For anglers, it can be an integral part of their fishing arsenal to locate fish. For any boater, this can be crucial to prevent you from running aground. Fishfinders are used to give a graphic or video image of objects detected under your boat.ĭepth finders can be a great tool for fishermen as well and recreational boaters in helping to determine the depth of their current water situation. They determine the depth of the water under the boat. No matter what you choose, you can be sure that you will make more out of your fishing trips when you add a proper depth finder.Depth finders can often be confused with a fish finder however, the major difference between the two is that depth finders for boats do exactly what the name implies. Compare the models here as well as others that you may have in mind, and see what you like best. They might seem like a significant investment at first, but when you see all the benefits that they have to offer, you’ll quickly add one to your list when outfitting your vessel for your next fishing trip.
By taking the time to compare what’s out there to what you need, it should be easy for you to find the best fit for your vessel.ĭepth finders can change the fishing game, even for the novice angler.
LOWRANCE DEPTH GAUGE PORTABLE
Look at the binnacle and flush-mount models as well as portable styles, and consider whether one might be better suited to your needs than the other. Also look at the required tools, technology, and installation to be sure that you know what you’re getting into if you plan to mount the unit yourself. Then look at how long the warranty is in effect for, and how easy the unit is (or is not) to use. For many anglers screen size is a critical feature, especially for side-scanning units where you’re using a very small screen to represent huge swaths of water to either side of the boat. Other elements to consider include the features of each device including screen size, resolution, water resistance, and mapping abilities. Take the time to look at the price ranges and if you are on a budget, narrow immediately based on what you can afford.
LOWRANCE DEPTH GAUGE HOW TO
How to Choose A Depth FinderĪlthough any of these depth finders will get the job done and then some, you still need to think about precisely what you expect out of the investment. The Element has a potent quad-core processor so it’s significantly faster and more powerful than most basic depth finders, and is communicative via both WiFi and Bluetooth.
LOWRANCE DEPTH GAUGE FULL
Plus, along with providing full GPS and chartplotting capabilities, the Element also supports Raymarine’s RealBathy function – which means you can create your own ultra-accurate bathymetric maps as you fish or cruise. It enjoys both side- and down-scanning with 1.2 megahertz CHIRP sonar, and also provides 3D imaging of the bottom, structure, and fish. And the Element represents a bargain when it comes to how much tech it delivers for the price-point. Photo by Lenny Rudow.Īlthough the smallest Element (a seven-inch model) pushes the boundaries of the pricing range we’ve established for a “basic” depth finder, they can be found for between $700 and $900 (depending on chart and transducer packages). When testing the Raymarine Element, we found the user interface intuitive and easy to learn. In addition, the unit is compatible with AIS, AutoPilot, and Minn Kota US2 Sonar. In addition to all the features of the regular Helix you get Side Imaging to an 800 foot range at 455 kHz, and to a 250 foot range at 800 kHz.
While certainly not a prerequisite for a depth finder, having side-finding is helpful to a huge number of anglers and the cost increase isn’t extreme: the Helix 7 CHIRP SI GPS G4 (the least-expensive SI unit advertised as we published this article) lists at a $519.99 MSRP. When you see “SI” next to the Helix name, that means the unit has side-scanning capabilities. CHIRP digital sonar and Down Imaging tech deliver excellent detail levels on-screen, and you can set the depth finder to show “Wide Mode” to cover the broadest area or “Narrow Mode” to maximize detail levels. These units have built-in GPS and basic mapping capabilities, come with a built-in base-map, and can display Humminbird and Navionics digital charts. Humminbird’s Helix is their base-level model line, with five- and seven-inch units in the $300 to $700 price range (as well as larger units that cost significantly more and are outside the scope of this article). The helm of this Starcraft SLS 5 is designed to house a flush-mounted Humminbird Helix 5.
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