Garmin 93sv or Lowrance Elite 9 TI

[198vx]

Hey Guys - I currently have a Lowrance Elite 7 HDI on my console and Elite 5 HDI on my trolling motor. The HDI is not in use on the trolling motor as I use the transducer within the I-Pilot which is sonar only.

I am going to upgrade to either the Garmin or Lowrance in the subject line for my console and either move the Elite 7 to the trolling motor or just keep the 5 there. I would like your thoughts on the Garmin and Lowrance choice. Also thoughts on if it is worth it to buy a transducer to put on the trolling motor so it would be HDI capable. I mainly use the unit on the trolling motor to stay over bait after locating it with console unit.

Both the Garmin and Lowrance have side view and their version of structure scan.

I would like to hear your thoughts on any of this. My use of electronics is pretty simple so please don't make my head hurt with a lot of technical stuff unless you explain it to me.

Thanks.

[mwardncsu]

Both are good units. Not sure if you can network the Elite 7 with the new unit or not. If so that's an advantage to all Lowrance

[coheasion]

Another unit to take a look at is the Simrad Go 9. After looking for a while for a new 9" device for my new boat that is what I ended up with. Simrad is made by the same parent company as the Lowrance units. The Go 9 is touch only and very intuitive. Plus it has built in WiFi connectivity so it will act as a router type device and share its information with your phone or a tablet with no other hardware needed.

I had the Garmin 93sv on my old boat and while I liked the units features I had a LOT of problems with trolling motor interference. My simrad is not having those issues.

I'll post a quick screen shot from the Simrad in a 2nd post.

[coheasion]

Here is the screen shot i mentioned. I took this on my first day using the unit.

[bushwacker]

I have the elite 7ti. It is in my console and is my only unit. I like it so far. I don't believe it is net-workable but I only wanted one unit on the boat for now. You can use wifi and view it on your phone or tablet.

[mwardncsu]

Cohesion - note that thw Garmin was on you old boat and the Simrad on your new - very different boats and probably installs - battery locations, cable runs, etc. (and different trolling motor?)

I think in general trolling motor interference is not from the unit but the install and lots of various gremlins - and can be tough to chase down the specific cause - various solutions you have to work through to determine what actually is introducing the specific interference

[coheasion]

Good points mward....but we also have another member on here having the same interference issues with his Garmin 73sv so they may be more susceptible to the interference. Very slim evidence I grant you and the number of variables in these boats is huge, but the issue made me want to look elsewhere for my next purchase.

[tblspoon]

I have noticed interference on my unit when other boats go by or I'm fishing next to docks that have electricity running. Not real bad, but very noticeable.
Lowrance

[Shadslinger]

I got my interference issue fixed on my Garmin echomap. I have 4 batteries in my boat. 2 batteries for trolling motor and 1 to run all my electronics, pumps, and bait tank. Those 3 are charged via a Minn Kota 3 bank charger. My 4th battery is my cranking battery charged by my engine. Anyway my trolling motor interference was traveling through the bank charger cables to my Garmin since all 3 batteries were hooked to charger. I switched my Garmin power cables to the cranking battery completely separating it from all other sources of electronics and whala. ...no more interference.

Only had the Garmin a little over a month and so far I'm extremely impressed.

[198vx]

Thanks for all the input. I pulled the trigger on the Lowrance Elite 9ti and am moving the Elite 7 to the front and adding the HDI transducer to the trolling motor. Thanks to Scott at SML Boat and Tackle. He is going to install later this month for me, just in time for spring fishing. I will have an Elite 5 HDI later this month for sale without a transducer. Probably for real cheap.