Among my friends an me, Garmin has better customer service than Lowrance. I have no experience with Hummingbird but have heard their sounders are good but the Garmin GPS is better. I love my i-pilot, I can control it from the poling platform while my guests are on the bow. If you need to stop for a moment like to release a fish the unit will “anchor” you at that spot, really handy. I have used it to record a trip up a creek or along a shoreline and then let us retrace it back down.
18.5 Baycraft Flats Edition
Johnson 150 Oceanrunner
Wood Driftboat
if you plan on fishing any nearshore reefs and live bottom, a seperate fish finder and gps will serve you the best.
having 2 units allows you to zoom in on the bottom features with a full screen and at the same time watch your track on the gps at max zoom.
that makes proper boat positioning much easier.
many spots i bottom fish are not much larger than my boat- yet will yeild limits of big blackfish for everyone on board without moving the boat.
2 units also allows you to have the best of each.
a Garmin gps can’t be beat but their fish finders are sub par
a Lowrance fish finder is as good as you can get for a small boat.
GET COLOR- it’s more expensive but absolutly worth it.
The iPilot has an ‘Anchor’ function that will allow the trolling motor to hold you in one spot as if you are actually anchored. I just have a stick steer Riptide (70 lb. thrust) and really like it. When I upgrade, it will be to an iPilot.
PioneerLouie
Pioneer Venture 175, Johnson 90
Summerville, SC