Depth Finders: Lowrance or Hummingbird

[cliftp]

I'm kind of new to this sonar/gps thing but will share my experience. I purchased my first new unit, a Lowrance 334c. It was pretty nice when it worked, and would still have it I'm sure if it would have. Some of you will remember Linda Colt, from Lowrance customer service. She was soooo helpful and actually completely replaced both my unit and transducer. Still didn't work. In the meantime I upgraded boats and was so tired of doing fishing trips with a unit that only worked part time. Found it especially annoying during our fall trips to Huron, OH, getting there and seeing the flashing depth at 2.4 feet and the constant, lost signal, found signal on the GPS.

I'm not a really quick study sometimes so went to my favorite local sporting goods store and was planning on getting the HDS-8. The owner of the store came to assist but said from his perspective as a store owner, deeply involved with customer service, he was pretty fed up with the Lowrance quality and customer support, especially when a few months out of warranty.

He encouraged me to look at the Humminbirds, and now have an 898 on the console and a 788 on the trolling motor, with the ability to mount it on the console for mapping when on big water. They have been pretty much flawless. Almost two years on the 898 and 6 months on the 788. So far so good. Gave me 334 to a friend with the stipulation he could not hate me. Fished with him Friday. Still does not work correctly.

I have several friends with Lowrance units and they have been great. I was lucky I guess.

I don't plan on going back to Lowrance anytime soon. Plus the Humminbirds are made in the USA.

Good luck with your choice.

Paul C.