I got an older discontinued Garmin 54 DV. Got it from a buddy. Tried it out on my new yak yesterday. Transducer doesn’t work. It’s been a while since I’ve used it.

I want to upgrade my unit. I want a 2D, Side Scan, Down Scan.  I’ve heard the Humminbird Helix is a great unit. How’s Lowrance? Garmin? Humminbird? Or the other brands? 

I had a Garmin Echomap with side and down image, on a GT54 transducer. It was my first good fish finder.

 

In 2020 my brother got his dream boat, and outfitted with Humminbird Helix 9 G4N, and connected to his Ulterra. A year later he added another Helix 9 at the bow, and networked them.

 

For down and side imaging, the Helix was much better than my Garmin. Granted, I was using the 54 transducer, not the 56, which is said to be better.

 

I set up my boat with Helix 9's and Ulterra mirroring his set up. I really like it. I'm not in to FFS at this point. The Humminbird / Minn Kota system works great for me.

 

Good luck!

I have both Garmin and Humminbird on my kayak. Helix is definitely better in terms of side imaging and Garmin is far superior in terms of FFS. 

39 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

How’s Lowrance?

 

Since no one has commented on Lowrance, I will.  I've used it since 2001, upgrading 4 times in that span.

 

I use mine for 2D sonar, GPS mapping, and side scan.  They also have down scan but I rarely use it for that.  The one thing about side scan with Lowrance is that the manual says its works optimally at 5 mph so you have to be moving at a relatively swift pace, which may be an issue in a kayak.

 

I would suggest going to a retail store and toying around with various units for a while.  If you are more familiar with one operating system, perhaps stick with that one.  Trying to learn a new system can be a time consuming and confusing process.

I have humminbird on my kayak.  My dad runs lowrance on his tracker which I've set up and tweaked for him.

 

Like Frydog said, humminbird is better for down and side imaging with one caveat.  The active imaging 3 in 1 (their best) is about equal to the smaller Humminbird transducer (their cheapest) that comes on the Helix 5 and 7.  It can be tough to compare boat vs boat at times and I only get to play with and tune his two or three times a year.  Maybe I could get more out of his, maybe the difference in lakes makes a small difference, maybe I just would rather fish when I get time with him and not mess with electronics.  When I compare 3 in 1 to the bigger Humminbird transducer on the 9 and up there's no comparison.  The helix 9 is far superior.  2D is basically the same for all.

 

If you're going to go with live imaging at some point, then I'd go with Lowrance/garmin.  If you want 360 at some point, then you have to go Humminbird.  Past that and for just what you're talking about it comes down to price.  If you are going to spend for a Helix 9, then get that.  If you're not, then I'd look at the price between a 9" Garmin/Lowrance vs a 7" helix (they are usually close) and decide if you want 9" or 7" and if you care about touchscreen.