Looking to finally upgrade from my garmin 4cv to either an Echomap UHD2 73sv or 93sv.

 

my question is, is the 93sv overkill on the kayak? Is it worth the price tag? I see a few 73sv’s with transducer on marketplace around the $700 mark whereas the 93sv I’m having trouble finding used. I’m not opposed to spending the $1200 to pick it up brand new if it’s really worth it. Is the big screen too much for an oldtown 120 pdl? I’m not planning to add livescope now but maybe in a year or two

 

Thanks in advance for any help

Hello Gstate,

     Honestly, If you can, go big, especially if your planning on adding live scope in the future. I have the 106 Echomap Ultra 2 on my Hobie. I have it mounted on my left side H-rail.  I ran the 93sv for several years. It's not too big for a kayak in my opinion.

     Another thing to think about is where your mounting it. How far away are you going to be from the screen.  You didn't mention what kind of kayak you're putting it on. If you're paddling, pedaling or electric.  It will make a difference on mounting location.

Best,

Fishingmickey

3 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Hello Gstate,

     Honestly, If you can, go big, especially if your planning on adding live scope in the future. I have the 106 Echomap Ultra 2 on my Hobie. I have it mounted on my left side H-rail.  I ran the 93sv for several years. It's not too big for a kayak in my opinion.

     Another thing to think about is where your mounting it. How far away are you going to be from the screen.  You didn't mention what kind of kayak you're putting it on. If you're paddling, pedaling or electric.  It will make a difference on mounting location.

Best,

Fishingmickey

Appreciate the info. Seems to be the consensus

 

will be going on an oldtown pdl 120. So will be mounting on the handle right next to seat. I’m 28 so eye sight is still strong (for now) so I think I’d be fine with either the 73 or 93 but may as well go big as you said. My next question is, I can pick up a UHD 93sv with GT54 for $700 on Facebook. Is it worth it to spend the extra $500 for the newest iteration (UHD2 93 sv with GT56?) 

If you're planning to go with livescope in the future, go no smaller than a 9" screen.  A 7" doesn't have enough pixels in the screen to give you any sort of range out or down.  Even a 9" is pushing.  

I have a 93sv on my 120 Autopilot. Perfect size and you would be able to add Livescope later on. 

42 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

If you're planning to go with livescope in the future, go no smaller than a 9" screen.  A 7" doesn't have enough pixels in the screen to give you any sort of range out or down.  Even a 9" is pushing.  

 

38 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I have a 93sv on my 120 Autopilot. Perfect size and you would be able to add Livescope later on. 

Thanks all, agree 93sv is the move. Would you purchase a used UHD 93sv with GT54 for $700 or new UHD2 93sv with GT56 for $1200? Is the $500 price difference worth it on the upgrade

1 hour ago, GardenStateFishin said:

 

Thanks all, agree 93sv is the move. Would you purchase a used UHD 93sv with GT54 for $700 or new UHD2 93sv with GT56 for $1200? Is the $500 price difference worth it on the upgrade

I did not like the GT54 for side imaging, have heard the 56 is better. Something to consider if you use SI much... 

1 hour ago, GardenStateFishin said:

 

Thanks all, agree 93sv is the move. Would you purchase a used UHD 93sv with GT54 for $700 or new UHD2 93sv with GT56 for $1200? Is the $500 price difference worth it on the upgrade

I run Humminbird so I wouldn’t pick either for side imaging. 

Just now, casts_by_fly said:

I run Humminbird so I wouldn’t pick either for side imaging. 

Any reason you choose humminbird over Garmin? 

27 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I did not like the GT54 for side imaging, have heard the 56 is better. Something to consider if you use SI much... 

thanks I’ve heard the same. Plus the pixels, gimbal and everything else I think it’s worth it.

 

one last question, will the yakattack mount be fine to hold the 93 or do I really need to drop $150 on the ram D mount?

17 minutes ago, GardenStateFishin said:

Any reason you choose humminbird over Garmin? 

thanks I’ve heard the same. Plus the pixels, gimbal and everything else I think it’s worth it.

 

one last question, will the yakattack mount be fine to hold the 93 or do I really need to drop $150 on the ram D mount?

the side imaging is just clearer and crisper.  This is auto settings and unoptimized while being rocked side to side in wakes in a brand new boat.  That’s the starting point and it only gets better from there.  And what you’re seeing is the medium quality compressed version that I can upload here. 

 

 

23 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

the side imaging is just clearer and crisper.  This is auto settings and unoptimized while being rocked side to side in wakes in a brand new boat.  That’s the starting point and it only gets better from there.  And what you’re seeing is the medium quality compressed version that I can upload here. 

 

 

This is the reason I run 2 units on my kayak... Humminbird for SI and 360 Imaging, and Garmin 93sv for Livescope. When I was using the Garmin GT54 I couldn't even see many of the rocks my Humminbird was able to locate. 

 

Here are two more from the last unit (helix 9 MSI), first one rock and pebble/sand bottom, the second one a thick grass bed ending into silt/sand bottom.  they are both a little hotter than ideal, but hard to argue with that.

 

 

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Here are two more from the last unit (helix 9 MSI), first one rock and pebble/sand bottom, the second one a thick grass bed ending into silt/sand bottom.  they are both a little hotter than ideal, but hard to argue with that.

 

 

d**n that’s pretty insane. So if I’m not going livescope route, humminbird should definitely be considered it seems. Is it much more expensive?

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Here are two more from the last unit (helix 9 MSI), first one rock and pebble/sand bottom, the second one a thick grass bed ending into silt/sand bottom.  they are both a little hotter than ideal, but hard to argue with that.

 

 

Man the helix 9 MSI is also cheaper than the 93sv. You kinda just changed my entire mind. May need to go humminbird route. By the time I ever decide to go to something like livescope I’m sure humminbird will have remotely caught up to Garmin 

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Here are two more from the last unit (helix 9 MSI), first one rock and pebble/sand bottom, the second one a thick grass bed ending into silt/sand bottom.  they are both a little hotter than ideal, but hard to argue with that.

 

 

Noticed you’re in NJ too. How’s the mapping on the HB with some of the NJ lakes?

Hummingbird has already got a newer version of their "livescope" out. It's Mega live2.  It's not compatible with the Helix units.  I'm not up to speed on Mega live 2 on which units it is compatible with. Helix is being phased out with the advent of the Xplore series.  Mega live 2 is compatible with the Solix and Apex series units that have the updated software version according to this link.

https://humminbird-help.johnsonoutdoors.com/hc/en-us/articles/28396954432791-MEGA-Live-2-Compatibility

 

Best,

FM

 

Take what fishingmickey said to heart. The helix units are great units and come at a really nice discount right now. If you’re the guy who doesn’t upgrade hardly ever and keeps units for 10 years then that’s not a bad shout. Humminbird side imaging is fantastic (9” units and up with full size transducer) and if you want 360 there is only one way to get it. 
 

if you want live imaging in the future, ml1 has been superseded with ml2 which is arguably as good as livescope.  But the only way to get it is new head units (xplore) which are full msrp or higher end used units (solix and apex) which might not be better than the new ones anyway. I wouldn’t get ml1 at this point in time. If you want the best side imaging and very good live imaging then get an xplore and ml2.  If you want the best live unit and very good side imaging then get a garmin. 

Just now, casts_by_fly said:

Take what fishingmickey said to heart. The helix units are great units and come at a really nice discount right now. If you’re the guy who doesn’t upgrade hardly ever and keeps units for 10 years then that’s not a bad shout. Humminbird side imaging is fantastic (9” units and up with full size transducer) and if you want 360 there is only one way to get it. 
 

if you want live imaging in the future, ml1 has been superseded with ml2 which is arguably as good as livescope.  But the only way to get it is new head units (xplore) which are full msrp or higher end used units (solix and apex) which might not be better than the new ones anyway. I wouldn’t get ml1 at this point in time. If you want the best side imaging and very good live imaging then get an xplore and ml2.  If you want the best live unit and very good side imaging then get a garmin. 

10-4. Really appreciate all the detailed responses

33 minutes ago, GardenStateFishin said:

Noticed you’re in NJ too. How’s the mapping on the HB with some of the NJ lakes?

I didn’t have lake master on the helix so I bought a zero lines card and mapped them myself. There were basic maps for 3-4 lakes and that was it. The explore unit has more and comes with lake master premium. I’ve only had it out once and it was hopatcong, probably the most popular lake in the state for tournaments and thus the most mapped. That said, the mapping was dead on (once I applied the depth offset which I need to remember to take off next time out).  I don’t know what other lakes are on it but I’ll have a look next time in the boat. 

13 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

I didn’t have lake master on the helix so I bought a zero lines card and mapped them myself. There were basic maps for 3-4 lakes and that was it. The explore unit has more and comes with lake master premium. I’ve only had it out once and it was hopatcong, probably the most popular lake in the state for tournaments and thus the most mapped. That said, the mapping was dead on (once I applied the depth offset which I need to remember to take off next time out).  I don’t know what other lakes are on it but I’ll have a look next time in the boat. 

Appreciate it! I’m on a yak so struggle a bit getting out on hopatcong on weekends with all the boat traffic but figured that was likely the prime suspect of being the best mapped. I’m guessing the smaller lakes I fish like musconetcong and farrington aren’t available

57 minutes ago, GardenStateFishin said:

Appreciate it! I’m on a yak so struggle a bit getting out on hopatcong on weekends with all the boat traffic but figured that was likely the prime suspect of being the best mapped. I’m guessing the smaller lakes I fish like musconetcong and farrington aren’t available

I don’t know farringdon. But I know musconetcong and so don’t bother with a map. It’s a big bowl.  The bowl is a little deeper by the dam and a little shallower towards the top, but we’re talking 3.5 to 5.5 feet variance across that range. I am only 20 minutes to the ramp there and have mapped the full lake (before the grass grows). 

Get the biggest screen that you can afford, even on a kayak. You will appreciate the detail with all modes.

 

I run the Garmin 93 with Livescope and the GT56 transducer. I also have a Helix 7 with DI/SI but I don't have the transducer hooked up. I use that unit strictly for mapping and Lakemaster. When I'm running Livescope I don't see the need to do a split screen unless for some readin my Humminbird doesn't have the contour map of a smaller lake.

 

 

I put a garmin 93sv on my old town pdl last year. At the time I was asking myself if the 93 was too big/over kill. 

 

Not at all. Not even close. It's prefect. Extremely happy I didn't go smaller. Doesn't get in the way and can see the screen no problem. Somthing to think about.... go smaller, harder to see, needs to be closer, gets in the way more. Bigger, easier to see, doesn't need to be as close, gets in the way less or not at all. 

 

I can say with 100% certainty, if I had gone smaller I wouldn't have been happy with my purchase one bit.

 

 

In regards to the GT54/56 transducer, I can tell you that for the one week I worked at Bass Pro this year, I sold a crap ton to people upgrading from the 54 to the 56…

 

I used to run a small striker with the 54, but that was all it was capable of so I didn’t know the difference anyway. I now run Lowrance in my kayak.