chartplotters / fishfinders

[fred1diver]

hey everyone, I'm in the market for a new fish finder/chartplotter and I'm not sure which model would be better, right now I'm looking at a lowrance elite 5dsi with maps included for 500$ (canadian), thats pretty much the most I could spend at the moment, what other model do you all use and how do you like them?
I really want the chart plotter function over the fishfinder, I like to fish but it isn't my primary concern, want speed and depth.

 

[Bad Obsession]

If you want to go cheap but want a good unit look for a Garmin 441s. I love mine. It is networked with my VHF and I see AIS and I have DSC. http://www.tigergps.com/refurbgpsmap441s.html

That is a refurbished unit. That will save you some boat bucks.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Ack! That link is to a place that no longer has one. Here is an ebay purchase: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Garmin-GPSmap-441s-/231797652356?hash=item35f8377b84:g:Pp0AAOSwo3pWgslR

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Bad Obsession;
Joan has Java sold but waiting till it all closes. She went out on Java for the last time yesterday. Now young man, your turn. take her out if ok with your better half sometimes. Stay in touch. I am recuperating from a little ailment called stint implant. Not as bad as a stomach ache going into ER turned out to be ruptured bowel. Er and I do not like one another. Even did the cat meow call song in OR and when the nurse said I was crazy, guess what I told her my nickname and that everyone laughed and then I was gassed with lights out for a while.

 

[BayMan]

Here is a related issue you may want to think about now while you are shopping: if your current chartplotter is mounted on the pedestal and the new chartplotter requires a different sized cutout - most especially, a smaller cutout - what do you do to reduce the size of your existing cutout? I have no answers yet - contemplating the same problem for myself.

 

[jssailem]

what do you do to reduce the size of your existing cutout

One idea. Attach (glue) a piece of 1/4 inch starboard or other suitable material to cover the hole. Then cut a new hole. The piece will look like a build up trim piece to your new plotter.

 

[flynhi4u]

We got a Lowrance Elite 4 chirp with the Navionics card. We really like the unit. It is on chartplotter mode 99% of the time. I have seen them for as low as 175 on sale. In my opinion that is a real deal. Just make sure it comes with the transducer. Some do some don't. You don't want to have to buy it separately.
As far as mounting the transducer, the instructions actually told how to take the stern mount transducer and make it shoot through the hull. I used Plumbers putty to mount it inside the hull. That was just so I could test the area before I epoxied it in place but the putty has held so well I have not done it yet.
The one downside to mounting it to shoot through the hull is you loose the ability to get the water temp reading. I just turned that part off and dip a toe or finger over the rail to see if it is warm enough to swim in.
I mounted the unit on a LCD tv swing arm wall mount inside the cabin. When we sail it swings out into the companionway opening and sits tight to the starboard side of the opening. You can adjust the text size so you can see the depth, speed, etc from the end of the cockpit.
We both agree it was money well spent. Good luck

Sam

 

[dziedzicmj]

I would repeat the opinion expressed here a few times with regard to electronics: Be careful, when you buy out-of-production units.

I would not necessarily say: "don't buy them" outright, but be triple careful. Evaluate how old the unit is and how likely it is going to need repairs or charts update. Many of these units are discounted, just because they are getting somewhat obsolete.

Btw. I have a Garmin GPSMAP 400-series myself and I like it, but it is a unit that is obsolete now for about two years.

mdz

 

[JTulls]

I just sailed on a buddy's boat that had a lowrance unit installed between the helms (dual helm boat) -- I don't remember the model but I thought it was pretty slick and easy to use right off the bat. I'm not sure what the default map package is on the lowrance units but there's a sale going on for Navionics charts that could help save you some money -- http://www.navionics.com/en/navionics-bundles-save-100

 

[fred1diver]

settled on a lowrance hook 4 with chart plotter, even came with the navionics card

 

[flynhi4u]

That is a lot like our Elite four Fred. We really like ours and use it every time out. The instructions are a bit sketchy on the actual operation though as there are a lot of features not addressed in them. You can make the overlay information as far as the depth and other text much larger on the screen which is really nice to see from the back of the cockpit. You can also change what information is displayed on the screen but again the instructions do not address that.

Sam

 

[fred1diver]

now all that I have to figure out is where to mount it, the base is bigger than the hummingbird I had before, might make another stand like before but bigger, not sure yet

 

[flynhi4u]

I don't have a pic of ours mounted on my phone but I can get one tomorrow. We used the small TV arm and store it in the cabin. Just swing it out into the companion way opening when we use it. Also makes it nice to be able to turn it a bit for different viewing angles as you tack. We tweak it a few degrees each time we tack for best viewing angle.

Sam

 

[fred1diver]

a pic would be much appreciated

 

[Gene Neill]

Call me Captain Overkill ... but I use them both. Each has its own transducer, and the water is stupid thin around here. The Lowrance came with the boat, and I intended to move it inside the cabin when I installed the Garmin. But before I got around to moving it, the Garmin's transducer went on the fritz, and the Lowrance suddenly became the star of the show.

It has earned a permanent spot where it is.

 

[flynhi4u]

Fred, I will be at the boat Friday. I will post a pic then. I will check my work pc and see if I have a pic there.

Sam