Fish finder needed???

Can the Lowrance Elite 3x operate on 10 AA batteries in series, or does it need a brick of a battery?

I haven't looked but I know the elite 4/5/7 draw ~1 amp/hour max.  My testing of the 4 or 5 only yielded 1/2 that consumption with everything turned on.  I tried to max out the consumption, myself, and it was about 450mA/hr.  You could use AA but why?  Unless they are rechargeable, it would be costly.  You can go "brick" with a charger for about $60, maybe less ..  more for sure. Lol

It is not necessary. I'd rank it as the 8th or 9th most useful/necessary tool. But if you already have a good kayak, pfd, paddle, vhf, seat, rod & reel, tackle, and a bilge pump...then it's time to consider a fishfinder.

All in that order too

^^^. Thanks for your all the information.  I find it "funny" that I would need to learn this product since it has so many features.  Knowing myself I'd spend most of the day learning it than fishing.   . I think it's great that you guys offer the support. 

Lots of good advice from the real experts here.

My (distinctly non-expert) comment is that it depends somewhat on how you fish. I like to troll, and seeing the contour allows me to fish close to the bottom without getting many snags. And, I wouldn't even consider deploying my downrigger without a FF.

^^^. Thanks for your all the information.  I find it "funny" that I would need to learn this product since it has so many features.  Knowing myself I'd spend most of the day learning it than fishing.   . I think it's great that you guys offer the support.

If you are interested in learning, I will start my 2015 seminars in the next month or so and the goal is to host in a variety of local areas (ncka area).  Confirmed a location in Sacramento, San Carlos, Santa Cruz & Sausalito so far.  Stay tuned for a seminar schedule SOON!

It can be another tool in the box of tricks AND a piece of safety equipment.  I remind my wire it is safety equipment every time I have to upgrade.

It can be another tool in the box of tricks AND a piece of safety equipment.  I remind my wire it is safety equipment every time I have to upgrade.

  You Pro-Staffers and your freudian slip's 

It can be another tool in the box of tricks AND a piece of safety equipment.  I remind my wire it is safety equipment every time I have to upgrade.

  You Pro-Staffers and your freudian slip's 

Ok ... ok.  Move along.  Nothing to see here.

   Late hours and a darn tiny keyboard on the cell phone is what that is!

I personaly like to use DPshim.

I personaly like to use DPshim.

Andy likes DP 

I turned on to the humminbird 561....simple good screen B&W...and marks fish and depth and structure clearly,,,,pretty darn good unit...no gps though for marking M.P.A's

I both fish and dive from my kayak. I find a fishfinder/gps unit indispensable. The ability to read depth and terrain for fishing/diving has kept me off some barren stretches when I am at a new spot and the gps has helped me find the fishy spots without effort when I return. I use the waymark function a lot and now I am using it for an easy return to my crab pots. It also saved me a lot of stress last May when A thick as pea soup fog bank moved in on a flat windless day. No water movement or waves crashing made it very hard to sensually find the cove I left from. Trackback brought me right home. Didnt see Stillwater cove till I was 5' from shore.

Lowrance does have some good FF's. However the 3x /4X have pretty small screens. If your eyesight is less than perfect and when looking at the GPS maps this can be an issue. There are plenty of basic FF's with larger black and white screens that make great starter FF's

I use the gps to mark my crab pots if I need to move away from them, saves a LOT of time trying to relocate it after an hour or two.