What would you buy?

[I Walleye]

Here is my dilema. I've got $1500-$2000 to put two sonar/GPS units in my boat. One at the helm and the other on the bow (Minnkota US2). I had two Lowrance 510 units and two Globalmaps but recently sold all of it to upgrade. At first I was having problems with the 510 losing the bottom reading so I told myself I was done with Lowrance, then I start reading about the HDS, so maybe I can come back to them. Now I see that Cabelas has the X27c for $800 so I can get two of those, but am worried about the shallow bottom problems.

What units would you buy? Humminbirds 917s or Lowrance X27c, HDS or a combination?

[SAMSAMASAM]

I am looking at the same issues. I am considering a Lowrance HDS-5X, Vexilar Edge3 and Vex Flasher. I could get all 3 units for less than $2000 and would think I would have all frequencies and scenarios covered. I already have a separate 5 inch gps unit. The vex is a littel overpriced for 4 year old technology, but it does offer a unique option.

Regarding the 27 ... as others have noted, if you are going to run a Sonar/GPS combo on 6, 7 or even an 8 inch screen, then it is not going to look bigger than having two separate 5 inch units.

I think having a vex, flasher and lowrance broadband at the same time would be great. All 3 units should do a much better job in shallow water then most existing units. However, I can't seem to decde which unit to run upfront. I will mount the flasher so I can use it at the console or bow --- same as my GPS.

[ffishman]

I guess I hit it lucky, but I have a 38 on the console, and a 332 on the bow. No problems with either, shallow or deep. very happy with both.

[Xswab]

I Walleye.........
Have run a 797 SI humminbird since 7/07 on the console and an older b/w X91 lowrance on the bow. My findings for my age/vision (mid 50s), particular style of fishing is that the SI and the 2D on the bird is pretty darned good for spot on type stuff. The GPS is likewise very good..... but, the screen could be bigger. I have played with the features on the SI enough that I am now comfortable switching thru the panels/screens/pages to find what I want in short order. But again, the screen is not large enuf to split and see comfortably.
I fish from the console mostly, with a fair amount of time aft. I have really come to like using the bow FF for tracking depth on contours and comparing its info to the bird's. So I am thinking of putting a 917 up front and Y connecting the Gps puck to both, but also have to get interlink @$100. Figure by going this route I can see the GPS on the 917 much easier from where I spend most of my time; still utilize the FF functions if I want go up front; or reverse the whole setup by putting the 797 up front with the 917 on the dash. I am sold on the SI, I mostly use it to identify specific structure, or curiosity cruising from one fishing spot to another......but the point is that its another tool, and a good one.
So from your budget.......those two units would fall right in there. Whatever your choice, enjoy what you end up with.
Another option would be that 967 with the 3D.....hmmmm !!

[whofan]

I would go with Vexilar. I had the x510c and it was junk. Same issues with loosing bottom. I went back to the old school monochrome vexilar and couldn`t be happier. Great unit.
I still have the globalmap 5200 that I purchased with the 510c. The 5200 has been good so far. My old Lowrance x75 was 10 times the graph the 510c is.
http://www.iboats.com/Vexilar_Edge2_Sonar_with_Transom_Transducer/dm/cart_id.174908704--session_id.192526847--view_id.170150

[Guest]

I have bought the Vexilar Edge 3 and Global Map 5200C last year and could not be happier with the Edge 3 !

[I_Just_Fish]

For what its worth, here is my 2 cents. I have 2 27c on my boat. I had a problem losing the bottom too. I went to a friend that works on and sells lowrance. he gave me a different transducer for the bow. I would lose the bottom at cruising speed so he told me to tilt my rear (skimmer) transducer a little down. I do not lose the bottom anymore at any speed. I have my front unit set on 50mhz and the rear on 200mhz. Like I say I don't lose the bottom anymore. If you take your transducer off and get yourself a 2" x 24" long piece of pvc pipe you can check to see if your transducer is reading right by placing the pipe on a concrete floor and putting the transducer in the pipe. It should read at least 90. It sounds pretty simple and it is. It's not always the unit that is the problem.

[brigeton]

I have the 510c & have no problems. If in auto it will loose bottom in 3-4' but you just have to manually turn down the sensitivity a little & it comes back. The only time I'm that shallow is coming into a dock anyway.

[duckbutter]

I was just browsing Cabela's website. They have the Lowrance LCX-26C units on sale at 799 from 1399. These won't last long and you probably won't find a better combination unit for the money.

[I Walleye]

That 26 is a pretty good buy, but it's already two generations old. It used the older 2000 antenna instead of last years 3000. I went to Lowrances website to check them out and they already have them in the "legacy" (obsolete) class. I wonder where Cabelas found that many to sell?

[VaGuy]

But there is nothing obsolete about it. It ships with the lgc2000, but
it can use the lgc3000 or even the new lgc4000. Nmea 2000 networking
and can use Navionics "Gold" chart cards.

I payed $980 in Oct 2006 for the head unit only (also from Cabela's).
Best ff/chartplotter I have ever used, and I have used most everything
out there.

[I Walleye]

I'm not saying it's a bad unit, just that Lowrance does not list it as an "active" locator anymore

[blueicecpa]

Just Got Back from Doc Samson's Lowrance School and Humminbird Site.

HB sent out a 50 Channel (AS-GRHA Humminbird Antenna) new 1 meter , so that's better then the LCG 3000.

Lowrance will send out the LCG 4000 that better than the LCG2000/3000. 16 Channel 5 times per second. ~ mid February 2009.

Technology finally gets the GPS were we thought it should be in 2009.

I will have my HB's AS-GRHA this week to try for ice Fishing.:bowdown:

[whofan]

I wonder how long Lowrance will continue support for the LCX 26c ?

Lowrance does not expect their customers to keep their products long.

[VaGuy]

Seems to be five years, but I don't know that for sure.

[dw 185]

There are some great prices on lowerance @ Scheels in Minot, ND

[I Walleye]

There are some great prices on lowerance @ Scheels in Minot, ND

Like what? I already picked up a Lowrance LCX27 for $699, are their prices better? I want to pick up a X37 but am not willing to plunk down the $1300 yet.