In the Market for a FishFinder

[M_Duong60]

With summer approaching I want to finish up with rigging up my kayak. All I have to do is set up an anchor trolley and a fish finder.

I have a Ocean Kayak Trident 13 with the sonar shield and was not only wondering what Fish Finder that I should get and how someone would rig it. But most importantly is it possible to patch up holes if I drill in the wrong spot?

anyway I am currently leaning towards a hummingbird FF because of the thru-hull transducer, but if they no longer do the transducer swap I will most likely go with a cheaper model...does anyone know if the still do this?

Anyway I do not have a budget, but I would like to stay in the $80-130 price range so I can get a licence and maybe a rod and reel at the upcoming flea-market.

[mytmouse]

You can't go wrong with PiranhaMAX series. I have the 160 I think and it works for me!! Now granted, this was my first fishfinder and I have never used another. But I can say when I have marked fish, I have caught them and when I haven't marked them I wasn't catching them... so I would say it works! LOL I have a OK Big Game and I utilize the scupper transducer and it is 1) VERY simple to setup. and 2) No need to drill in your kayak if you don't want to. Although I did to feed the wire in and out of the inside of the hull, but I ran it a while with the excess able just stuffed in the front hatch with no issue.

I haven't heard of Humminbird not doing the transducer swap. Give their customer service a ring, they were always helpful when I had to call.

[c-villefisherr408]

I have an elite 4 and am in the process of installing my fish finder. I got an elite 4 fish finder gps combo. U can take the regular skimmer mount transducer and turn it a certain way and cause it to shoot through the hull. Youtube search somethin like kayak transducer install or somethin and itll show exactly how to do it. Another thing is if ur fishin early morning (which a lot of us are) a gps is almost a necessity getting through unfamiliar places in fog. You can also mark spots too and come back to them. I work at bass pro and sell fish finders gps and boating accessories every day. Come on in sometime and myself or my other associates can help ya better pick if needed.

[c-villefisherr408]

Also if u didnt wanna drill if u went through lowrance they have a scupper mount transducer they sell at my work (bass pro) thatll go right down through the skuppers so u wouldnt have to drill. Only prob is u cant use a cart and have it in at the same time.

[dson05]

I have a pirhannamax 160 if you are interested in buying. I used it for one season and it worked great, but I am thinking that I am needing a GPS model so I don't get lost in the areas that I fish. Let me know if you are interested. $60 is what I am thinking, but if you want to name a price feel free to do so.

[c-villefisherr408]

Id recommend the mark 4 to him. 200 bucks w.o color but its a fish finder and gps and u can still see the screen well.either that or go up to the elite 4 for 300 like i did.just like u said that gps function is key especially in fog

[dson05]

Id recommend the mark 4 to him. 200 bucks w.o color but its a fish finder and gps and u can still see the screen well.either that or go up to the elite 4 for 300 like i did.just like u said that gps function is key especially in fog

I only offered cause of his price range is all. If you are looking to go gps go for it, but if you say you are on a budget and just want a starter fish finder (or a permanent one like mtymouse) give me a shout. I got one.

[walk the plank]

If you have the chance check out humminbirds 175i fishfinder an chart plotter for $129.00 not bad.

[Pinch]

Gps is more important with ff

[dson05]

If you have the chance check out humminbirds 175i fishfinder an chart plotter for $129.00 not bad.

The 175i is the upgraded version of the 160 or 170 right? I think I was looking at that. Do you use that? I was looking at the 58x i forget the exact model, but it was for like $300 something.

[M_Duong60]

I am looking around at the moment and was wondering what happens if I want to upgrade to a better FF or the one I buy does not work? Is there a universal mount or something?

[M_Duong60]

and whats the difference between a chart plotter and a gps.

[M_Duong60]

also once I buy one are there things that I need to do matinence on. For example clean the unit after use....

[mytmouse]

I am gonna upgrade and the bases are not the same from model line to model line, well at least for Humminbird. So the PiranhaMAX basee isn't the same as the 300, also some of the other models differ. Because of this I would reccomend using a scotty FF mount if you think you might upgrade later. They technically aren't compatible with any other line of FF outside of the PiranhaMAX, but you can easily make a base if you decide to upgrade. The beauty of this is no more holes in your yak.

Chart plotter has GPS and maps... GPS doesn't have the maps.

When you do get a FF, make sure that you keep your connectors corrosion free!! A nice spray with fresh water after trips in salt and hitting them with WD-40 goes a long way!! Other than that... not much else as far as maintaining them.

As far as the FF you go for... chart plotting is nice to have for navigation(as long as it works!) and for marking your hotspots. But if you are stuck in your budget range... a nice compass will get you back to shore!

[M_Duong60]

Hmm so many choices for devices and rigging....I might look into buying dson05's used fishfinder for $50 if you dont mind because I am going to need to buy a battery. I am going with mytmouse's idea with using a scotty mount FF for now and plugging it in to the kayaks mod pod then feeding the wire throught the hull with out drillinng. Granted it will be ugly inside the hull but I might just find a way to tape the wires on the sides. Meanwhile I will probabally use it for however long it lasts while saving for a new FF to install permanantly. But I guess If I buy it used I will use it for a long time and focus on other gadgets and when it breaks spring for a better more permanent device.