What is the cheapest Fish Finder Lowrance or Humminbird that you can get side imaging or structure scan on? I prefer Humminbird but I am asking the experts here....

The structure scan is an entire different assembly if you already own a Lowrance HDS unit. It runs about $600 for just SS and around $550 for the unit. However, if you buy one of the new Gen2 HDS units and structure scan, Lowrance has a $300 rebate for it. Right now is the time to buy on units as fishing sale ads have taken off.

I don't know too much about Humminbird, so maybe someone here could tell you more. But if you want something quality I would go with a Gen2 HDS-5 and the structure scan kit (which you can also buy as a combo in one box).

http://www.cabelas.com/sonar-and-sonar-g...63-001b2166c2c0
There's a link to the combo. Reg $1,249 and get the $300 rebate.

You might want to reconsider going cheap on something like this. You are going to spend about a good chunk of money regardless and you might as well get something that is actually going to help you. I bought the 798ci HD, which is not the cheapest, and I am a little disappointed. The problem is that the cheaper ones just dont have a big enough picture size and it is hard to see what it is showing. The bigger SIs are just way easier to read for obvious reasons. If I had it to do over I would have spent an extra $500 and got something bigger. Think about it before you purchase cause you will be disappointed!

you can't see much on a small screen SI unit. I played with a 598 when we put it on my boat to test if the owners transducer was bad. Better off saving for a while and getting a bigger unit. 898 is the smallest I would go.

As others have said, Lowrance has rebates going right now. If you can find a Gen 1 unit cheap and get a rebate on the LSS-1 unit, that's probably your cheapest option with Lowrance.

Without the rebates, the HB 798 is probably slightly cheaper. It runs about $1000 and the Lowrance runs about $600 for the LSS-1 and about $550 for the HDS-5. However, I waited for a sale and rebates and got the LSS-1 for $480 and the HDS-5 for $440, so you can get either cheaper if you have some patience and wait for a sale (TW black friday sale is great but you probably don't want to wait that long).

As for the 5" screen units vs. the bigger units, yes the bigger is better but the 5" is just fine if you just want to get into the side imaging market and, like me, you'll never get authorization from the boss at home to spend $2k on a fishfinder. If you go the Lowrance route and go ahead and get the LSS-1, the upgrade to a larger unit later is cheaper.

Both make a good unit and if you prefer HB over Lowrance, then try to grab a non-HD 798 if you want to save some money or just find the best deal you can on one of the new 798 units.

I and two friends have bought HB 798s for less than $800. That includes everything you need! You don't have to buy the graph and the program separately. I can see what I need to with mine, yes a bigger screen would be better, but I as most, have to stay within a certain budget. If you have your split screen si up, with nothing else, and the range set for 60' or 80', you can easily make out structure and fish. Once you put your di or 2d sonar on the screen with the si, it does get a bit harder to read.

I've got a 798ciSI combo and it works great. Wish I had a larger screen (898) but for my budget I was tickled to get it. It shows up real well until the split screen like bassinbiker said. When I'm blessed with my son off the payroll after he gets out of A&M then I'll upgrade but for now it is killer for me.

If you just want to get an entry level unit then as said above the 798 combo is the way to go and you can get one new on ebay for about $750. But, also as stated above if you are a devout fisherman just save up and get the larger screen. In the ling run you'll be glad you did.

Save money and buy quality. It is a game changer.

Worm

I think it also depends on what kind of fishing you do... Are you just a weekend fisherman? Do you fish 3 days a week? Do you fish tourneys on the weekends and 'prefish' every other day of the week? My dads birthday was in February, and i got him a 798cisi combo. Cabelas sold us non hd one when the salesmen assured me i was getting the hd side imaging, switchfire, down imaging. needless to say i didnt get what i wanted. I ended up getting the right unit for the price of the wrong. (700$) he loves his unit! We fish maybe 5-10 hours on the lake a week. usually on sunday's. I think if you fish a bunch then you would prolly like the bigger unit. But for just everyonce and a while fishing for fun and on a budget then get the 798. Kinda of dumb to have to get all the different add ons with lowrance. thats why we dont own them....

.

You are on the right track. Side Scan/Down Scan is a potent technology
that can revolutionize your fishing. It's worth the stack of chips it will
cost to get it. But make a wise move and get a bigger screen

Get a Gen2 HDS-8 or 10 with the Structure Scan module and transducer.

As far as the "boss" goes, it's much better to ask for forgiveness than
to ask permission. You can't pull that trick often, but this is one of
those times to do it.

As one said, you will NEVER get a green light for something viewed as
frivolous up against something "practical" like a diamond bracelet, designer
purses, etc.

Good luck.

dxr

.

All the extra add-ons? It's one unit. Also, it has three distinct advantages: the ability to have a transducer on the transom for good DI/SI readings and have one shooting thru the hull for 2D sonar on-plane readings, and also it makes adding a 2nd or 3rd unit much cheaper, and it makes the up front cost easier to handle if you want to buy the HDS first and then add the LSS later. Like I said, both make good units, but I really like the way Lowrance has it set up.

Patriot07- yeah i understand its one unit. its one unit that is 600$, then its the transducer, then its something else, oh you dont have that wire you gotta buy it also, thats 100 more dollars. i looked into getting my dad the lowrance, the boat guys at cabelas said youll need all these things, like 1500 for lowrance 5 inch screen unit. thats the total out the door. Our boat has a through-hull. we got the 5 inch HB for about 8004 out the door. had to buy a 24.99 splitter cable. the side imaging unit and the through hull unit are running off a 25$ cable. that same cable is like 100 from lowrance. we also have the oppurtuunity to take the 798 off the dash and put it up front on the bow at the click of a button and a few steps to the front. much easier then lowrance.

Oh god. Ill learn not to open some of these pages

You really need to shop around. The first site I checked had the HDS 5 Bundle (everything included) for $1,117.43. For a HDS 7 Bundle it was $1375.51 both of those have no sales tax and free shipping. Don't buy from Cabelas or Bass Pro!!!

Oh forgot, those were the "insight" versions. Base models are $100 bucks cheaper.