Lowrance hds

[waterdog101]

Ive been looking at the Lowrance HDS8 with the side imaging. Has anyone actually been on a boat with this unit. The Demo looks great but manufacturers can make any demo look great. Was trying to get some feedback on the actual usability of this thing. With the side imaging transducer being mounted on the trolling motor will the side image be distorted with every movement of the motor? I suspect in windy conditions this will be practically useless. Just gettin some opinions.

Thanks
Bill

I have the hds-7 with the structure scan, I've only been on the water twice with it. it is unreal how it shows the structure, in the down scan mode. it shows the stumps and trees like they are. i really like that part, but it never id any fish neither trip. i had mine on split screen, with the structure scan on the left and the regular transducer imaging on the right. on the right side, i did see some fish arches. and nothing on the lift side. but i did not get a bite that day and that was last sunday. so who knows, could have been fish their and could not have. i did see one white spot i thought might have been a fish, i put the cruser x on it and zoomed in, and it broke up into about a hundred pieces. so thats the best report i can give you right now. I sure hope it does better, on trips to come. than it did the past two trips.

[campinman]

I also have the HDs7 and love the unit. The gps is awsome and alot of options. I am also still learning how to set it up properly for fish etc.

But please post your experience about the structure scan. It sounds great but at an additional $550 I really need to know if its worth it.

I used tech support to assist in a download of a new operating system and they (Lowrance) were very helpful and had on line videos with full directions.

[bill28wagner]

Done loads of research. Buyin one tomorrow......hope for the best. Ill let you know.

[BanditMan]

I can tell you for a fact, that you will get to know Linda Colt really well. She's the customer service/ president/ workhorse of Lowrance. I know of two people right now with the HDS8 that have filled up with water. Yea you will get another but right now it's five more weeks for a replacement with Lowrance. I wish you the very best of luck. I have had nothing but bad units from Lowrance since 06. They will be leaving my boat in the very near future. The quality of their product has gone down hill .