Just wondering what y'alls thoughts are about it, more specifically the HDS8. I guess compared to the Humminbird, or the Gen 1's, do you think they are are pretty good units?

And, how about the Insight maps, is there a need for Navionics if unit already has insight?

The structure scan is what I am mostly wondering about. Sorry forgot to include that.

I have the HDS8 w/ structure scan. I cant compare with others as this one is my first. I can say I love it. I fish the coast too and if the structure scan does not show fish I have found its best to just move on. Dont buy the insight. Its a waste on money. Just buy the plain unit and ad the hotmaps that best suits your fishing. Insight will not give you the detail of area lakes like hot maps. Hope this helps.

I have a HDS-10 & HDS-7, and love them. They are not the Gen-2. Before I had these Units, I bought the HB1198SI and the HB898SI. I was very disappointed in the side scan of HB. After a couple of months, I contacted HB and had one of there Techs to come out and set up my boat after several e-mails and dicussions about the units. Sold them and bought Lowrance. Bottom line is that neither of my units were as clear as my brothers HDS-5.

The Lowrance Units (IMO) have a clearer image on the Side Scan. There were things about the HB that I like better than Lowrance, more user friendly, but I was after the best Image I could get. Didn't take long to learn how to move around on the Lowrance. Lowrance is a little more money, but worth it.

Just the experiance of a guy that has owned BOTH units, and why I changed.

keith

The Gen 2 has a much faster processor and you can display the side scan differently. The new side scan is much easier to interpret in mho. You can also display your maps and memory in a much better format. Played with one today and it was pretty cool.
Got an 8 coming for my trolling motor to replace the hds 5.

Thanks for the info. I thought that map ovverlay feature may be useful on the Gen-2. I'm sure they're all good, but I'm at the point now where I want to get the most for money and a couple hundred dollars won't matter to me too much.