Well, I have my HDS installed! Wow is this a great invention. Here is a bad picture of one of the rock piles I found that never new was there after 10 yrs of fishing. This is going to be a sweet summer cranking area. I have a mmc card ordered so hopefully my pictures will get better down the road.

I could even see tires on the bottom of the lake.

Can't wait for mine!

Hello Siebert,

Questions:

1. What prompted you to go with the HDS-7. I'm am currently trying to decide between Lowrance and Hummingbird.

2. How did the installation go? What equipment did you get?

Any tips?

Cheers, Eric

Questions:

1. What prompted you to go with the HDS-7. I'm am currently trying to decide between Lowrance and Hummingbird.

Alot of post reading/research and hands on time at bass pro shops. I liked the way the Lowrance functioned in use. For me it was easier, faster, and just made more sence. I wanted the 8 but could not afford it. Honestly I read the H 898 and the HDS 7's owners manuals before I even bought one or touched a graph. I suggest doing the same. Skim it and read the main function parts. I really like the way the HDS scans the bottom on a map.

2. How did the installation go? What equipment did you get? The only thing I bought was a few zip ties, stainless steel screws. The rest I had. Wiring wise it was easy. Installation of the transducer cables took the longest. Not because of the unit itself but my boat design. It took awhile fishing wires for the first one. After the first wire it was a breeze.

Any tips? Best ones I have are, hands on time before purchase, read the installation/operation manuals, read them again, plan out installation, and then install.

Thanks Siebert,

I currently have a bow mount Lowrance X96, and a in-dash Lowrance LMS-320 E/W GPS & Temperature sensor; I think they're from 2003. I'm looking to upgrade to something with side-scan, color, and better maps.

I would like to do an in-dash replacement of the 320 on my 2003 Ranger DVS-185 but don't know what will fit at this point, I'm looking at features and technology first, then I'll look at installation spec's.

Wane P. helped me start my homework with some good on-line info. It's a lot for my grey matter to absorb, gives me a headache or eye strain or something.

Back in the day, when I got my first HB flasher on my 14' Jon I road around for days with my nose glued to the screen - I hit the bank a few times, blow-downs, even turned into the path of another boat. I wonder what I'll do when I get something new.

Good fishin', Eric

To guess, and its only a guess you would be looking at the HDS 5. IMO its too small. Bigger the screen the better. Especially for running so you can split it to a gps map and something else like non structure scan.

I looked at installing it the way you are. I ended up buying a cover plate for the center of the console and putting it on the side of the boat.

I had an indash flasher but did not have room between the gauges for a different unit. So I put a plate over the hole and mounted an HDS8 with the regular gimble mount it is right in my face and I don't have to be looking around because I can see it while I am driving.