Lowrance Elite Series vs. Raymarine Dragonfly

Opinions? 

I'm considering either a Lowrance Elite 5/7 or a Raymarine Dragonfly.

What do you guys think?  Pricewise they seem pretty similar.

Questions:
1. What advantage is there to the Baby CHIRP over HDI transducers?
2. Which one is more bombproof for the salt?
3. Which one has a better form factor to fit onto a kayak, especially on a track system?

No humminbird interjection.  I've had enough of Johnson outdoors.

Lowrance. =)

No other will stand behind their products for 5 full years like Lowrance.

The Elite 5/7 HDI allow you to run Broadband for a tradional look/operation & DSI for those times you want definition of structure.

Bill

Im digging the dragon fly, grad sonar and chirp, sweet mapping...the transducer is a frickin BEAST, that's its downside. Right now I have it tossed on an arm over the side, but working on a hull puck to make it scupper ready. Ditch the stupid mount and just cut a poly plate to ram mount and you're good for tracks.

Damn...that's a lot of work. Go lowrance.

Luckily the dragonfly ducer will fit in the lowrance ready scupper on my new revo 13 so that's not a problem for me.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

What features are you looking for in a unit?  Structure Scan?  If so, how deep? 

Bill

Structure scan/imaging that can work in both salt and fresh, down to 100'+ if possible. Should be no shoot through problems since it will be a lowrance ready system.

My #1 fishing is trout and kokanee trolling, but since I fish for so many different species I want a strong all-around unit.

I am tempted to pull my HDS 7 head unit off the boat to save some cash for the time being, but then I wouldn't have structure scan.

Is your HDS a Gen2?

Bill

Structure scan/imaging that can work in both salt and fresh, down to 100'+ if possible. Should be no shoot through problems since it will be a lowrance ready system.

My #1 fishing is trout and kokanee trolling, but since I fish for so many different species I want a strong all-around unit.

I am tempted to pull my HDS 7 head unit off the boat to save some cash for the time being, but then I wouldn't have structure scan.

Go ahead.  I pulled my HDS 5 out of my boat.

Is your HDS a Gen2?

Bill

Mine's not why?

Gen2 units can add the SonarHub & gain Chirp & Structure Scan technology & "foreword looking" for bass boat (trolling motor applications).

Bill

I have hit 110' with my elite 7 hdi in dsi mode (structure).  That was about the max I got in salt shooting thru hull.  Its dsi premo spot was about 60' & less.  Broadband (traditional) was no problem.  Most fishing around here as I have experienced it does not need structure scan in 100'+.  I attribute that to more my gulf & east coast fishing experiences looking for wrecks, reefs, etc.  Just my experience.  The elite 7 has performed for everything I have asked of it so far.

Bill

Luckily the dragonfly ducer will fit in the lowrance ready scupper on my new revo 13 so that's not a problem for me.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Really?  that massive thing fits in the lowrance scupper slot?  Awesome...now they just gotta do that on the AI and I"ll buy a new one!

No other will stand behind their products for 5 full years like Lowrance.

What exactly is the 5 years?  It looks like a 2 year warranty, with options to upgrade for up to 5 years.

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Support/Advantage-Service/

-Allen

Luckily the dragonfly ducer will fit in the lowrance ready scupper on my new revo 13 so that's not a problem for me.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Really?  that massive thing fits in the lowrance scupper slot?  Awesome...now they just gotta do that on the AI and I"ll buy a new one!

Well according to some off hand reports I read on the hobie site and BWE it does.  Have to take one piece off the ducer to make it fit but it does work supposedly. 

Raymarine announced the Dragonfly 7 a few days ago.  Waiting more details. Might need to think things through

I believe there are still some Elite 7 HDI "refirb" units out there about $200 less than the Raymarine based on a post I saw from Pat (Sin)