Garmin or Humminbird

Asking for some info or opinions on these two units Humminbird 899HD SI or Garmin Echomap 74SV Blue chart G2 HD. I currently have a Lowrance HDS5 GEN2 and am looking for something that is very easy to use and to understand. The side view and down view is what I am after.
The Lowrance I have is ok but I have had a devil of a time trying to understand all of its features. My understanding from Bass Pro and Cabelas is the Garmin is very easy to use and simple. The Humminbird is a little more complicated but is much easier to understand than the Lowrance?
I typically fish for Catfish at least 2 days a week throughout the year. I have a center console 20ft aluminum boat. Most of the lakes I go to are in south Texas and the depths range from 4 ft to 45 ft.
Am I looking at the wrong units? I would prefer the 7 inch screen as it will not clutter my console too bad. Last thing I would like to run it off my outboard cranking battery, would the group 24 heavy duty battery suffice?

If you are fishing inland waters then I believe you want the 73sv with LakeVu HD. The 74sv is the salt water version. The new Garmins I have are incredibly easy to use. "THE POWER OF SIMPLE" As far as battery drainage they will have little effect on your battery if it is a healthy battery and enough battery for your motor. You will not be disappointed with Garmin. Now for the Bird owners to chime in.

SE Kansas grass grower

Nobody has better shallow side imaging than Humminbird.

Is the Humminbird easy to operate? The side imaging is better in what way?
These units are fairly easy to install?

Yes, easy to install.
Yes, easy to operate but unless you are familiar with reading SI then I would suggest that you take the time to hire an electronics guide who will show you how to get the most out of them and cut your learning time way down. I have the 899 and really like it.

I am going to assume that the Humminbird is more popular than the Garmin. Which means more folks are more familiar with the Humminbird.

Garmin is getting into copying the recreational imaging technology that Humminbird had on the market in 2004.

They have a good product, just very few have them.

Garmin is getting into copying the recreational imaging technology that Humminbird had on the market in 2004.

LOL! Please elaborate.

SE Kansas grass grower

I think what this thread needs is for the pro staff of certain brands to post pictures from their actual graph. I've seen plenty from Wayne to know how good his is but I've yet to see any from the Garmin crowd. Yeah they can throw up some from other forums but I figure if they can give an opinion on a brand then they should at least have some proof in their own pictures.

The Garmin might be a simpler unit to operate compared to the Humminbird, but there seems to be not a lot of user info on them. I thought this would be the best place to ask as the Lowrance and Humminbird have quite a following.

This is at Lake Lewisville. It had been about 12 feet low so that's why you see all the ripples. Not a SideVu problem, just the bottom is "lumpy".



Going from the Onix to the Garmin I can tell you the SideVu is equal if not better. The main thing I consider superior on the Garmin is the range. 600 feet out to each side is just insane. Very good tool for finding structure.

Oh Diel, you little cheater coming along and saving the Garmin Prostaff guy.


Hey Blue Dot, what do you find difficult about the Lowrance system? Or do you just find the shallow SI to be subpar?

I switched from Lowrance to Garmin and never looked back.
SideVu, DownVu and Traditional are about as good as it gets but the best part is the GPS mapping. So much better!!!!

I went from a very basic Humminbird unit to the lowrance. The Lowrance is very complicated to use for a beginner. Terminology like ZIN AND ZOUT for a South Texas Redneck was just the beginning . After all my first unit was a Ray Jeff 6010!

Not to beat up on one brand or the other but I think the Lowrance is a fine unit, just needs to be user friendly. Does Lowrance have something to do with the military?

I will go Saturday and look at the Garmin 73sv and the Humminbird 899

Yeah, something like that.

They do have many options on their graphs, I can see where someone would be intimidated to use it if they didn't take the time to learn it.

You are right Grout-Scout about taking the time to learn it. I have had this one for almost a year and have some difficulties with it still. The unit is fine as I have stated before, when I am fishing the desire to stand in front of a depth finder pushing buttons is not there. I would much rather be baiting hooks and complaining about the weather not my depth finder.

I probably should go to a pro and pay the money to learn it. I just don't think it needs to be that complicated for me.

I bought the Garmin 93sv and have installed it on a Johnny Ray mount. After talking with the folks at Bass Pro and comparing the Humminbird 899 and the Garmin 73sv, I decided on a Garmin. The 93sv was 1200.00 minus a 100.00 rebate and that is what I got. The 93 is the same size as the mount itself as the monitor overhangs above the tension knobs and left plenty of room on my center console. Garmin uses the same mount for the 73 and the 93.

The turn off on the Humminbird is the lake maps cost extra and they recommended a secondary transducer with a y connector.

I don't like the size of the transducer on the Garmin but will see if it gets bumped around.

Set up was easy and very simple to use so far. I did get a micro sd card and went on Garmin's web site and downloaded the recent update and installed it as well.

Thanks to everyone on the forum for the input.

Saw a post today that a guy lost his bow 93 in rough water. Don't how the mount is made, but evidently not very well for that application.

The mount on the one Garmin I have is the same as the lowrance unit I own. Two tension knobs that tighten on each side of the bracket.

Must have been some rough water. I would have thought the cables could keep it attached to the boat even if the bracket broke. At least long enough to grab it.