new GPS/Fishfinder.

[Graham Nash]

Guys n girls.

 

I have an old Raymarine Dragnfly4 on my boat that has done me proud for the last 8 or 9 years. BUT, it has lost its track lines and waypoint marker facility. Theres still a few old ones there, but I cant work out how to put new ones in, or how to get the track lines back).

 

Anyway, I think its time for something new. 

 

I've got a budget of £500 or £600 been looking at the lowrance and garmins. The Garmin SV Echomap UHD2 touch looks to be a bit nicer than I'm used to, and presently showing as down from £830 - £590 at Marine Superstore with delivery tomorrow!  It looks like it has Navionics+ that seems to be something like the relief shading Im using on my phone and it has "side scan". Do those of you with sidescan actually use it?

 

The other thing to say is ..... if it is anything other than a TV or satellite, I'm technically useless! Will I be able to use it? 

[jerry.shutter]

Hi Graham,

 

That sounds a good deal, but you may find it’s an older model🤷‍♂️ I am really not techy but get by when it’s something I am interested in.

 

Someone who will give you a non biased view of a make and model is Ashley from Seatronix, he is a great help to me and on Wednesday we were chatting how Simrad is relatively complicated compared to Garmin and Lowrance.

 

He sometimes can source a model at a very good price.

Give him a ring and ask his opinion, he will fit etc at very reasonable price.

 

07725586766

 

Hope this helps

[Graham Nash]

Thanks Jerry, looking at his (very impressive) website, I'm guessing my little tub probably isn't Seatronix target market 😉. 

 

Ive just looked into the model i mentioned, it would seem the pictures were deceiving and the navionics + isn't what produces the relief shading type of screen, shown on the advert. That's the "extra" navionics platinum (or something like that). It also doesn't come with appropriate transducer .... so would probably end up double my budget and more than the boat is worth!. 

 

I told you I was useless.

 

 

[Adam F]

Dont forget the new chart needed for relief shading - circa £240 alone for the South Coast.

 

[Alcyone]

Hi Graham,

I’ve only ever used Garmin over the years so have no comparison with other makes but as far as Garmin go I’m really happy and always have been.. but they do come at a cost, I’ve got the Echomap 95SV from Marine Superstore which was with the Navionics + which doesn’t have the shading and I’ve just upgraded the subscription to Navionics Vision + which does have the shading plus it’s then available on the phone app called Active Captain which facilitates data transfer and updates.. 

I believe though a good cost effective combination is to use dual screens, one purely for fish and depth etc and a waterproof tablet that has GPS for the navionics for shading ..you could then select a cost effective fish finder model only and also purchase a suitable GPS tablet to sort out navionics at a decent screen size for boating use ? 

[Graham Nash]

22 minutes ago, Alcyone said:

Hi Graham,

I’ve only ever used Garmin over the years so have no comparison with other makes but as far as Garmin go I’m really happy and always have been.. but they do come at a cost, I’ve got the Echomap 95SV from Marine Superstore which was with the Navionics + which doesn’t have the shading and I’ve just upgraded the subscription to Navionics Vision + which does have the shading plus it’s then available on the phone app called Active Captain which facilitates data transfer and updates.. 

I believe though a good cost effective combination is to use dual screens, one purely for fish and depth etc and a waterproof tablet that has GPS for the navionics for shading ..you could then select a cost effective fish finder model only and also purchase a suitable GPS tablet to sort out navionics at a decent screen size for boating use ? 

Thats the model I looked at, but the 65 (also from Marine Superstore).

 

Ive already got relief shading on my phone and tablet, but maybe next year Ill upgrade for it to be on the combo too.

 

How do you find the side scan? 

[Alcyone]

I’ve tried to use the side scan and don’t understand it .. I’m sure I’m doing something wrong 

[great white]

Hi Graham

If this is not urgent

I would suggest a trip to next months boat show.

 

The various makes will be on the stands with simulated images.

 

There are always show offers available.

 

I personaly have avoide touch screens on a rocking boat. But recent use of a tablet to get relief shading does not seem to be an issue.

 

After using relief shading or the.even better cmap version I would say that is a massive plus/must have. If I was upgrading.

 

Getting it on a plotter gives much better vision and usability.

 

Not sure if you are a fan of John on fishlocker youtube. But the kit he uses seems very good.