shopping for new locator

I am contemplating getting a new locator/gps and trying to choose between a Lowrance HDS or a Hummingbird with side imaging. Looking for opinions on what you like and dislike about your unit, and would you buy that unit again? Thanks.

I am not sponsored by Johnson Outdoors/Humminbird and this is just my humble opinion.

I have run a H-bird 1197 for the last few years as my primary locator, and had until this spring a 997 also. Both units have performed well above my expectations. Previous, I had been a hard-core Lowrance LMS-350 A user. Without a doubt, the humingbird is the leader in technology, user friendly, and variety of featured units in different budget ranges. If and when anything ever happens to my 1197’s, I will replace them with the equivilant H/Bird products.
I have had a couple of clients now hire me to go out in their boat and instruct them on the use of their electronics. What a couple of guys thought would take them days to figure out, actually only took a few hours. That included time on the water to capture tons of screen shots (as well as review all the menu features) and time to work with the H-bird PC software to edit waypoints, updates, integrated Google Earth, creating back up files, and most importantly – learning more about the structure they fish from reviewing the screen captures.
If you get an opportunity to get on the water with a Hummingbird owner, take advantage of it to check out how easy this technology is to use!

Thanks Randy. I plan on moving my lowrance to the front and started researching their hds, but kept on hearing good things about hummingbird.
Good fishing to you kind sir.

Gary, Welcome to In-Depth Outdoors!

I personally use a Lowrance unit on my boat but I’m a big fan of what Humminbird is doing. Lots of good comments from customers and guys here at IDO. I don’think you can go wrong with either. The one thing that has come up a lot recently is the issue of customer service. It does sound like it’s a little easier to get in touch with Humminbird customer service than Lowrance right now. That means a lot to many of our folks who are planning to spend large chunks of cash on a new unit. The most popular SI unit for us right now is the 998C.