Help/recommendations - ipilot/depth finder

[Vlasin]

Long story short and without getting into many details - An opportunity arose and my parents took care of some of my student loan dept in order to purchase a lake cabin in 2014. Because, of this I would like to show some appreciation and upgrade the electronics in the boat (as a surprise) – specifically a new depth finder as well as an i-Pilot for the Minnkota.

I fish A LOT but have never done much research on depth finders so my overall knowledge is low…..I’d like to try and keep the total budget around $1,200 or so (give or take a couple hundred)….i-Pilot looks to be relatively standard at $4-500 for the set up. Leaves me ~$800 or so for depth finder – Looking for suggestions on units and questions to ask when determining the right unit for us…

Currently, we fish out of a 18ft Lund Fisherman, running a 10+year old black-n-white lowrance ~5inch screen (do not know model). Pretty old technology if you ask me!

Any help or insights would be great.

Vlasin

[walleyeking19]

For the graph, do you want side imaging? Down imaging? Or just plain sonar? You can get a real nice humminbird with down imaging for about $700. Side imaging will push you to about $900 i believe

[delcecchi]

I am looking at depth finders also and so far am considering the Lowrance Elite 7 HDI. I need to get back to looking since any new models have been announced by now.

[MikeG3Boat]

Vlasin, Make sure the minnkota they have is compatible with the ipilot. It has to be a terrova or power drive V2.

[Brad B]

Vlasin,

with your budget you have a good number unit finders you could get.

if you go with just the plain I Pilot I would pair that with one of the new Humminbird 698SI(this is a 5 inch screen). this set up would run you about $1150 or you could get a Humminbird 899 (7 inch screen) and the I Pilot for around $1450.00 but if you wanted just a basic finder with a larger screen I would look at the 859. you could pair that with the I Pilot for $1100 (non DI model 859) or $1150 for the DI model.

now if you want to go I Pilot Link ($800) I would pair that with the 859 (this is the cheapest unit that will now work with Link unless you can find a close out on a Carry over 700 series or higher from last year that is now discontinuned) you would be looking at $1500 for the DI model and Link or $1450 for the non DI model and Link.

[Vlasin]

Thanks for the help!

I have a little time to get my 'ducks-in-a-row' the goal will be to make the purchase at the Sportsman show.