, so a GPS is not an essential. My budget is about $350, I could maybe go $400 but absolutely no more than that. What's the most bang for my buck I can get for that price?

All advice is sincerely appreciated. I'm quite out of my depth with fishing related electronics and boats in general but am really looking forward to jumping in.

Thanks!

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Humminbird-698ci-HD-SI-Chartplotter-Fishfinder-Combo&i=770809

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Lowrance-Elite-5-HDI-Fishfinder/Chartplotter-With-Suncover&i=922116

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Humminbird-Helix-5-DI-Fishfinder&i=831914

Thanks for the links. I've been researching a good bit the last while.

I'm pretty impressed with side imaging. I would really love to be able to get an idea what's on both sides of the boat as opposed to just what's under it.

What's the best buy on a relatively basic unit that includes side imaging? 

My first link. Otherwise the helix 5 si. those are the only ones i know of in your price range. 

The 698ci HD SI Combo should be on close-out sale. The Helix models have replaced all the number series units.

Between the 698 and Helix 5 SI, I would choose the Helix since it has wide screen and the 698 has a narrow screen. WIDE is better for the side looking imaging technology.

 

Helix 5 di or Helix 5 si.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/lowrance--elite-4x-hdi-fishfinder-with-83-200-broadband-sonar-and-455-800-downscan-imaging--15113657

Try this if you've not already purchased a unit. I have one on each of my kayaks.

Thanks for the input, all. It helped me with my research and now I know a good bit more about sonar than when I started.

I was pretty sold on side imaging so I bit the bullet, cut a few expenses elsewhere, and took @Wayne P.'s advice and got a Helix 5 SI. Going to be picking up the boat on Saturday and can't wait to mount it and take it out!

1 hour ago, Evan K said:

Thanks for the input, all. It helped me with my research and now I know a good bit more about sonar than when I started.

I was pretty sold on side imaging so I bit the bullet, cut a few expenses elsewhere, and took @Wayne P.'s advice and got a Helix 5 SI. Going to be picking up the boat on Saturday and can't wait to mount it and take it out!

Take the time to fully learn how to use it before applying it to fishing. Spend at least a day riding around scanning stuff and making adjustments to see what effect they have on what is displayed.

Many companies had a simulator available. Not any more??

My Helix 5 has simulator mode. Was just running through a few things last night.

I'd recommend a 5 or 7 with SI and a good map chip for any kayak or small boat. No reason to skimp!

Works great on my little Commander 140:

 

 

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

My Helix 5 has simulator mode. Was just running through a few things last night.

I'd recommend a 5 or 7 with SI and a good map chip for any kayak or small boat. No reason to skimp!

Works great on my little Commander 140:

That's a sweet setup for a yak!

I'll definitely be running some simulator mode to get used to navigating the thing and am really looking forward to scanning a few local ponds I fish.

2 hours ago, Comfortably Numb said:

Many companies had a simulator available. Not any more??

I think a vast majority, if not all, of the current production sonar units have a simulation mode. But most are very lacking and are just for changing cosmetic and user features. It takes quite a bit of time on the water marking actual structure and fish to really get a full grasp of what a sonar can do. 

Not simulator mode.

An actual image of the unit on your computer that you can control the buttons and features.

 

21 minutes ago, Comfortably Numb said:

Not simulator mode.

An actual image of the unit on your computer that you can control the buttons and features.

 

That would be the Emulator that Lowrance had or has for some models. I have used them to learn older Lowrance units I had.

Functionally the same as Simulator on a unit for learning the unit operation. 

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Support/Product-Emulators/

Still manipulating a recording but with less real data.

Have not used Simulator on other brands, but using it with a Humminbird you can preset the settings you want and do waypoint management and unit updates with that operating.