[jrisapirate]

moving out of the dark ages and updating my chartplotter. As of right now i'm looking at the Lowrance HDS 7M and the Raymarine A70.

I'm leaning towards the lowrance but if anyone has had experience with either of these units i like to hear your thoughts

 

[SUD-Z]

I'm in the same boat. I have a Lowrance Global map 5000 in other boat. Always liked it and am considering the HD. I'm also looking at the Garmin 700 series. Planning on going to the shows before making my decision.

 

[striper2278]

You wouldn't be sorry with the Garmin's!

 

[sawblade]

Stop by and see us at the AC Boat Show, we will have some great deals.Both the Lowrance and the Garmin units are nice.Garmin should have a 700 series on display, that unit is not due out unitl April.

 

[jrisapirate]

Well I have a garmin now and i'm just not happy with the speed of the unit(which is obsolete by todays standards). And I think I want to go with a unit that will also have radar capabilities and sonar isnt needed bc I'm keeping the unit I have.

Which lead me to the Furuno 1724C w/radar and the SI-TEX 7"color max.

I wonder what percent of the machines capability the average person actually uses.

 

[striper2278]

Well I have a garmin now and i'm just not happy with the speed of the unit(which is obsolete by todays standards). And I think I want to go with a unit that will also have radar capabilities and sonar isnt needed bc I'm keeping the unit I have.

Which lead me to the Furuno 1724C w/radar and the SI-TEX 7"color max.

I wonder what percent of the machines capability the average person actually uses.

i have the 4212 series from garmin and I know there is a ton of stuff that I haven't even touche on that machine. Still learning it. Takes time.

 

[freaky One]

I wonder what percent of the machines capability the average person actually uses.

I have a Furuno 7000 and it is very clear and very accurate. It has so many functions that I wll never use them all. It took me two full seasons to really get use to it. I like it but it takes a little to learn. might wanna go with something a little more user friendly.

 

[DoubleG]

I have a Furuno 7000 and it is very clear and very accurate. It has so many functions that I wll never use them all. It took me two full seasons to really get use to it. I like it but it takes a little to learn. might wanna go with something a little more user friendly.

Get a spare power cable with a DC power supply from Radio Shack. I used this for both my Humminbird & Northstar units.

Spend the winter entering different waypoints and then use the demo mode to learn how to customize the units. It helps you get thru the winter. You'll be a pro when striper season opens.

The only drawback is the Northstar power cable set me back $100. Most of the times I get kissed (before).
George

 

[Outbound44]

I have 3 Lowrance HDS units 10's on 2 boats and I am very happy with them. The Seavee also has the BR24 Broadband Radar along with an Airmar b260 transducer. I would recommend the Lowrance HDS over the Raymarine any day. Personally, I find the Raymarine's very difficult to operate. The sounder that is in the HDS is outstanding and will outperform most. I am thinking about upgrading my other boat which has 2 Northstar 6100's to 2 Lowrance HDS 10's or the new Simrad NSE series units.
I have zero experience with Garmin's marine units, but have also heard good things.

Here's a shot from the other day of the HDS 10's

View attachment 23307

 

[2dogs]

I put a HDS 5m and HDS 5x in my boat. I didn't want to share a 5" screen with 2 functions. Very glad I went this way. Both units work very well. The sounder with the 83 degree puck is the bomb for seeing fish. Have just under $1100 in both units.

 

[jrisapirate]

Catp thats a nice setup with the two tens. got me thinking that if i get the 7 I may as well get a 10...but then again 2dogs thats not a bad idea. only prob the wife knows I'm buying one machine if she sees two new ones this summer she might freak...then again it will be to late ha

you guys get them online or local and install yourself?

 

[Outbound44]

Catp thats a nice setup with the two tens. got me thinking that if i get the 7 I may as well get a 10...but then again 2dogs thats not a bad idea. only prob the wife knows I'm buying one machine if she sees two new ones this summer she might freak...then again it will be to late ha

you guys get them online or local and install yourself?

Hey Capt.

The 2 10's networked together are awesome. All units were purchased locally and installed by SeaVee at their factory. We typically do all of our installations however this one was tough since the boat was in Miami being built and she will hopefully never see NJ. This is our florida boat!

I did install the 10 on my 21 Whaler and its a breeze - the nice thing about them is that if you have an open boat you dont even need an antenna since its built into the unit!

 

[priorities]

I have 3 Lowrance HDS units 10's on 2 boats and I am very happy with them. The Seavee also has the BR24 Broadband Radar along with an Airmar b260 transducer. I would recommend the Lowrance HDS over the Raymarine any day. Personally, I find the Raymarine's very difficult to operate. The sounder that is in the HDS is outstanding and will outperform most. I am thinking about upgrading my other boat which has 2 Northstar 6100's to 2 Lowrance HDS 10's or the new Simrad NSE series units.
I have zero experience with Garmin's marine units, but have also heard good things.

Here's a shot from the other day of the HDS 10's

View attachment 23307

Have you had a chance to use that BROADBAND RADAR yet, I'm leaning towards a Lowrance HDS unit myself but can't find much feedback on the BR24 radar.

 

[2dogs]

I bought mine on line and installed them myself. Yesterday I added the Lowramce LSS-1 side/down scan. That too was easy to install. It feeds both HDS units via an ethernet cable.