My recent purchase ( GW228 ) came with a Garmin 498... I am struggling to get it to initialize but am certainly not giving up on it. I have decided to put a Lowrance sonar/gps on it as well... I don't know if I can justify radar but I definitely want the high end bottom imaging transducer as well as the 83/200 mhz one.. Also want a built in maps/charts. Was wondering if anyone had any ideas or suggestions.
Which Lowrance ????
- Thread starter bbbagman
- Start date
Parthery
GreatGrady Captain
Get the biggest screen your wallet can safely handle. A 10inch screen will fit in the box.
HDS 8 or 10, Gen2...with structure scan will work well.
HDS 8 or 10, Gen2...with structure scan will work well.
Parthery
GreatGrady Captain
Found some pics of the LCX-111 I had in my Seafarer....same size electronics box as yours.
If you go big, you can fit in the box, installed from behind. Will look like this.
S3500486.JPG by parthery, on Flickr
Or - for a few bucks, you can get a panel made and flush mount it.
S3500001 by parthery, on Flickr
If you go big, you can fit in the box, installed from behind. Will look like this.
S3500486.JPG by parthery, on Flickr
Or - for a few bucks, you can get a panel made and flush mount it.
S3500001 by parthery, on Flickr
I have 2 hds-8's gen 1 networked together which is great. One is in the helm and the other in the upper left radio box. The upper stays on sonar and lower stays on chartplotter. But they can be mixed/matched all sorts of ways. Many times I'll mark the actual obstruction via the upper sonar which immediately shows a waypoint on the lower unit. The upper can be viewed by everyone from the cockpit easily while bottom fishing. But honestly, if I were setting up today I would possibly get a 10" hds for the helm and a Furuno 585 (587, etc) for the upper sonar. The reason being is the 585 seems to do a better job in deeper water, say 200' and deeper. The flip side is losing the ability to mark exact obstructions via networking. It's a tough call but either is incredibly helpful in filling the fish box.
Thanks Parthey... Didn't realize I had that much space at the helm !
Thanks Gulf .... I was going to try to get by with one new unit and use the Garmin 498 as a "flasher" .... But your set up sounds awesome !!!
Thanks Gulf .... I was going to try to get by with one new unit and use the Garmin 498 as a "flasher" .... But your set up sounds awesome !!!
bbbagman said:
No bragging but it is awesome. With a rate compass, broadband radar overlay, structure scan and auto pilot connected, I can't imagine it being any better. We trolled a couple of days ago via the autopilot doing precision style cloverleaf patterns over an offshore ledge picking up 2 wahoos and a blackfin tuna. And on the way in held a visual on area storms electing to drive through one showing only rain showers. We could have driven around it if we wanted and stayed bone dry. But the boat needed a freshwater rinsing anyway. :mrgreen:
GulfSea said:
I have the HDS-5 and Elite 7 HDI units networked on my boat, same deal I love the networking. Ill try to post a pic. I went with the smaller units for space reasons in the console. Looks great flush mounted and have really enjoyed the functionality. I have really been impressed with the Dual Imaging on the elite 7, not as expensive as the structure scan but works just about as good.
The_Chain said:
I use Structure Scan for catching pinfish in the bay. It's come to the point where we don't even throw bait's down till I see them on the screen; the past couple of weeks, the radio's been full of chatter at the difficulty in catching bait while we fill up the baitwell in good time. One day I could literally see them (pinfish) leave when a larger school of fish came through, I suspect spanish mackeral, then re-appear within 2-3 minutes after the larger fish left the screen/area. It's amazing technology to an old time bass tournament fisherman like myself.
Parthery
GreatGrady Captain
bbbagman said:
All mine are 1st Gen. Just to complete the system, I added a P66 transducer that I use many times in deeper water. I don't know that it makes too much difference but at minimum gives an added transducer should one fail or trip up as has happened.
Here's a real life experience using these electronics that happened last Sunday. My daughter came in from out of town wanting to go offshore for her 1st time. Seas were showing just ...ok with 2-3's... for the 1st few hours, doable but borderline. The real concern was typical isolated storms in the area which are very common here. So based on the ride (maybe surf) home in possible 4's, I headed east with a plan for a 16 mile run. But after leaving the pass, there were storm clouds in that direction. I turned on the 3G radar with overlay to see the storms were far enough out and headed in a direction that we could safely continue with our plans.
About 2/3rds of way there, those storms at the planned waypoint got more numerous so I stopped at the 12 mile mark at another waypoint. We had an incredibly great time with bent poles for a few hours and decent fishbox full of fish all the while watching the rain cells (no lightning). They'd come through now and then and I'd just move us around staying safe and dry the entire time. Had I not had this system, there's no way we would have gone out. And sure enough we did surf home in 3-4's but threw out a trolling line and managed to pick up a decent king to boot. They're not my favorite but are certainly fun to catch! :mrgreen:
Sounds like the radar was worth it that day !!! I have decided on a HDS 7 Gen 2 touch and a 3G radar... I will say that the Garmin 740 with radar for less than 2k is tempting !!!
bbbagman said:
No doubt Garmin would be a great option too. With the Lowrance set up, you'll need a rate compass for chart overlay which was around $500 when I purchased mine.
DONE!!!! Got a HDS 7 Gen 2 touch with the 50/200khz and lss 2 transducers Saturday morning.. Now to install them... Will the Garmin transducer interfere with either of the Lowrances?
bbbagman,
I have a Humminbird (combo unit) and added a Lowrance HDS7 Gen 2. I was told it would be best to run them on the opposite frequency of each other?? Either way, no interference at all. I typically use the Humminbird as my chart plotter and the Lowrance for my sonar.The sonar on the HDS is GREAT. The one thing that I did add and everyone seems to like is the LWX-1 module for the Sirius satellite weather and radio. The weather side of it has gotten me to come in when storms are approaching and has also allowed me to stay out longer when I see it's going to miss us. The radio is controlled (channel and volume) right thru the HDS unit which is convenient.
How did the install go?
I have a Humminbird (combo unit) and added a Lowrance HDS7 Gen 2. I was told it would be best to run them on the opposite frequency of each other?? Either way, no interference at all. I typically use the Humminbird as my chart plotter and the Lowrance for my sonar.The sonar on the HDS is GREAT. The one thing that I did add and everyone seems to like is the LWX-1 module for the Sirius satellite weather and radio. The weather side of it has gotten me to come in when storms are approaching and has also allowed me to stay out longer when I see it's going to miss us. The radio is controlled (channel and volume) right thru the HDS unit which is convenient.
How did the install go?
Thanks for your reply Spawnbag. I have been tied up and have yet to install it.Hopefully I will get it put on this week !! I will post how it went then.