islander99 Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Hi All I am looking to upgrade my plotter and sounder in the near future. At the moment I have two 5 inch Lowrance units and am not sure whether to buy similar size or to go for a bigger combo unit. Has anyone done this either way round and regretted it, my gut feeling is to keep them separate although they will be smaller, what do you think?. Also is there enough difference between the Navionics gold and platinum to be worth the extra dosh. Any input on these things appreciated. Many Thanks Mike F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niggle Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 I have the 10hds gen 2 combo with a 5 hds gen 1 with a platinum plus card if you would like a look I could bring to next meet or show you on the boat.Its what I've got used to but it might be worth looking at Garmin also or compare them at the Southampton boat show. Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islander99 Posted August 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Hi Niggle Thanks for the offer to take a look but is a bit difficult as I live on the IOW. I will be going to the boat show. I have had Garmin in the past but I have had the Lowrance setup for about 7 years and it works for me so I think I will stick with them. Thanks Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirky Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Some one on here was offering some electronic kit recently ....just a thought ....look in items for sale ..... HERE Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Hi Yes I have done both My last boat had two 5" lowrance units side by side and worked great, it gave me a good set up and the knowledge that I would not lose both at the same time through breakdown. I fitted these instead of a single 8" combi unit, as those had very small usable screen size when other navigational info took up some of the available space. Alfresco however has a single 10" Lowrance combi unit This has a big enough screen to make it usable when split screened. Also the navigation info can overlay the chart so it does not reduce the chart visable. It is simple to adjust screen sizes to adapt which is the larger screen. Another good feature is the recording facility, I use this a lot when looking at new marks/wrecks. On the PC at home I can pick off features and get the Lat/Longs, [usually when Coronation Street is on downstairs ] When I finished the boat, budget would only allow for one set, so I left room for a second to be added later. 5 years [and 700 engine hrs ] on and I have not added a second set yet. Enough said I have found that a trip to the boat show is the best way, get one of the experts to show you through the features on the various sets , then see what show deal you can get to fit your budget. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Some one on here was offering some electronic kit recently ....just a thought ....look in items for sale ..... HERE Dave The Garmin that Steve is offering is still available, I believe!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islander99 Posted August 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Hi Charlie Thanks for all the usefull info, if I decide to stay with 2 separate units , is the broadband sonar a lot better that the previous generation, i.e. clearer image , less clutter , separates fish better , or is it mostly advertising blurb Rob thanks for that but I think I will stay with Lowrance. Mike F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Hi Charlie Thanks for all the usefull info, if I decide to stay with 2 separate units , is the broadband sonar a lot better that the previous generation, i.e. clearer image , less clutter , separates fish better , or is it mostly advertising blurb Rob thanks for that but I think I will stay with Lowrance. Mike F I would have to let others comment on the broadband, as my set is now 6 years old. I am sure someone that has owned/used them will reply soon. But a trip to the show usually means that you can see the demo units in simulation mode. get the experts to show you how to set them up if you can. It really can be impressive what these guys can get them to do. So much more than just running them in auto mode. There are better [more expensive] sets than Lowrance, but I find mine more than suitable for what we do. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islander99 Posted August 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Thanks Charlie Yes I am going the boatshow so will have a good play. I realise that there may better gear to be had , but no good looking at what I cannot afford , besides I think i caught just as many fish years ago when I had a 12foot dingy and fished right inshore no sounder let alone plotter,I used to do very well. Having said that I do like a nice bit of kit as I am sure we all do . Many Thanks Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) Hi Mike the other point that I forgot. An advantage of having two sets, is that you can turn off the echo sounder and carry on fishing with just the plotter This really comes in to its own in the shallows and over wrecks, when the pinging noise of the sounder can put the fish off. Not an easy thing to do on Combi units in my experiance. Charlie Edited August 28, 2012 by great white Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islander99 Posted August 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Charlie Very good point , I had no idea that you could not turn sounder off. As you say, very important in shallows , I dont really know to much about wrecks. I last went several years ago with a good wreck skipper and we used 2lb of lead on slack! not my idea of fun. Thanks a lot. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 2lb of lead on slack Someone was having a laugh! or you were using mono or mega heavy \ poor quality braid \ rope! If I remember, in May we drifted a wreck on Alfresco in Hurds deep - I had asked Charlie if the wreck was just off the deeps and in the "shallower" water. He advised it was! So we came across the 170m deepest bit to the "shallows" of 101m!!!! Where we drifted a wreck, and i had to change me reel as i didn't have enough braid, but we were bouncing on the bottom with 10oz. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islander99 Posted August 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 Rob When I said slack, it was either side of slack with tide running a little, it was mono, as I said a long time ago , dont remember what depth was , but mid channel somewhere. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islander99 Posted August 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 Rob Meant to say at anchor. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted August 29, 2012 Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 So differant now Mike We use braid almost exclusivly and the modern stuff is so thin it is like using about 8lb mono but without the stretch. Back in the days of 60lb mono main lines, we all used heavy rods and big reels with 3:1 retrieve ratios just to get the damn 2lb weights up and down. Our kit nowadays is nothing like it was, rods that look like spinning rods, reels the size that we used to have on our bass rods with 6:1 retrieves. and micro thin braid. Still occasionally use 2lb leads, but not often and not for long. Boy do we have some fun when you get a good fish on this new tackle The rods bend and the clutches scream, but we still get the fish to the net most of the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islander99 Posted August 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 That sounds more like it Charlie. Dont get me wrong I loved the drifting for pollack and bass , it was just the anchored up bit with heavy leads i found not to my liking so much. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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