I am considering adding a fishfinder to my Hobie compass. I am mainly interested in using it for depth, as I rarely fish very deep (mostly along the edges of lake/pond that are otherwise accessible if I am shore fishing). Is there any good brand that won't break the bank. 

What's your budget?  I used 5in Lowrance downscan for a couple years.  It was nice because the Compass is made for that transducer.  Two years ago, I switched to Garmin 7 inch with GPS and sidescan and am quite happy.  I did have to get a BerleyPro ducer cover, so that added to the expense.  But being able to find and then mark brushpiles is invaluable to me.

Around $4-500, lesser is better. Thanks for the suggestions I will look them up.

I just looked mine up....either I got a heck of a deal, or inflation...or something.   I bought a 'Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 73sv Chartplotter Fishfinder with GT52 Transducer' for 500 in 2019.  I'm seeing same unit for over 800 right now....crazy.

I’m running a 5” Lowrance hook.  It was $300.  It’s perfectly fine for my needs and doesn’t crush my battery. 

I run Lowrance Hook-5’s in my kayaks too. I power them with my Milwaukee M12 batteries in a Pelican case. I get about a day and a half from one M12XC. My Pelican stores two batteries.

24 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

I run Lowrance Hook-5’s in my kayaks too. I power them with my Milwaukee M12 batteries in a Pelican case. I get about a day and a half from one M12XC. My Pelican stores two batteries.

Wow!  Great idea.  Those are 3amp hours batteries.  Awesome. 

I just went through these deliberations as well, didn't want to break the bank and didn't want to go ultra cheapie either. Also have never used one, so didn't want something with so many bells and whistles that I'd never learn to use them. Looked at the brand comparisons but admit I started with an inclination towards Garmin as I've had Garmin GPS for hunting for 15+ years and now have a Garmin watch. 

 

Ended up ordering a Garmin Echomap 63cv which includes the transducer for $400. I figured that's a nice low- to mid-range unit that I will learn the basics on. Plenty of these available out there on ebay and elsewhere. for what it's worth 

 

p.s. that Echomap 73sv mentioned above was on sale at BassPro two weeks ago for $450 but is now sold out. I'd have jumped on that if I had seen it in time. But if you don't need something right away you can wait for bargains. 

I have a 5" Lowrance Hook2 tripleshot, so I have the sonar, downscan, and sidescan.

 

However, I purchased this as a reconditioned item directly from the Lowrance website so I saved about $200. It looked brand new to me.

 

I think 5" is a perfect size for a kayak, at least with the mounting option and setup that I have. Anything bigger would really be in the way of actual fishing. Keep in mind I have a pedal drive, so I have to fish around both the fishfinder and the drive unit.

 

Here's the link to their reconditioned items: https://www.lowrance.com/lowrance/type/reconditioned/

 

 

On 8/13/2021 at 12:07 AM, Koz said:

I have a 5" Lowrance Hook2 tripleshot, so I have the sonar, downscan, and sidescan.

 

However, I purchased this as a reconditioned item directly from the Lowrance website so I saved about $200. It looked brand new to me.

 

I think 5" is a perfect size for a kayak, at least with the mounting option and setup that I have. Anything bigger would really be in the way of actual fishing. Keep in mind I have a pedal drive, so I have to fish around both the fishfinder and the drive unit.

 

Here's the link to their reconditioned items: https://www.lowrance.com/lowrance/type/reconditioned/

 

 

Thanks for the suggestion! I really don’t mind factory seconds at all, have been doing it with other products with success. I am still new to fish finders I see a split shot but not triple shot available in hook 5 in link you sent me. I will read up more on the differences. I do have a drive as well, but don’t think mine gets in the way of finder when installed.

On 8/12/2021 at 4:05 PM, Choporoz said:

I just looked mine up....either I got a heck of a deal, or inflation...or something.   I bought a 'Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 73sv Chartplotter Fishfinder with GT52 Transducer' for 500 in 2019.  I'm seeing same unit for over 800 right now....crazy.

That may be the price with the updated transducer. I just kind of went through this same thing buying mine, I paid $850 for it because it has the newer (supposedly better) GT56 transducer. 

On 8/12/2021 at 4:05 PM, Choporoz said:

I just looked mine up....either I got a heck of a deal, or inflation...or something.   I bought a 'Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 73sv Chartplotter Fishfinder with GT52 Transducer' for 500 in 2019.  I'm seeing same unit for over 800 right now....crazy.

Something else I kept noticing when shopping for them online...I had to keep reading the descriptions carefully. The ones that appeared to be better deals than others, often did not even include the transducer, especially those on Amazon. They would show the same box, package etc with very similar descriptions but mention transducer not included! Seemed weird to me...

Couple thoughts.. .based just on some images online, the gt56 has much better definition....but that transducer looks huge; no way that is fitting in my Compass ducer hole, unless BerleyPro already has dome some magic for it.  I guess getting unit without transducer gives you the option to get older gen ducer (gt52 or gt54) instead of forcing you into current top of the line.

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Couple thoughts.. .based just on some images online, the gt56 has much better definition....but that transducer looks huge; no way that is fitting in my Compass ducer hole, unless BerleyPro already has dome some magic for it.  I guess getting unit without transducer gives you the option to get older gen ducer (gt52 or gt54) instead of forcing you into current top of the line.

 

True. It's not a small 'ducer, but it does fit my Predator PDL dang near perfectly. 

I fit a Garmin previously in my Hobie Compass. It took some work making a bracket but it was easy. 
 

when I upgraded to the Lowrance the transducer fit so beautifully. It was almost shocking and so easy. I don’t regret the Lowrance Ready option.  

On 8/14/2021 at 7:20 AM, dovii said:

Thanks for the suggestion! I really don’t mind factory seconds at all, have been doing it with other products with success. I am still new to fish finders I see a split shot but not triple shot available in hook 5 in link you sent me. I will read up more on the differences. I do have a drive as well, but don’t think mine gets in the way of finder when installed.

The triple shot has a very long transducer and usually won't install easily in things like scupper holes or premade transducer ports in a kayak.  They typically have to be hung over the edge of the kayak by an extension arm.  The advantage is that they add side scan.  Side scan is only useful when you're moving, so if you're just standing still, it won't show you much.  But it's useful for checking out areas to the sides of you when scouting locations.  But the split shot transducer is much smaller and easier to install.  Other than the side scan, they're pretty much the same.  

 

I too have a Lowrance Hook2 5" with the triple shot.  It's a pretty nice unit for the money.  Unless your eyesight is bad, I wouldn't go above a 5" screen.  The screen won't be far away from you, and the larger the screen, the more likely it is to get in your way.  So a 4-5" screen is about the perfect size.  

 

One thing to consider is GPS mapping.  Some units come with maps preloaded.  If you're planning on using maps, then it's usually much cheaper to buy a unit with built in maps, rather than paying for it separately.  Though, there are phone apps that will do this for you, if need be, so it's not absolutely necessary to have it in your fish finder.  Though I do think it's a worthwhile convenience, if the cost isn't too high.  

Bank covered it.  
 

my 5” screen is perfect. I can still slide back on board if I fall out. A bigger unit would get in the way.