Fish finder and transducer for Hobie compass

Hey all,

I’m ready to buy a fish finder for my Hobie Compass. Looking for recommendations on which cheaper models will work for finding structure and what kind of transducer fits my transducer housing. Thanks for the help!

If you don't care about maps, there are a lot of options out there.  The Hook2 or Hook Reveal 5 I looked at a lot, just found a great deal on the Hook2: https://www.amazon.com/HOOK2-4X-4-inch-Skimmer-Transducer/dp/B077PDL6GR/ref=sr_1_2?crid=24QHS7C2A2UKY&keywords=lowrance%2Bhook%2B2&qid=1681047945&refinements=p_36%3A1253505011&rnid=386442011&s=electronics&sprefix=%2Caps%2C126&sr=1-2&th=1

Most of the transducers except the active live target ones or other manufacturers with downscan or sidescan imaging.  You should have some plastic pieces to mount in the plate the transducer.

Lots of people buy the Garmin strikers for a smaller one With good mapping.  GPS units without maps are cheap too.  Want maps?  $$$

Lots of people buy the Garmin strikers for a smaller one With good mapping.  GPS units without maps are cheap too.  Want maps?  $$$

I have the Striker 4, GPS, no map version, and it is great for a little over $100. 

For me, 4" screen was too small.
I have been using Lowrance Ti5 (5" screen) for the last 5 years and have been very happy.
You might want to stop by a retailer like Bass Pro or West Marine to check out some models and sizes.
I typically use a split screen to display the map and sonar together.

Paul

I have a Lowrance Hook Reveal 5” which has the maps. I pair it with a Nocqua 10ah battery that goes about 3 day trips between charges. The contours on the maps on the FF are not as good as Navionics on my phone, so for rockfish especially, I am looking at the phone a lot. I need to see if I can somehow get those Navionics bottom textures installed on the FF. Search other places besides Amazon for deals. Tip: push the connectors hard into the unit or it might not see the transducer.

. Tip: push the connectors hard into the unit or it might not see the transducer.

 

Done that a few times with fishfinders. Turning on fishfinder and walking away while gearing up. Went into demo mode while i was occupied. My experience was that it looked as if i was marking all kinds of fish. I was like, why am i not getting a bite.? 

I have a Lowrance Hook Reveal 5” which has the maps. I pair it with a Nocqua 10ah battery that goes about 3 day trips between charges. The contours on the maps on the FF are not as good as Navionics on my phone, so for rockfish especially, I am looking at the phone a lot. I need to see if I can somehow get those Navionics bottom textures installed on the FF. Search other places besides Amazon for deals. Tip: push the connectors hard into the unit or it might not see the transducer.

The relief shading is only available with the Navionics Platinum Plus card. It does not look like it is compatible with Hook Reveal, and it about $250.00. I used the phone app on Saturday,and it was dead in 2 1/2 hours. Here is the compatibility chart:

https://www.navionics.com/media/wysiwyg/docs/Compatibility_Guides/GPS_Plotter_Cards_Compatibility_Guide.pdf   

For garmin, that will fit a GT20 on my Gar-Mount. Any striker or echomap will do. I like the 4" units personally.

Thanks for the help, everyone. I opted for the Lowrance Hook 2 4x. I know it's not top of the line, but I'm trying it out to see if it'l do what I need for now. I have this habit of spending the most money possible on stuff before I know what I'm doing, so this is a new move for me. 

I just opened the box and discovered it came with a bullet transducer. All I need now is some info on wiring it up. Thankfully there is already a housing for the transducer and a hole for the wiring to come up through the hull behind the seat.

Are most of you right handers putting your fish finder on the right side?

Any practical tips and shit talking is welcome. 

Are most of you right handers putting your fish finder on the right side?

I do, but you want to place it on the opposite side of your preferred fishing side.
I keep the left side clear to make getting in and out of the kayak easier.

You got one without GPS; if you plan to go out in the open ocean, I would strongly recommend one with the GPS option.  It is nice to able to find your way back when the fog rolls in.  Other benefits are able to mark/save your fishing spots and distances.

Paul

Did you get a battery for it yet?  Wiring it up should be a breeze, I'm just not sure how to do the thru-hull mount wiring works.  Figure out where the battery will go and how to get wires there. I'm a big fan of using a simple waterproof container to house my battery in.  Also, buy some dialectic grease at the hardware store.  It's cheap, slather it on your connector to the fish finder and then plug in the connector. Without GPS is fine, and 2D simple sonar is pretty easy to use.   Just depth is a huge amount of information while fishing, sometimes you see fish too.

Are most of you right handers putting your fish finder on the right side?

I'm right handed, but fish with lefty reels. Consequently, I keep fish finder and a rod holder on the left side, keeping the right side clear for getting in/out and landing fish.

a Lowrance tranducer almost falls into that transducer plate.  i fitted a garmin with some SS hardware and a few zipties.  it worked.

but when i went to a Lowrance it was almost too easy. 

Hobbie has an official video showing Fish Finder wiring for Compass with a grommet kit (search Youtube). You should also consider where you want to store the battery (in hull or on deck) which will affect the wiring method.

Hobbie has an official video showing Fish Finder wiring for Compass with a grommet kit (search Youtube). You should also consider where you want to store the battery (in hull or on deck) which will affect the wiring method.

Thank you! I found this and it was helpful.