Best lowrance unit for pro angler with motor guide xi5?

OK I may be a little confused here because I'm the new guy. I have a pro angler 17T.

Hobie sells a trolling motor mount for my boat and recommends the motor guide XI5 55lb thrust trolling motor.
pro angler kayaks only accept the smaller lowrance transducers
The lowrance unit I bought (7 Ti) came with the larger 11" transducer
The reason I bout that unit is I was told that some of the lower model units don't support all of the auto pilot functions of the motor guide xi5.


I am caught in a dielema.

Which newer full feature (total scan) lowrance will work with my motor guide for auto pilot and have the transducer fit in my kayak?

The Elite-7 Ti is a great unit... you just need one of the new mounting plates for the Totalscan transducer. Both BerleyPro and Hobie now make a Totalscan compatible mounting plate for the Hobie Lowrance Ready scupper.

http://www.hobiefishing.com/blog/hobie-introduces-lowrance-ready-totalscan-transducer-plate,564/

https://www.berleypro.com/totalscan-ready-testing/

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

Looking at that berkley pro i am wondering if i could just mount the transducer inside the hull of my kayak?

Im afraid that it would stick out too far and has the potential to get knocked around and damage the unit or worse the boat!

Our TotalScan transducer mounting plate for all Lowrance Ready Hobie(R) kayaks was unveiled last week at ICAST. The TotalScan mounting plate will be available as an accessory, and your dealers will know about it as soon as they are available for purchase. Maybe get in touch with your local dealer and request being notified once they have become available. MSRP will be $34.99

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Howie Strech
Parts & Accessories Product Manager
Hobie Cat USA

You can purchase the HDI Skimmer or the HDI Skimmer XD transducer both of which will fit the factory Hobie Lowrance Transducer Plate - you still get CHIRP/Down Scan, but you lose Side Scan. I would not suggest mounting it inside the kayak, your not going to be as happy with the outcome. I think if you read thru some of the other post of people with the Totalscan transducer, you might change your mind about mounting it under the kayak using either the Hobie or BerleyPro solutions. Just search Elite 7 or Totalscan, there are quite a few active posts.

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

I assume you are implying that it is awesome and worth it?

I imply nothing! But I have a lot of experience with the HDS 7 and 12 both Generation 2 and the Totalscan transducer on my fathers Ranger. Amazing fishing tech, especially when you learn to use them. I have an Elite-4 CHIRP which I like a lot, but really want the 7 Ti...for the screen real estate but mostly the Totalscan. That being said, I just acquired what turns out to be a 125 year old farm house...and I had to make a choice...remodel the bathroom so that I could move into the house, or buy the Elite 7 Ti. I chose the bathroom...but after starting the project and realizing I had to replace vanity, toilet, tile and the entire subfloor, I am kicking myself. Should have saved myself a bundle and bought the 7 Ti...and just started using natures bathroom.

Okay so maybe I am implying that it is awesome and worth it. Plus with your Minn Kota...being able to find the fish on side scan, set waypoints, have the Xi5 go to those waypoints, follow a path you set, completely hands free, hover... That is a drool worthy setup! Plus I have not heard or read of a single person that has had issues or does not love (or like a lot) that setup or having the transducer semi exposed on the bottom. A couple of people have issues with how they load on their trailers, but I have heard no one say they wish they would not have installed it.

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

The capabilities of the MotorGuide Xi5 paired with your Elite 7Ti are awesome, but to operate the pinpoint gps and autopilot features from your head unit you'll need: the Pinpoint Gateway kit (part #72020126), NMEA2000 Starter kit (part #72020127) and the 6-pin Lowrance Tour Adapter (part #72020128). Look forward to a setup video coming soon on our YouTube channel, highlighting how everything links up and how you can operate the features from you Elite 7Ti head unit.

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Howie Strech
Parts & Accessories Product Manager
Hobie Cat USA

Forgot to mention that...and none of that stuff is cheap. But it is worth it!

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

I'm using the Lowrance Elite 7Ti with TotalScan. This was the mount I made.






I'm now using the BerleyPro TotalScan transducer mount, without any issues. I like the protection it gives the transducer.

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And the BereleyPro option is now available in the US!
http://shop.mariner-sails.com/BerleyPro ... BP2601.htm

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Aris Tsamis
Mariner Sails, Inc.
http://www.mariner-sails.com

As is the Hobie TotalScan mounting plate:

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

From nothing to 2 great Lowrance eady options.......you gotta love the innovation going on in this sport!

_________________
Aris Tsamis
Mariner Sails, Inc.
http://www.mariner-sails.com

Another option - mount the large ducer on the trolling motor like a bass boat. Get a regular 2d ducer for the ready cavity. This options has disadvantages but it has one big advantage - you will see images from front of vessel versus stuff you are passing already. I have always wanted to move my ducers to front of the vessel.