Ordering new FF- ? 7" OR 9"

[yumasdad]

I am ordering a new fish finder to replace the stone age unit I have been using for a number of years. Trying to decide whether to go with a 7" or a 9" GARMIN ECHOMAP with SV & CHIRP. IS IT WORTH THE EXTRA $300.00 for the 9" screen? Always been a GARMIN guy so I plan on sticking with the brand. The new ECHOMAPS are suppose to be the bomb.

My boat is a 16.5" & the FF will sit mid-ship on a RAM swivel arm so it will usable for front & back. Going from a 4" screen even the 7" will be a huge improvement. Will the 9" model be too large & get in the way?

[jimmythegreek]

you can never have too big of a screen, go with the largest you can afford, and I recommend an HD screen that is sunlight viewable. I sold an expensive humminbird and lost $ on it just to buy the newer model w the HD screen last year, dont make that mistake. As for the mapping they are all basic. In NJ you get a copy of the lake chart avail from the state, nothing more than that on any unit. some units you can buy a navionics or lakemaster chart and get 1 foot contours but still on the same state chart. On LH, GWL and Monks you get a mapped lake which is better than state chart, but thats it. The nice mapping on the garmin is saltwater charts, they have nice base charts compared to lowrance and humminbird. Go play with one in a store or look on their site for the actual maps you plan on using and see for yourself what you get

[Gerry Zagorski]

You will never regret buying the larger unit.

[yumasdad]

Thanks Jimmy for the feedback. I leaning towards the 9" screen which I can afford since I had a really good season in FANTASY FOOTBALL this year.

The new ECHOMAP units are HD & have the DAYLIGHT ANTI-GLARE screen. They also have a software program which creates a map as you fish with 1' contours, as well pre-loaded with 17,000 LAKES already which is great but when you fish a handful of lakes it is just window dressing.

The bummer is that GARMIN has not released them yet so I cannot go play with them @ a store yet. Will have to go to EXPO @ ROCKLAND & kick the tires, bring a wad of cash & beat the GARMIN guy up for a good price.

[yumasdad]

You will never regret buying the larger unit.

Yes, the eyes are not getting any better...working behind multiple screens has taken it's toll over the years. Need something large enough that I can see whether I am fishing from front or rear casting platforms without a pair of binoculars!:D

[NJSquatch]

go big or go home...i just picked up a helix 7" si gps was toying with the helix 5" but am glad i ponied up the extra cash for the bigger unit. was upgrading an old grayscale hbird 300 series unit.....can't wait to get it on the water....

check the navionics (http://www.navionics.com/en/compatibility-guide-sonarchart-garmin-plotters)site for compatibility with garmin

[jimmythegreek]

same with me, my eyes are good and Im only 40 but seeing small screens from half across the boat is tough for anybody. I run two 10" screen Humminbird units w side and down and its still not big enough for side imaging clarity. You have to be right at the screen driving w the console unit on side to really use it, and I often have to lower the range out the sides to get a better screen ratio to see schools/fish. Mapping lakes is nice but unless you are trolling and need to keep a depth to avoid bottom its not that worth it to me. Most guys arent like me and are fishing bass and similar fish, and structure is more important than depth, you can just as easily mark waypoints on things you see on 2D sonar and label them to mark areas and spots. Its actually alot of work to go make mapping charts, you end up just mapping small areas that you fish or want to go back to

[yumasdad]

same with me, my eyes are good and Im only 40 but seeing small screens from half across the boat is tough for anybody. I run two 10" screen Humminbird units w side and down and its still not big enough for side imaging clarity. You have to be right at the screen driving w the console unit on side to really use it, and I often have to lower the range out the sides to get a better screen ratio to see schools/fish. Mapping lakes is nice but unless you are trolling and need to keep a depth to avoid bottom its not that worth it to me. Most guys arent like me and are fishing bass and similar fish, and structure is more important than depth, you can just as easily mark waypoints on things you see on 2D sonar and label them to mark areas and spots. Its actually alot of work to go make mapping charts, you end up just mapping small areas that you fish or want to go back to

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I hear ya Jimmy. The GARMIN has pretty neat software installed that creates a map of the water you are fishing & will overwrite the map existing if any changes with 1' contours. This is great so you can store a map created which is not covered by the 17,000 lakes already loaded. The CHIRP should help to better tell the bait for larger fish & give a quicker, more accurate picture of bottom & structure.

The only down side I see is that the base does not swivel so I will have to pony up & buy a RAM mount so I can swivel to face front of back of boat depending if I a casting (front) or TROLLING (FACING BACK OF BOAT & DRINKING!) Also there is no port for connecting a camera which the LOWRANCE does have. I have no plans to buy an underwater camera since the CHIRP is almost as good as a live real time camera.

Now if only it had a speaker port & connected to my phone so I could listen to music thru it.....

[NJSquatch]

YUMA Be sure to checkout Johnny Ray Mounts. I have been looking for a low profile swivel mount for the helix and it should fit the bill nicely especially at less than half the cost of a ram mount.

http://www.johnnyraysports.com/

[briansnat]

Bottom line that is your decision, we don't know your financial situation. I have a chepaie Garmin with a small screen that I bought last year and it does the job quite well. My unit cost less than the difference in prices between the units you are trying to decide between.

If the $300 difference is inconsequential to you, then go bigger. If that $300 means a difference between buying that unit vs. perhaps a new rod and reel, or additional lures and other tackle, then go with the smaller unit.

[Detour66]

All depends on your budget...room available on console. I say the bigger the screen the better if you have the $$ for the upgrade. I have had good luck with Lowrance and Furuno fish finders. Also the F.F and GPS all in one is the best way to go and having a bigger screen will be a a big help with split screen operation. Good luck!