I now use a eagle 320 and want to upgrade to one of the newer color/gps models. I can spend in the area of $1,000 to $1,500 if needed to get the right unit. Im torn because i have always used lowrance or eagle products but the sideview on the hummingbird units seems great. I went to the lowrance website and they said they had their own version of sideview due out sometime this year. Both brands have so many units to offer im just having a hard time picking one. I would appreciate any input on your units (pros/cons) what i really dont need etc. Im not a tournament fisherman but do fish quite a bit. Very large lakes to very small ones. Any help from you guys would be so very much appreciated !!

robbie

The side imaging of the HB is nice, but the regular sonar is inferior to the Lowrance sonar. With lowrance coming out with their own version, you might want to wait and see what that's like before making your purchase. If you want to use the Lowrance verison, you will need to buy one of their new HD units. Problem with those is that they are new and all the bugs haven't been worked out. There have been a number of issues with them. They will be great units, but if you buy one now you may have some growing pains.

The Lowrance side imaging should be available around the end of June of this year.  However, this will be an upgrade for their HD units.  Which, I am sure will be quite expensive.  You can't go wrong with Lowrance units but if its side imaging you are looking for go with the Hummingbird.  They have been established for a while now and they have minimal issues.

thanks for the input. i went ahead and bought a lowrance hds-7 . it looks really sweet on the simulator mode at bps. the salesman said it looks just as good on the water. it will upgrade to the side view when it comes out. i was going to hook it up tonight but got scared when i saw alot more wires on it than the eagle i put in. im afraid im gona blow up $1,300 in smoke. ha guess i will have it put in by a pro.

thanks again

robbie