Trolling motor and depth finder help

[Jabbo]

OK.. I had a little incident where I need to replace my trolling motor and fish finder. I would love to have a fish finder that shows me every pebble on the bottom and which way the fish are pointing but that $2000-$3000 is out of the question. I have been looking for good ones on line and there are tons out there. many are already obsolete.
So what is a good depth finder for 500 or less?
What about a good trolling motor at least 70#, 24v system?
what about those with built in transducers? are they worth it?
Anybody got these for sell?
I will probably use ky trolling motor service (Dave Smoot) for the motor, unless someone out there has a great deal on a good one...
Thanks in advance for the advice..

[Col Forbin]

For trolling motors, I think both MK and MG are good. I would go with whichever one you can find the best deal on. The only thing I didn't like about the MK was the bulky foot pedal. I don't have the any experience with built in transducers, and have heard mixed reviews. I have some friends that have them and love them. But I know if you have a transducer problem it is a pain to get fixed, and some that have had a transducer problem ended up disconecting it and putting on an external transducer.

For depth finders, I know the HDS 5's are a little out of your price range you listed, but may be worth the extra money, or if you can shop around and find a deal - you can always upgrade to the side imaging and down scan later if you want with those. If you are stuck on that price range I would shop around for a good used unit. I know another site, where there are a ton of units for sale on there boards, and you can usually find a good 7 inch, high quality color unit for that price (x28 c) for near that price - and that would be a far superior unit than much else going. Alot of people are upgrading to get the side imaging and downscan so if you aren't set on that, there are good deals on people selling barely used units.

[Jabbo]

I'm thinking of biting the bullet and getting the side scan too. I think the HSD5 is about 550 and the side scan unit is about 600. Are they really worth the cost? Are they hard to use or are they plug and play easy?
Thanks

[GeoFisher]

when I was at A20 in Louisville a couple days ago, they had quite a few used motors.....some with universal sonar......some 12's and some 24's. I really didn't look too much at prices, but they had a few good motors.

I'd give them a call to see if a good used motor is available.

Later,

Geo

[Col Forbin]

I don't have one, so I can't say first hand - I have played with the humminbirds and they are sweet. From what I hear the Lowrance with the downscan/sidescan has it's perks over the HB's. I just can't justify the cost yet, and think the price will drop (hopefully a little at least) over the next few years. I know they take a little getting used to in terms of figuring out what it is your seeing, and getting the settings just right for the general lakes and depths you are fishing.

I am sure they have their benefits on most lakes if not all. But fishing Ky and barkley mostly, I am fishing more structures and contours that I can pick up with a regular sonar and good map. But it would be sweet to find isolated brush/cover on a deeper ledge with a sidescan that I would normally overlook on a regular sonar.

I am pretty pleased with what I can find with my lowrance 520 and 135. If I fished for bigger money I would invest in one of the HD's.

Another way I think they get you to spend more money is the size of the screen. If you have the sonar, sidescan, and downscan all running - it is splitting that 5 inch screen up to where you will only get two of those at 25% of the screen size. It would be hard to take all that in on a 5 inch screen - so if or when I ever get one, I would cosider the HDS7 at the least.