Humminbird, lowrance, garmin??

I'm fixing to start building my new console rig and am looking at putting a flushmount larger screen gps. I've always used my hand held garmin but figure im building this thing new and hopefully keep this one for awhile that I want to go all out.

I DO NOT FISH so I really only need the GPS but know most have to have either the chartplottr or fishfinder to get the gps.

But what is the chartplotter, fish finder and all this other BS that is available for fisherman to spend money on??

Would like the hook up for satellite weather/radar and radio combo which I know is an add on but most have that capability from what I've read so far.

Would also like the option of viewing satellite image maps.

Lowrance HDS-5M High def Multifunction GPS Chartplotter seems like the one that I would want with the built in GPS and hook up for satellite plus if I ever did start fishing or sold the boat to someone who wants to fish then I or they could add the stuff for fishing. Plus its not too terribly expensive but don't know if it can read the satellite image maps.

ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED!!

I got a Garmin 400 it does everything I need

I like Garmin also. I think they are more user friendly.

I have 1 hummingbird 998 and one 7 inch one. I love them. They are great the down and side image is a must. once you use it youll never want to be with out. I do not like lowrance for many reasons. Such as have to mount gps seperate higher price for same thing since lowrance stole down image and side bc bad hum. employee. They are really easy to use and not so many buttons. The dual band on hummingbird is better i have compared with buddies lowrance 11 inch and most of the time mine will show better detail.

hummingbird hands down, the 898, 998, and 1198 are top notch, lots more features than lowrance images are well defined and you can dial your settings in alot more and get better frequencies and feedback. On the other hand Lowrance has a touch screen now on the HDS 8 and 10 now i believe. when you buy the humminbird combos they come with everything you need. When you buy Lowrance and want side imaging you have to buy the transducer seperate. Had a Garmin and it went out. Screen quit working thats the only dealing i've had with Garmin

Lowrance would go bigger than a 5

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Pete, give Derek Garcia a call over at Breakwater Electronics and pick his brain on what's available. They are located in Webster, TX. It will give you a perspective of what we are using down here on the coast at least.

I've got a Raymarine on my boat now. It's ok but I really like mike Garmin hand held. I've looked at the Garmin 740's and they are a really nice unit and all touch screen. I will probably pick one of those up in the off season........I'm in Wisconsin so there is an off season, can't have it as good as all you Southern boys...... I talked with Garmin a couple of weeks ago and they don't have any chartplotters that have the ability to have satellite images on them. If you have a garmin oregon series you could put lake maps or G2 on that and then install a transducer. This will only give you depth readings and not an actual sonar image.

I have had 2-lowrance's in my past bay boat. Last one was a HDS-7, and i now have the GARMIN 740S in my new bay boat and it blows away the Lowrance HDS unit.

Now,,,i can say this, i had the Platinum plus chip in my lowrance which made it much better. I have not yet put a chip in my Garmin, but i will be soon, the detail is not what the Platinum plus was.

So,,after having both lowrance and garmin, i have to say the GARMIN is better...

I have a lowrance but have installed bunch of Garmins. My next one will be a Garmin. Very easy to use and figure out. My lowrance came with a phone book.

So with the garmins, what are most using? Again I mostly need this for GPS. Do they have one that has better GPS quality than the other features?

I dunno, might be better to stick with a hand held but want a larger screen.