Lowrance HDS-7 Fishfinder/GPS Chartplott

doc · 10-23-09, 02:03 PM

Me and Lowrider have been eying this unit for a couple months now, does anyone have one, have any experience with one, or can offer any insight on the unit. It's a bit pricey so I thought I'd ask the crew

before we decided this will be this years upgrade.

MIbasser · 10-23-09, 02:09 PM

I've posted before that my partner has 2 of 10's and they are great (to a point...). The only downfall I've heard about the 7's is they fill with water. This happened to my partner with one of his 10's. I think somebody on BBC said that he's gone through 2 or 3 of them with the same problem.
I'm about 95% sure that I'll end up with an HDS-5 for the front of my boat next spring. The other 5% is thinking about a HB SI.

doc · 10-23-09, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIbasser

I've posted before that my partner has 2 of 10's and they are great (to a point...). The only downfall I've heard about the 7's is they fill with water. This happened to my partner with one of his 10's. I think somebody on BBC said that he's gone through 2 or 3 of them with the same problem.
I'm about 95% sure that I'll end up with an HDS-5 for the front of my boat next spring. The other 5% is thinking about a HB SI.

Lowrance has a structure scan (their version of SI) coming out sometime soon, it is an add on for any hds unit they have (price tag around $650).
But with lowrances you can view side imaging, down imaging, and traditional sonar all on screen at the same time. It looks really good http://www.lowrance.com/StructureScan/ there is the link. This is the reason were looking at the lowrance over the hummingbird SI.

Back to the HDS 7 I wonder if there is a cover or something to put over it to waterproof it?

MIbasser · 10-23-09, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc

Back to the HDS 7 I wonder if there is a cover or something to put over it to waterproof it?

I think it has to do with the mfg date. The units that were built late '08 and early '09 had issues and I would assume by now they are sealed properly (but check date).

Bender · 10-23-09, 11:48 PM

doc, Humminbird has their Down Scan version coming out in January that is a free upgrade to the 798, 997, and 1197 units that already have SI: https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:Campai...1abfda99ee6a80
I can't wait!
I do have 2 Lowrance units and one HB on the boat now and think that the Lowrance is better for "normal" sonar, but mine are not the HDS units. From what I hear the new HB software will also have a similar color scheme to their competitor for the normal sonar so that might even things out there too. I have had to exchange at least 5 units with LEI over the past 2 years though.

Either one you choose it will open a whole new light to fishing, especially deep structure. I spend so much time with it but it saves a lot of unproductive fishing time trying to figure out what's down there.

BassMoJo · 10-24-09, 05:27 PM

I have the HDS-5 and love it. I cant wait for the Structure Scan to come out! Doc, if you have any question just ask ill do my best to answer them.

10-23-09, 02:03 PM	#1
doc BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,134	Lowrance HDS-7 Fishfinder/GPS Chartplott Me and Lowrider have been eying this unit for a couple months now, does anyone have one, have any experience with one, or can offer any insight on the unit. It's a bit pricey so I thought I'd ask the crew before we decided this will be this years upgrade.

10-24-09, 05:27 PM	#6
BassMoJo BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hampstead, MD Posts: 801	I have the HDS-5 and love it. I cant wait for the Structure Scan to come out! Doc, if you have any question just ask ill do my best to answer them. __________________ This is my Signature there are many like it, but this one is mine.

10-23-09, 02:09 PM	#2
MIbasser BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Okemos, MI Posts: 1,447	I've posted before that my partner has 2 of 10's and they are great (to a point...). The only downfall I've heard about the 7's is they fill with water. This happened to my partner with one of his 10's. I think somebody on BBC said that he's gone through 2 or 3 of them with the same problem. I'm about 95% sure that I'll end up with an HDS-5 for the front of my boat next spring. The other 5% is thinking about a HB SI.

10-23-09, 11:48 PM	#5
Bender BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 2,414	doc, Humminbird has their Down Scan version coming out in January that is a free upgrade to the 798, 997, and 1197 units that already have SI: https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:Campai...1abfda99ee6a80 I can't wait! I do have 2 Lowrance units and one HB on the boat now and think that the Lowrance is better for "normal" sonar, but mine are not the HDS units. From what I hear the new HB software will also have a similar color scheme to their competitor for the normal sonar so that might even things out there too. I have had to exchange at least 5 units with LEI over the past 2 years though. Either one you choose it will open a whole new light to fishing, especially deep structure. I spend so much time with it but it saves a lot of unproductive fishing time trying to figure out what's down there.

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