Got a budget of $500 for a fish finder. Which of these 2 would be best for a kayak fisherman. The main difference I see besides screen size is that the Garmin doesn’t have a place to put map chips. Any input is greatly appreciated.

I use 7 inch Garmin (SI, GPS, etc), a generation or two older than Vivid.  I have been quite happy with it.   I have had Lowrance and Hbird in the past and prefer the Garmin.  Haven't needed map chips because I can download maps to unit easily.   Going from 5 inch to 7 inch is a big deal.  Using 3 different views at once vs 2 is a BIG difference. 

1 hour ago, Choporoz said:

I use 7 inch Garmin (SI, GPS, etc), a generation or two older than Vivid.  I have been quite happy with it.   I have had Lowrance and Hbird in the past and prefer the Garmin.  Haven't needed map chips because I can download maps to unit easily.   Going from 5 inch to 7 inch is a big deal.  Using 3 different views at once vs 2 is a BIG difference. 

Can you download maps to the Garmin Striker 7sv? If so that would be great. I don’t fish a bunch of lakes maybe 3 or 4. 

1 minute ago, Chaos10691 said:

Can you download maps to the Garmin Striker 7sv? If so that would be great. I don’t fish a bunch of lakes maybe 3 or 4. 

Only those that have been uploaded to the Garmin Community, made by others using Quickdraw.

26 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Only those that have been uploaded to the Garmin Community, made by others using Quickdraw.

It says it maps the contour of lakes you go over with it. Does that mean it has some amount of storage? Can you navigate what you’ve previously mapped with the arrow keys to study what you went over?

Just now, Chaos10691 said:

It says it maps the contour of lakes you go over with it. Does that mean it has some amount of storage? Can you navigate what you’ve previously mapped with the arrow keys to study what you went over?

Yes you can - basically you're creating your own maps with contours. You can set waypoints, follow courses you've recorded - everything the Echomaps do...you just have to create/download community maps instead of having pre-loaded maps in the unit.

 

From Garmin's site - this for the Striker 7sv - the 7cv has the same storage

 

"QUICKDRAW CONTOURS

Nobody knows the waters you fish better than you. With the STRIKER Vivid 7sv fishfinder, you can store up to 2 million acres of maps with 1’ contours."

 

 

11 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Yes you can - basically you're creating your own maps with contours. You can set waypoints, follow courses you've recorded - everything the Echomaps do...you just have to create/download community maps instead of having pre-loaded maps in the unit.

 

From Garmin's site - this for the Striker 7sv - the 7cv has the same storage

 

"QUICKDRAW CONTOURS

Nobody knows the waters you fish better than you. With the STRIKER Vivid 7sv fishfinder, you can store up to 2 million acres of maps with 1’ contours."

 

 

Right on I might go ahead go with the Garmin. I’ve had a striker before so at least there’ll be some familiarity. I’ve also seen some people say to just download the Navionics app.

Just now, Chaos10691 said:

I’ve also seen some people say to just download the Navionics app.

I dunno if the app can run on the Striker - haven't tried it with my Striker Plus 7cv

 

I do run the app on my 8" Galaxy Tablet.

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I dunno if the app can run on the Striker - haven't tried it with my Striker Plus 7cv

 

I do run the app on my 8" Galaxy Tablet.

I was gonna run it on my phone.

9 minutes ago, Chaos10691 said:

I was gonna run it on my phone.

Hope it's a big screen - I wouldn't be able to see it on my Galaxy A-51 phone.

If you can swing an extra $100, BPS has the echomap 73sv for $599, and it's much better in terms of imaging, features, and resale value if you ever upgrade. 

 

Academy has the Lowrance ti2 7" for $500, currently, as well. The amount of features you get with it fit right in between the two Garmins.

 

I'd only get the Helix if you can find a 7" in your budget. Plenty of offerings on the used market

28 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Hope it's a big screen - I wouldn't be able to see it on my Galaxy A-51 phone.

Oh I was just gonna use it to mark spots then put the waypoints in the FF. Would it be ok for that? Can you even do that with the Garmin?

Just now, Chaos10691 said:

Oh I was just gonna use it to mark spots then put the waypoints in the FF. Would it be ok for that? Can you even do that with the Garmin?

dunno - haven't tried

26 minutes ago, Smalls said:

If you can swing an extra $100, BPS has the echomap 73sv for $599, and it's much better in terms of imaging, features, and resale value if you ever upgrade. 

 

Academy has the Lowrance ti2 7" for $500, currently, as well. The amount of features you get with it fit right in between the two Garmins.

 

I'd only get the Helix if you can find a 7" in your budget. Plenty of offerings on the used market

It’ll have to be on TackleWarehouse sadly. I got a bunch of gift cards for there and that’s the only reason I’m shopping for a FF now.

48 minutes ago, Chaos10691 said:

It’ll have to be on TackleWarehouse sadly. I got a bunch of gift cards for there and that’s the only reason I’m shopping for a FF now.

Tacklewarehouse price matches. Doesn't look like they offer the ti2, anymore, though. They do have the echomap.

 

The only Helix 5 they offer is the G2, and I definitely wouldn't pay $500 for one. It's older, and they're going for like $250-300 on the used market, and are a dime a dozen. 

1 hour ago, Smalls said:

Tacklewarehouse price matches. Doesn't look like they offer the ti2, anymore, though. They do have the echomap.

 

The only Helix 5 they offer is the G2, and I definitely wouldn't pay $500 for one. It's older, and they're going for like $250-300 on the used market, and are a dime a dozen. 

Ok awesome we’ll them I’m torn now between the Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv and the Lowrance Hook 7 Tripleshot

15 minutes ago, Chaos10691 said:

Ok awesome we’ll them I’m torn now between the Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv and the Lowrance Hook 7 Tripleshot

That's easy. Striker. The hook is junk, the tripleshot is trash. I can't wait to get rid of mine.