Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

T

turtle1173

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 29, 2001
Messages
437
I asked some questions in the fishing forum and didn't get much response so I thought i would ask over here. Is there a reason why most people on this forum (I haven't checked any others)think humminbirds are inferior? I'm going out to buy own today for some fishing at the later part of the week. Does everyone have problems with the lens fogging up or is that a freak thing? Please help!<br /><br />Shane
 
Ross J

Ross J

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Nov 30, 2001
Messages
1,119
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Hi, Ho turtle1173, Ross J here.<br />I own a Hummingbird Wide 100 sounder. It's x4 years old and yes I do have a fogging problem. After the first summer my sounder developed a fog on the screen and I haven't been able to get it away. Most of the time it isn't a problem, appearing on the hottest of days and dissappearing when it's cooler. I can still see the screen but it's frustrating when it appears. I have thought of replacing it but alas here in New Zealand the prices aren't as cheep as in the states!<br />Ross
 
C

Chum Slick

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 7, 2001
Messages
116
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

I admit I am biased but I own three Eagle depth/fish sounders on three different boats with no problems as yet (knock on the Mate's hatch). I have had bad luck with every Humminbird I have ever owned. I may have just got hold of some lemons. A lot of people swear by Humminbirds. To coin a phrase I read somewhere: Have you ever seen a Humminbird find a fish in the water, Eagles do it every day.<br /><br />Keep the Bait in the Slick......
 
S

suzukidave

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 1, 2000
Messages
387
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

I have a humminbird 400 fishfinder that came wiht my boat -- it's generally a fine depthsounder although it gets confused sometimes by salinity/temperature. It isn't much help finding fish or at least those things swimming by on the screen are rarely fish in my experience. I think of it as a depthsounder with a nice relaxing screensaver. <br /><br />I have used both Eagle and Lowrance finders. They are an order of magnitude better. You get what you pay for.
 
12Footer

12Footer

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
8,217
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Save your money. They are not nearly as good as any other fishfinder. They are erratic. They loose signal for short periods of time for no apparent reason. The targeting is allmost non-existant. I admit it, I own one,and don't even turn it on anymore. It is albut useless in salt water for even dpeth reading.<br />JMHO
 
JB

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Yep, Turtle. Hummers are inferior to almost anything except putting your face in the water and trying to see what's down there.<br /><br />Eagle and its parent, Lowrance, are best buys for fresh or shallow salt water.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB :)
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Turtle1173,<br /><br />I ditto Chumslick. Had problems with H'bird with fogging and reading at high speeds. Had more than one with these issues. Went back to Eagle and I'm staying put.
 
M

mbb

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 20, 2001
Messages
176
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

About 15 yrs ago Hummingbird led the edge of tech with LCD display, fish ID, etc. Doesnt seem that they have improved much since then. Generally poor resolution on screens, erratic performance, and failures are problematic. Seems that they really only target the ~100$ market now. The garmin and Lowrance (eagle) units are infintely superior. The Garmin 160 Blue is great for about $200 with tranducer.
 
J

Jarhead

Cadet
Joined
Mar 5, 2001
Messages
19
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Just bought a 200dx this past summer, and yes I have the same trouble with the fogging lense!But except for that, I have no other problems. :rolleyes:
 
J

Jarhead

Cadet
Joined
Mar 5, 2001
Messages
19
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

OH by the way turtle,MY last fish depth was an, Eagle and was 10times better! ;)
 
B

bubbaboater

Seaman
Joined
Jan 14, 2002
Messages
56
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

I have had Eagle and Hummingbird. I like the Eagle much better.
 
M

mtp

Cadet
Joined
May 9, 2001
Messages
25
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

My hummer's 9, still going (no fog - yet). Usually people "mis mount" units too close to prop wash, too hi or to low. Unless you get a thru the hull (whatever brand) do a temp mount on a stick, C-clamp the stick on and run around- try different depth and distances from the motor. Also, I dismount unit when not "on board". Put a water proof cover over dash mount. Corrosion can be kept down by using pencil eraser on connections on dash mount. Also have a Raytheon - (different boat), like it, but it was lots more expensive.
 
12Footer

12Footer

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
8,217
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

I have to admit, I do like the Hummer's mounting bracket. But it just stays empty, as I leave the head in it's little pouch at the house. It doesn't work right, so why bother plugging it in.
 
W

wakatoa

Cadet
Joined
Nov 26, 2001
Messages
24
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Foggy Humminbirds - THE CURE<br />I have a 300 TX and had bad fogging problems even on hot days.<br />I put it in the hot water closet at home and the fogging problem has gone.<br />I left it there for 3 months but a lesser period may have fixed it. I think the deal would be to store it inside when not in use. I always remove it from the boat now even if I'm using the boat again the next day.
 
W

WOOLY BUGGER

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jan 10, 2002
Messages
37
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

AMAZING THAT NO ONE HAS MENTIONED BOTTOMLINE FISH FINDERS, THEY MAKE A SUPERB LINE FOR ALMOST ANY NEED YOU HAVE
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Agree with 12Footer about the mounting bracket. But, that's about the only thing I liked about them.
 
W

wilsonjg

Cadet
Joined
Feb 10, 2002
Messages
21
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Have to agree with most all responses about Hummingbirds. Lets just say they are "no as good" as many other finders out there. For about the same money or a little more, invest in an Eagle...
 
R

RJS

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 14, 2002
Messages
211
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Hummingbirds work OK in fresh water, but the have a bit of a problem in saltwater. If you just want to see the bottom and don't mind losing the signal at high speeds, they're OK. You get what you pay for. The Legend Series from Hummingbird (originally Zercom liquid Paper Graph , are pretty good. They see baitfish very well, eccept they have a tendency to lose signal at high speed.
 
O

Ohioangler

Cadet
Joined
Sep 15, 2003
Messages
12
Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

High speed depth finder mounting was found on eaby do a search for "boat depth finder plans"
 
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