My old Lowrance unit finally crapped out this past weekend.
The GPS went out last year and the whole unit finally quit Saturday, so now I’m gonna replace it with something new. I have space available on my console of about 12"x8" max.
Any opinions…Looking hard at the Garmin echoMAP 74dv with CHIRP.
I like the fact that it comes with a upgraded chart that shows 1’ contours, not just the standard base map.
218WA Sailfish
200 Verado
The "Penn"sion Plan
Off topic, but what kind of numbers are you seeing with the 200 Verado? I have a 218CC with F150…
And Garmin makes good stuff…probably can’t go wrong with it, but I’ve been impressed with the RM offerings lately.
Really enjoying the new Simrad stuff…
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
I picked up 5 more mph with the 200 as opposed to the Yamaha 150 it came with. Haven’t had a chance to check fuel consumption yet as I only have 30 hours on the motor and most of that is on the lake, but it is noticeable better on fuel. I’ll add, I’m running the same pitch prop but efficiency is way better.
With the 200 I was able to increase the wheel diameter without loading the motor too much. The goal was to achieve 27 mph at 4200 rpm.
218WA Sailfish
200 Verado
The "Penn"sion Plan
quote:
Originally posted by RDWI picked up 5 more mph with the 200 as opposed to the Yamaha 150 it came with. Haven’t had a chance to check fuel consumption yet as I only have 30 hours on the motor and most of that is on the lake, but it is noticeable better on fuel. I’ll add, I’m running the same pitch prop but efficiency is way better.
218WA Sailfish
200 Verado
The "Penn"sion Plan
Sounds good…I may eventually repower with a 200 of sorts if I keep the boat. The F150 is fine, but the boat likes to ride faster than I can generally go for long stretches.
Did you end up with the garman?
Been looking at the lowrance hook 7.
wondering if anyone has used the hook 7
or what dose other use that are good.
Check out the Raymarine units. They have really come leaps and bounds in recent years. I run the a series on my boat and love it. The user interface is very user friendly and resembles an iphone’s app screen. The sonar and downvision is top knotch, clear as a whistle and reliable. The a series is also capable of running the nav platinum+ chart cards as well which gives me the navigation charts, the sonar charts (1ft HD contour fishing charts), 3D view, satellite imagery, etc… All in all one of the best units I have run.
Garmin is the most user-friendly GPS on the market.
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PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
I concur as I use the 741xs but they are buggy as ever! If I could do it again I would go the Simrad route.
“A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats”</font id=“blue”></font id=“size3”>
Went with the Garmin.
Pretty impressed with the maps that came standard. decided not to opt for the satellite overlay. If i’m inshore, i’ll just use my phone.
Haven’t had a chance to use the sonar yet.
218WA Sailfish
200 Verado
The "Penn"sion Plan
I’ve personally owned Garmin, Lowrance, and Raymarine. Garmin has been the best and most reliable of the three. Unless their quality changes I don’t see myself ever switching.
Lowrance menu’s are tough to manage when you are “busy” trying to get anchored, catch bait, do stuff that need various screens. The Humminbird has “shortcut” buttons that act like typical radio buttons, push and hold they set to that screen then you have 3 to use and go right to your favorite. I use one because it talks to my iPilot trolling motor. Garmin’s menus are simple and easy to config. Wish they has shortcut radio buttons.