I am going to get a D/F for my kickboat so I don't need something with speed indication or all the bells and whistles, what I want is a good reliable unit.  I have narrowed my choices down to the Lowrance x86 and the Eagle 320, does anyone have any input on which one may be a better choice?  I have seen  a couple of folks here say they have had good luck with the Eagle unit so I am leaning that way, but it seems that Lowrance has a pretty good reputation as well.

Also does anyone have any input on the transducers that mount via a suction cup, again keeping in mind that my mode of propulsion is with oars or kick fins so I am not worried about it coming off at high speeds.

My father went on a fishing kick after he retired. He's been going to Canada twice a year to a fly-in fish camp for the last 7 years. 5 years ago he bought an Eagle portable fish finder (not sure of the model) to use on the fish camp boats  which are 12' aluminum with 8-10 hp motors. His unit runs on 8 'D' cell batteries and the transducer attaches with a suction cup. He's had no problems with it and I'll tell you the model in about 2.5 weeks when we get back from Canada.