Just wondering what yalls opinions are on these 2 brands of graphs? I am looking at buying a Helix 12 mega SI for the console of my boat just because I've heard good things about customer service and it's what I'm used to using since I have a 999 at the console and a helix 7 at the trolling motor now. I've also been looking at the lowrance because I've read where people say that it will show way more detail and actual fish show up better on them but the bad is I've been told their customer service is horrible. If I'm not mistaken isn't Humminbirds main office in Eufaula?

You're gonna get nothing more than opinions about this, so I'll throw mine out there.

The Humminbird is better, but....

First, if you want to see fish, get it off MEGA. MEGA will draw the most beautiful picture, but not show fish....I really struggled badly with this for a long time. I got so frustrated by it that I was "this close" to getting rid of my Helixs and going back to HDSs. If you'll drop down to 800Khz suddenly fish are everywhere. I'm sure this is why people say that about the Lowrance showing fish.

People will tell you Humminbirds are easier to use. Holy smokes hogwash!!! Not so in my opinion. If you buy the Solix, then it's more similar to the HDS Lowrance, but not having a touch screen makes it WAAAY more user UNfriendly to me. I ran Lowrance for years and was so used to touching the scree, that's another thing I still do to this day, I'll reach up there and want to pinch in or out, or touch a waypoint, etc. Having to use manual buttons for everything has been hard for me.

The mapping is much, much better on Lakemaster cards and Humminbirds. Just no debate. However, I'd keep my Navionics cards because they will show some stuff the Lakemaster doesn't (I can think of a few roadbeds)

Buy the helix and dont think twice

Out of the boats I buy and sell (15 to 20 bass boats a year), rarely does a humminbird give any problems. I would say a solid 70 percent of the Lowrances have to be replaced because they won't work right. I just find something else used and throw on there. I tell everyone I know that I don't know why anyone would waste money on a lowrance as long as humminbird was still in business.

ive got lowrance just because thats what was on sale and ive been happy. if i could afford it id like to have a couple big hummingbirds. i had a helix 5 for awhile and it was nothing but trouble. it would want to cut off everytime i got on plane. i was told it had water in it? i think i just got a bad one

I don't own a Lowrance, and cant speak to the quality, but their customer service is through Navico (I know because when you call, you press 1 for Simrad and 2 for Lowrance) and they have been nothing but helpful the few issues I have run into. I would not let that steer you away.

How it is wired has some to do with it. I always run a dedicated power source for my units, with a fuse inline of course. That seems to have done away with the units wanting to cut off sporadically, cut off when you first turn the ignition, etc.

I've had several different type units. I havent owned any of the newer lowrance units, but I'm a big humminbird fan. Once you learn the system, they are far and away better to me.