Happy Valentine's to me!!! - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

steveoh · 02-16-2011, 10:00 AM

Handymansd, did you get your HDS with the 50/200 or the 83/200? I'm not sure which one I should get...I am planning on doing more LJ fishing, but primarily go offshore in Newport and HB and fish anywhere from 10' to 150'. Also, is this unit worth the moolah?

Handymansd · 02-16-2011, 10:58 AM

There is another Sonar thread on this site that answers a lot of your questions. The HDS is a bit pricey, but I need every break I can get! I got the HDS-5 140-20 (has the 50/200 transducer and nautical insight). They advertise that it can hold bottom signal at 5000'. So most of what we fish will be just fine with a 50khtz signal. The down-scan is suppossed to be around 800khtz
West Marine has it at $799 but they will price match any US based competitors advertised price. the best ads I found for the 140-20 were around $700ish. As others have stated I have returned many items to them for a no questions asked return policy with their extended warranty. It is worth every penny of its $98 for two years.
Although the units look the same on paper, the HDS is reported by many Professional Anglers to work very well in salt water, and the Elite not so well. but there are many people that have them and say that they do just fine...
Bottom line... read, research, and then go with what you are most comfortable. How you and your sounder/gps work together is the bottom line.
Besides when you have more money to throw away there is always the LSS1 "structure scan" that can be added...

P.S. Fishing equipment is NEVER worth the money... call it a contribution to your mental health!

steveoh · 02-16-2011, 02:18 PM

Handymansd, how is your transducer mounted? Is it shooting through hull? Thanks for your input

lol... and I have read the other thread on this topic too....from what I've read, the HDS sounds like a good choice...although I could add to my surfboard quiver for this price..lol

Handymansd · 02-17-2011, 07:26 AM

I am old school about mounting these... no wet mounts, no special gimmicks.... just plain marine goop! Very careful to mount level with bottom of yak and with very little goop and bubbles between ducer and hull. Carefully squeeze them out, the goop that leaks out and up the sides of the transducer a bit does most of the adhesion. I have been busy and have not mounted mine yet, but I will mount it behind the mast. I have had good luck with this method in the past. I know some will say I am doing it wrong... but so far it does the trick for me.

After spending the $ on this I will probably not be removing it any time soon.

02-16-2011, 10:58 AM	#2
Handymansd Ancient Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: On The Water Posts: 935	There is another Sonar thread on this site that answers a lot of your questions. The HDS is a bit pricey, but I need every break I can get! I got the HDS-5 140-20 (has the 50/200 transducer and nautical insight). They advertise that it can hold bottom signal at 5000'. So most of what we fish will be just fine with a 50khtz signal. The down-scan is suppossed to be around 800khtz West Marine has it at $799 but they will price match any US based competitors advertised price. the best ads I found for the 140-20 were around $700ish. As others have stated I have returned many items to them for a no questions asked return policy with their extended warranty. It is worth every penny of its $98 for two years. Although the units look the same on paper, the HDS is reported by many Professional Anglers to work very well in salt water, and the Elite not so well. but there are many people that have them and say that they do just fine... Bottom line... read, research, and then go with what you are most comfortable. How you and your sounder/gps work together is the bottom line. Besides when you have more money to throw away there is always the LSS1 "structure scan" that can be added... P.S. Fishing equipment is NEVER worth the money... call it a contribution to your mental health! __________________ All men are equal before fish. -Herbert Hoover

02-17-2011, 07:26 AM	#4
Handymansd Ancient Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: On The Water Posts: 935	I am old school about mounting these... no wet mounts, no special gimmicks.... just plain marine goop! Very careful to mount level with bottom of yak and with very little goop and bubbles between ducer and hull. Carefully squeeze them out, the goop that leaks out and up the sides of the transducer a bit does most of the adhesion. I have been busy and have not mounted mine yet, but I will mount it behind the mast. I have had good luck with this method in the past. I know some will say I am doing it wrong... but so far it does the trick for me. After spending the $ on this I will probably not be removing it any time soon. __________________ All men are equal before fish. -Herbert Hoover

02-16-2011, 10:00 AM	#1
steveoh Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: La Mirada Posts: 52	Handymansd, did you get your HDS with the 50/200 or the 83/200? I'm not sure which one I should get...I am planning on doing more LJ fishing, but primarily go offshore in Newport and HB and fish anywhere from 10' to 150'. Also, is this unit worth the moolah?

02-16-2011, 02:18 PM	#3
steveoh Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: La Mirada Posts: 52	Handymansd, how is your transducer mounted? Is it shooting through hull? Thanks for your input lol... and I have read the other thread on this topic too....from what I've read, the HDS sounds like a good choice...although I could add to my surfboard quiver for this price..lol