Whats better of a yak? Garmin or Hummingbird FF?

The Humminbird® PiranhaMax™ 180 Tri Beam Sonar Fishfinder is $99 at bass pro right now while the Garmin® echo™ 150 Fishfinder is the same price. Been thinking of getting a FF for a while I want somthing small and easy to use. I fish and dive of my yak any body out the with FF chime in on your opinion I am a complete new to FFers Im always moocing reefs of others 

Wes

http://www.basspro.com/Garmin-echo-150-Fishfinder/product/10210656/?cmCat=CROSSSELL_PRODUCT

http://www.basspro.com/Humminbird-PiranhaMax-180-Tri-Beam-Sonar-Fishfinder/product/1210050305/?cm_sp=WebSpecDec2012_HM

Either would be a decent basic FF.   I would suggest buying a used one that has GPS though. I've found it very helpful and they can be had within the range you are looking if you keep your eyes open.

I looked at the the garmin echo 150 and the Piranha 170 at west marine. Not sure of the difference between 180 and 170.
But the humminbird seemed really simple to use. Also i like how it shows a picture of the fish 
The echo Shows ridge lines for the fish.  Your best bet is find a store that has them and check them out. I think it comes down to personal preference.

I have the HB 385ci, and it is awesome. I mark my spots and go back and hit them time and time again. The GPS is helpful in retrieving crab pots as well.

I guess it all depends on the budget. I love my HB, but I recently saw a Lowrance that made me cry it was so beautiful.

Either would be a decent basic FF.   I would suggest buying a used one that has GPS though. I've found it very helpful and they can be had within the range you are looking if you keep your eyes open.

Thanks man every time I see one up here its snatched up before I can get it  I due have the GPS you picked up for me a while back has it worked out for you?

Wes

Wes - Get a combo unit like the Lowrance Mark-4 Chartplotter/Fishfinder.  You won't regret it and will make things a lot easier for you.

I got a FF/GPS combo and never looked back.  Having the handheld would be one more thing I'd have to remember to bring.  I have an Eagle Cuda 250 w/ GPS that I am selling for $40.  It is just the head unit, but I think I may be able to track down a spare transducer you can have.  Sonny (sailfish) sorta has dibs on it ( I was offing 3 old head units I have.  He wanted all but the 250, then decided to take them all).  You can PM him, he probably wouldn't mind relinquishing it. The only issue I had with it was the way point button doesn't work.

The chart plotter has saved my ass in dense fog conditions numerous times.

I've got the Lowrance DSI combo unit, and think its great.  However, the price might be a stretch for a starving student 

+1 FishingAddict. If I didn't have gps we would have been toast, seriously.

Lowrance mark4 is an awesome unit. $177.00 bucks here...

http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Lowrance-Mark-4-Chartplotter-Fishfinder-W-83-200kh-p/low000-10483-001.htm?click=19

print this out and bring to West Marine they will price match. Best deal you can get!

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=998836&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50157&subdeptNum=50164&classNum=50165#.ULRGxoVreHk

Just call ahead and make sure they have one in stock. You will not regret the purchase. Mike

Hell of a deal Mike! 

Wes, if you have extra bucks to spend, can't go wrong with that unit

Man so many choices! That is a great price on the Lorance 4! To bad its about as much as I make in two weeks of work  . Well see if i can get one some crab boats while Im up here dungie season starts on the 15th so might be able to drop the pots for some of the boats.

Wes

Wes,

Definitely try to get one with built in GPS. Nice to be able to mark your crab pots and structures. Check out the Humminbird PiranhaMax 176i with built in GPS for $130 MSRP.

Tim

While a chartplotter/sounder unit is ideal; if you don't have the bucks to get one of those types of units, you can always achieve the same results with a separate ff and Handheld GPS.  Most unit will have an extra NEMA data cable which you can connect between the 2 devices.

Also, you can easily remove the HH GPS to up/down load data; and use it for other application (ie hiking, biking, charting you flight home from hawaii ).

I did this on my Malibu..

in a trident the fishfinder is far away so for old guys with failing vision, it was too far.  I ended up getting a handheld gps so I could see it and mark spots easier.  You're young so probably not a problem.  Punk