4 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

We’ll see who the better salesman is, how about that? ? j/k

Ha Ha.  Well the transducer for my Humminbird was built in to my trolling motor so there........but it will also work with other brand fish finders so never mind.   ☹️

So what should I do?  What's the best 7" fishfinder out there?  money isn't really a concern.  Thanks again! 

1 minute ago, clemsondds said:

So what should I do?  What's the best 7" fishfinder out there?  money isn't really a concern.  Thanks again! 

Ford vs Chevy 

Can you explain a little more about transducers?  I know nothing about them. You mentioned something about using the trolling motor.  And then someone mentioned using two...any of that helpful and does it differ using lowrance over garmin? thanks

4 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

Can you explain a little more about transducers?  I know nothing about them. You mentioned something about using the trolling motor.  And then someone mentioned using two...any of that helpful and does it differ using lowrance over garmin? thanks

I don’t know enough about Lowrance so I won’t comment on them. The transducer that comes with the Garmin Echomap units can go on the transom or the trolling motor. With Humminbird you’d have to send the transducer in and swap it out for a trolling motor transducer. 

Ok thanks. What’s the difference between the Garmin striker plus and the Garmin echomap? Plus, anyone know the reason why Garmin has on their website, the striker 7sv  as discontinued? 

Echomap has maps, striker does not but you can make your own using quickdraw 

8 hours ago, clemsondds said:

Ok thanks. What’s the difference between the Garmin striker plus and the Garmin echomap? Plus, anyone know the reason why Garmin has on their website, the striker 7sv  as discontinued? 

The Garmin Striker 7sv is discontinued because of the Striker Plus units replaced them. 

 

The he difference between the Striker and the Echomap units are the Echomap units have pre loaded maps. The Striker units you have to create your own maps using QuickDraw. 

 Do you feel as though the maps are worth the added cost? Are they helpful? 

 Geez I’m so frustrated ha. Went to field and stream today and messed with the various options. There were two workers in that area. Both were pretty knowledgeable. The older man recommended hummingbird or Garmin , and the younger guy recommended lowrance. The older guy says he prefers Garmin but said the humminbird helix 7 gen 3n that just came out should be the best 7” out.  He said with the fact that I use the minkota I-pilot, the humminbird was a no-brained. But then the younger guy went on about how the lowrance touchscreen was so much more helpful. He did agree though that the humminbird clarity was really good. Any other thoughts? 

19 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

 Geez I’m so frustrated ha. Went to field and stream today and messed with the various options. There were two workers in that area. Both were pretty knowledgeable. The older man recommended hummingbird or Garmin , and the younger guy recommended lowrance. The older guy says he prefers Garmin but said the humminbird helix 7 gen 3n that just came out should be the best 7” out.  He said with the fact that I use the minkota I-pilot, the humminbird was a no-brained. But then the younger guy went on about how the lowrance touchscreen was so much more helpful. He did agree though that the humminbird clarity was really good. Any other thoughts? 

Read, read, and read some more. Learn about the options. Go to the store and play with them some more. I recommend it again because like you saw first hand everyone you ask will give you a different answer. The more you learn the more comfortable and less confused you’ll be.

Yeh that would be ideal...but I don't have time and that store doesn't have any of the gen 3 humminbirds. The dealer where I bought the boat from will have the boat for just another week, so I'd like to have it installed so I don't have to take it somewhere to have it done. 

So if I could get your best recommendation.  Again, it's not the end of the world. I'll eventually get a unit for the deck that's larger.  So this doesn't have to be perfect...just wanted to try to find the unit that shows where the fish are the best. Thanks again

9 hours ago, clemsondds said:

Yeh that would be ideal...but I don't have time and that store doesn't have any of the gen 3 humminbirds. The dealer where I bought the boat from will have the boat for just another week, so I'd like to have it installed so I don't have to take it somewhere to have it done. 

So if I could get your best recommendation.  Again, it's not the end of the world. I'll eventually get a unit for the deck that's larger.  So this doesn't have to be perfect...just wanted to try to find the unit that shows where the fish are the best. Thanks again

You’ll be happy with the Garmin or the Humminbird. You really can’t go wrong. Another important aspect that we haven’t talked about is customer service (if needed) I’ve heard nothing but good things about both companies. 

If using minkota riptide, is there a brand gps/fishfinder that works better with it?  Just trying to figure out differences between the three. Thanks

30 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

If using minkota riptide, is there a brand gps/fishfinder that works better with it?  Just trying to figure out differences between the three. Thanks

I believe there are adapters available so you can hook any unit to the proper Minnkota TM but that’s beyond my pay grade to say for sure.

45 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

If using minkota riptide, is there a brand gps/fishfinder that works better with it?  Just trying to figure out differences between the three. Thanks

Riptide is not a specific trolling motor.  It designates their saltwater trolling motor line.  Do you know which specific Riptide you are getting?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Riptide is not a specific trolling motor.  It designates their saltwater trolling motor line.  Do you know which specific Riptide you are getting?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh I didn't know that would matter for fishfinders.  Looking at the Riptide I-Pilot 80lb prob. Maybe the Terrova? Seen several advertisements for Humminbird/Minnkota One-Boat network...just didn't know if there was an advantage to going with humminbird since I'll have Minnkota tm. Thanks

There are two ways that you can connect a trolling motor to a fish finder.  You can connect the FF to a transducer thats built into the trolling motor.  I checked the Minn Kota web site and I didn't see any Riptide models that have built in transducers.  You can also connect most higher end Humminbird FFs to some Minn Kota TM using i-Pilot Link.  Do not confuse i-Pilot with i-Pilot link.  The trolling motor must be i-Pilot Link to link with a Humminbird FF.  I-Pilot link gives you a number of navigation feature like being able to select a waypoint on the fishing finder for the trolling motor to navigate to. i-Pilot (non link) gives you most of these features but you must use a hand held remote instead of a fish finder.

 

oh ok.  now if i have the transducer on the trolling motor, it will only work when it's in the water.  So how do you tell your depth when it's out of the water?  Do most people have a high speed transducer put on the back?  

55 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

oh ok.  now if i have the transducer on the trolling motor, it will only work when it's in the water.  So how do you tell your depth when it's out of the water?  Do most people have a high speed transducer put on the back?  

Your console unit will be connected to a transducer on the transom.  You will use your bow unit when fishing and it will be connected to the transducer on the trolling motor.  Sonar will not work when the transducer is out of the water but the GPS will.   If the two units are networked together,  then you can view sonar data from either on both units.  I don't think a high speed transducer is critical. I don't have one.  I loose depth readings when I reach about 25MPH.  I use GPS and maps to make sure I'm running in safe water and slow down if the water is questionable.

But I was planning on just purchasing one unit right now...so there's no way to have one console unit connected to both trolling motor transducer and a transom mounted transducer?  I spoke with humminbird twice...one lady told me I could and the other lady told me I would burn up the motor if the trolling motor wasn't in the water since they would be working together.  

Ok what if I just do the basics and go with Helix 7 CHIRP MSI GPS G3N with the regular transom mount?  Am I really missing out on that much not having the transducer mounted to the trolling motor?  Is that something I can add later when I add another unit on the bow?  Thanks!! 

1 hour ago, clemsondds said:

Ok what if I just do the basics and go with Helix 7 CHIRP MSI GPS G3N with the regular transom mount?  Am I really missing out on that much not having the transducer mounted to the trolling motor?  Is that something I can add later when I add another unit on the bow?  Thanks!! 

How big are the lakes you fish?

Side scan trolling motor mounted TD doesn't work well, transom mounted and networked with the front unit works plus you can have a front down scan TD independant of the Console unit.

Self mapping features arecaxwaste of time if your lake has 1' Navonics maps chip.

If you fish a lake that doesn't have a map chip available self mapping may be of some harp.

I't always a good idea to have 2 units the same make and technology support, both Lowrance and Hummigbird have good customer service availble anywhere in the US.

Tom

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Side scan trolling motor mounted TD doesn't work well,

I completely disagree