new depth finder

[kipbass]

I was considering begging the old lady for a new depth finder. I was looking at a humminbird hd di...i have a cheaper hb and it tends to get foggy on the screen. Anyone know if the newer ones have the same problem?

[MonteSS]

A Di unit will not replace a standard 2d unit. The Di is nice to see if that blob in 2d is fish or brush. The arcs in the standard 2d is what the pros look at and is more accurate.

I would save up and get a HB Si unit with the biggest screen you can afford/fit.

I have an HB 898 si and like it. My friend has a Lowarance HDS 5 and I dont care for it. The 2d in the HB and Lowrance are both good. Si in the HB is much better than the Lowrance IME. Di is better in the Lowrance, but as I said, I dont use that screen much.

If you store any unit on the boat and under a cover they can fog up from the humidity.

....Bill

...Bill

[pjmcla]

No unit should fog up on the inside.  If it does it has a bad seal somewhere.   I have a older 997 SI Humminbird and several 2d Lowrances and GPS units.  I do not use the down imaging much because the side imaging shows what's down there much better as far as I am concerned.  I typically run sidescan on 70% of the screen and 2d on 30% if in a new area.  I always use a separate second unit for GPS / tracking. The ability to look to the right ( or left, or both  ) with the side scan is a key thing as this allows me to "see" up the side of a channel drop - where a downscan does not do this nearly as well.  Unfortunately; better costs more; and bigger costs more as well. 

[kipbass]

Thanks all. A little more info than i needed, but now i see i should spend a little more for si.
http://www.circularhub.com/pub/academysports?type=2 if this link works academy has this $1800. Unit for $1200 if anyone is interested.

[el rat]

HB w/ SI is the way to go...it will be worth the wait. 

[mouthsmasherbaits]

i have read alot of great things about the hummingbird 360 degree imaging.

[412BaitCo]

Since there is a ton of great information flying around here I figure I'll throw out a question of opinion. I'm looking for decent option in this category for kayak fishing/small aluminum boat for the local holes. Nothing nearly as great as the things you guys are talking about just something basic but still quality?

[pjmcla]

The problem with "skinny water" and a depth finder is that you will only be able to "see" a bottom area of about 3 feet in diameter right under the kayak.  In really shallow water I used a fiberglass rod.  You could tell if the bottom was gravel, sand or mud and the depth ( to about 5 feet )  AND - it was cheap ( with no batteries needed )  .

[DobynsTriton]

Since there is a ton of great information flying around here I figure I'll throw out a question of opinion. I'm looking for decent option in this category for kayak fishing/small aluminum boat for the local holes. Nothing nearly as great as the things you guys are talking about just something basic but still quality?

look into a Lowrance Elite 4.ive seen some kayak guys putting these on their rigs & they are a nice compact size

[412BaitCo]

The problem with "skinny water" and a depth finder is that you will only be able to "see" a bottom area of about 3 feet in diameter right under the kayak.  In really shallow water I used a fiberglass rod.  You could tell if the bottom was gravel, sand or mud and the depth ( to about 5 feet )  AND - it was cheap ( with no batteries needed )  .

Haha! The depth I'd be over would be probably max 18-20.

[412BaitCo]

look into a Lowrance Elite 4.ive seen some kayak guys putting these on their rigs & they are a nice compact size

Doby the elite-4x at 169.99 looks perfect for my application. Thanks for the input!
Thanks

[DobynsTriton]

no prob youre welcome! if you get it from tacklewarehouse theres free shipping